Struggling With Hair Algae

[Marnee]

My Java fern started getting some last week and I have pulled most of it out but I see some on the Swoards and Crypts. I usually leave my lights on for about 4hrs then off for 1 - 2 hrs and on again for 3hrs. I dose twice weekly with Flouish. I dose with Flourish Excel every day. Just started the excel 3 days ago. I do 2 partial water changes a week (about 10-15%) and I do 1 50% water change on Saturdays when I clean the tank. My ammonia and nitrite are 0, nitrate is usually low maybe between 5 - 10 ppm. If I blackout the tank for a few days will that kill the algae? Will I lose my Swoards and crypts with no lights on for that long. Any help would be so appreciated.

 

[PJPJ]

When you do the 50% water change you can dose excel at the higher amount. Take the amount you are going to dose in a syringe and squirt it directly at the worst bits of hair algae. This will kill the hair algae. It turns red and then drops off/ gets eaten.

Do NOT overdose.

Directions

On initial use or after a major (> 40%) water change, use 1 capful (5 mL) for every 40 L (10 gallons*). Thereafter use 1 capful for every 200 L (50 gallons*) daily or every other day. Dosing may be slowly increased in high-growth aquariums. For smaller dosing please note that each cap thread is approximately 1 mL.

 

[OldMan47]

Martnee, your present regime is a 7 hours daily light system. Try cutting it back a bit. I use values between 5 and 8 hours on my tanks depending on how each one responds. I have yet to find a value that I can simply apply to all of them.