Friday, 24 Septrember 2010
Hair algae, the most likely cause
At some point in your reef keeping days you are most likely to come across green hair algae, some more so than others, but what is the cause? There are three simple reasons that i have found to be the cause.
The most likely cause has to be flow or lack of it. If you have any dead spots in your aquarium you will soon find them because this is where this dreadful pest will start. Little tufts of green strands will start to appear. Maybe it is time to upgrade your power head or maybe add another.
The second cause of that should not happen if you are doing regular parameter checks, is high phosphates. Simply resolved by the use of media such as rowaphos. It has to be said that this can be placed in the bag provided into good flow in the aquarium. Better methods include a fluidised reactor, although this creates additional cost but is a much more effective way to deal with the problem.
The final method i have read about is the actual lighting period, Too much of it will create this algae in uncontrollable proportions. Aquariums located near windows or other high light sources in the day are sure to have problems. So moving your aquarium or reducing your lighting time could help reduce green hair algae.
By simply blowing off your rocks on a weekly basis with a power-head will help keep this at bay and help prevent detritus building up.
The most likely cause has to be flow or lack of it. If you have any dead spots in your aquarium you will soon find them because this is where this dreadful pest will start. Little tufts of green strands will start to appear. Maybe it is time to upgrade your power head or maybe add another.
The second cause of that should not happen if you are doing regular parameter checks, is high phosphates. Simply resolved by the use of media such as rowaphos. It has to be said that this can be placed in the bag provided into good flow in the aquarium. Better methods include a fluidised reactor, although this creates additional cost but is a much more effective way to deal with the problem.
The final method i have read about is the actual lighting period, Too much of it will create this algae in uncontrollable proportions. Aquariums located near windows or other high light sources in the day are sure to have problems. So moving your aquarium or reducing your lighting time could help reduce green hair algae.
By simply blowing off your rocks on a weekly basis with a power-head will help keep this at bay and help prevent detritus building up.
Snails,crabs etc in my opinion is a waste of time. I have yet to find any that will consume it quick enough to keep it at bay.Actually most times i dont think they touch it at all.
But for my best solution it will cost you money but is 100% effective and i have tried and tested it.
First get the most expensive and overrated skimmer you can for you tank. ie if your tank is 100 gallon go for a skimmer at least twice that.
next start vodka dosing as per table included below.Take it slow as indicated and you will be fine.
I can guarantee the problem will be sorted in no time as the vodka and overrated skimmer give you an ultra low nutrient system.
You will be amazed at how quickly it takes effect in comparrison to all that siphoning,scrubing etc.
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