Algae Taking Over My Tank Glass

[Bomber]

Hey guys

I have a green algae, all over the glass in the front of my tank! it's not flat on the glass it's like hair..so i'am guessing hair algae..anyways i was wondring what is the best thing to keep it off my glass?

I got some zebra turbo snails today..but they don't really seam to be getting rid of the algae..

thanks!

 

[dixaisy930]

What are your tank parameters? Phos, nitrate, etc?

 

[SkiFletch]

Sounds like hair agae, could make a positive diagnosis with a pic, or you could just look up hair algae or byropsis via google to be sure.

Unfortunately, hair algae predators are few and most have un-desireable consequences when keeping them.

-Urchins eat hair algae, unfortunately they also eat purple coraline algae (that some people like), and they can topple rock stacks that are not properly secured.
-Sea hares also eat hair algae. They can unfortunately starve to death in the absence of hair algae once they clean the tank. Also, inlet foam on any powerheads is REQURED to keep one.
-Lettuce nudibranchs eat hair algae just like sea hares and have the same drawbacks... They just do it slowly.
-Mexican Turbo Snails also eat hair algae. They too can topple rock stacks and eat it SLOWLY. So slow that they are not a good means of controlling hair algae.

The best method by far is to run a phosphate remover and skim heavily along with sufficient LR and wait. It may take a long time, but the hair algae will eventually perish