Ter
Fishaholic
New setup, I have green hair algae on my sand bed and glass, whats the best way 2 deal with this? let the clean up crew do its work? remove it myself? Thanks
Algae
- Thread starter Ter
- Start date
Lynden
a "fish hater"
Unfortunately, the best way to deal with it is to let nature take it's course. A mature tank will soon be freed from the clutches of hair algae.
Or, you can buy a few animals to help it out the door
Blennies of the genus Salarias can eat this algae, but these Blennies may be aggressive, and in some cases, such as the Starry Blenny, wreak havoc in a reef tank. Tangs and Rabbitfish have also been credited with the algae's removal.
Sea Hares and Lettuce Nudibranchs (pronounced like "nudibrank") are also reputed to consume hair algae. But Sea Hares can be deadly to the other animals if they become stressed or die, releasing a red toxic "ink".
-Lynden
Or, you can buy a few animals to help it out the door
Blennies of the genus Salarias can eat this algae, but these Blennies may be aggressive, and in some cases, such as the Starry Blenny, wreak havoc in a reef tank. Tangs and Rabbitfish have also been credited with the algae's removal.Sea Hares and Lettuce Nudibranchs (pronounced like "nudibrank") are also reputed to consume hair algae. But Sea Hares can be deadly to the other animals if they become stressed or die, releasing a red toxic "ink".
-Lynden
Gotta disagree with you on this one Lynden 
. If the tank is big enough and it does not have any powerheads without inlet foam, a sea hare is a great hair algae controller. Moreover, their ink is not toxic at all. Both General Xavier and now General Eisenhart (my two sea hares) have inked in my tank and I didnt loose a single thing. I've also ingested sea hare ink by accident during a snorkeling trip to Florida, didnt do anything bad to me. The only danger with sea hare ink is if the water volume is very small and the ink is allowed to linger for long periods of time. If that happens, it can block out the light source of various photosynthetic species. If you have a protein skimmer (and you probably would on a tank big enough for a sea hare), a skimmer can remove the ink in a matter of an hour as it is HIGHLY attracted to microbubbles.
As I mentioned, big tank, and no open powerhead inlets are what you need ofr sea hares
. If the tank is big enough and it does not have any powerheads without inlet foam, a sea hare is a great hair algae controller. Moreover, their ink is not toxic at all. Both General Xavier and now General Eisenhart (my two sea hares) have inked in my tank and I didnt loose a single thing. I've also ingested sea hare ink by accident during a snorkeling trip to Florida, didnt do anything bad to me. The only danger with sea hare ink is if the water volume is very small and the ink is allowed to linger for long periods of time. If that happens, it can block out the light source of various photosynthetic species. If you have a protein skimmer (and you probably would on a tank big enough for a sea hare), a skimmer can remove the ink in a matter of an hour as it is HIGHLY attracted to microbubbles.As I mentioned, big tank, and no open powerhead inlets are what you need ofr sea hares
Lynden
a "fish hater"
That's odd I was always too afraid to buy one because everywhere I researched about them (including this forum) told me that they would nuke the tank if stressed. Apparently, you and I are pioneers of this forum, in a way, at least 
what with your "poisonous" Sea Hares and my "aggressive" Triggers.
-Lynden
P.S. I don't quite understand how you aquired General Eisenhart. Was he a dividend of General Xavier's scrambled body? Or did you buy him? 'Cause you mention him "emerging from the rocks" during the power outage and shortly after the death of General Xavier. If I recall correctly, that is. I could be getting this all mixed up
apologies if I am.
I was always too afraid to buy one because everywhere I researched about them (including this forum) told me that they would nuke the tank if stressed. Apparently, you and I are pioneers of this forum, in a way, at least what with your "poisonous" Sea Hares and my "aggressive" Triggers.-Lynden
P.S. I don't quite understand how you aquired General Eisenhart. Was he a dividend of General Xavier's scrambled body? Or did you buy him? 'Cause you mention him "emerging from the rocks" during the power outage and shortly after the death of General Xavier. If I recall correctly, that is. I could be getting this all mixed up
apologies if I am.
Yeah that wasnt so clear when I first explained it . General Xavier perished in that horrific snowstorm, meeting his end on a powerhead. He lived for a few days afterwards but succumed eventually. No problems with him nuking the tank though. He inked a couple times in his life. I found General Eisenhart a few weeks or days later (I forget the timeframe exactly) while perusing one of my LFS' tanks that they had thought they sold out all their sea hares from. He popped out of the rocks and I nabbed him up. Btw, General Eisenhart has the enemy hiding in remote caves now, its really amazing to see. I'll hopefully be able to get some pics up thurs or fri evening depending on how fast I can work with a lathe.
Sorry about the thread highjack there. A good hair algae eater for a small tank is a lettuce nudibranch as mentioned, but again, keep those powerhead inlets covered with foam or a fine mesh screen. Hector's Gobies also eat hair algae in small aquariums
. General Xavier perished in that horrific snowstorm, meeting his end on a powerhead. He lived for a few days afterwards but succumed eventually. No problems with him nuking the tank though. He inked a couple times in his life. I found General Eisenhart a few weeks or days later (I forget the timeframe exactly) while perusing one of my LFS' tanks that they had thought they sold out all their sea hares from. He popped out of the rocks and I nabbed him up. Btw, General Eisenhart has the enemy hiding in remote caves now, its really amazing to see. I'll hopefully be able to get some pics up thurs or fri evening depending on how fast I can work with a lathe.Sorry about the thread highjack there. A good hair algae eater for a small tank is a lettuce nudibranch as mentioned, but again, keep those powerhead inlets covered with foam or a fine mesh screen. Hector's Gobies also eat hair algae in small aquariums
Ter
Fishaholic
80 gallon with skimmer... what do you think?
Powerhead inlets better be covered with foam, and the tank should have a really hefty infestation before you add the sea hare. Trust me, these things FLY through hair algae and can eat all of it thus starving themselves to death. If it does finish off all your algae make sure to return it or sell it on to someone else in need to keep it alive
Lynden
a "fish hater"
I think I might get a Sea Hare I think I have enough hair algae for it to consume... take the most horrific infestation of hair algae you have ever seen, multiply it by 10, and you get my tank. 
My Lawnmower just barely holds it back from a full-blown carpeting of the tank.
-Lynden
I think I have enough hair algae for it to consume... take the most horrific infestation of hair algae you have ever seen, multiply it by 10, and you get my tank. My Lawnmower just barely holds it back from a full-blown carpeting of the tank.-Lynden
Ter
Fishaholic
hahaha
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