Green hair Algea

[cottonj21]

When I got my tank a few months ago i was leaving the lights on far to long as i didnt know any better. And now im getting green hair algea all over the place. Its mainly growing on a one of the plants. but now it seems to be on the rocks. I bought 2 plecs the other day a buldog plec and a pseudacanthicus leapardus but they done seem to be making any difference. I only leave my lights on 8 hours a day now but the algea is still slowly increasing. the tanks isnt in direct sunlight, and the tanks is a juwel 180 vision, also got some reflectors on it.

I thought about getting some apple snails, shrimp. and also i might chuck the plants that have the agea on them away as i have read that they are prone to algea as they grow so slow (sorry cant remember the name of them)
Whats the best thing i can do ?

Thanks

 

[The-Wolf]

If you wish to go the chemical route
I'd recomend eSHa protolon-707
you could also add hagens phosphate remover to you filter, this will starve the algea and reduce its growth.

 

[cottonj21]

I really dont want to use chemicals if i can avoid it.
Will hagens phosphate remover effect the other plants at all ?
Thanks

 

[andyM]

i had a big problem with this as well. read somewhere that it's very hard to get rid of, the best way is just to dump all the plants and start again. i didn't dump all of them just the ones that the algea always seemed to start from. finger crossed all fine for the last 2 weeks. i also added a timer switch for the lights and only have them on for 12 hours a day.

 

[cottonj21]

12 hours, i was under the impression that was to long. ive only got mine on for 8 hours now. can any tell me what amount of time i should leave them on for

 

[The-Wolf]

The hagen greenX has no detrimental effects on any other living thing.

I personally have my lights on for a min of 12hrs although sometimes I forget and they are on for 14hrs or so.

 

[blue_ram]

If you're going to throw out the plant, why not just keep the light off? Fish don't need light. Just turn it on when you want to see the fish.

BTW, hair algae doesn't seem to do well under a strong sun. I had my hair algae infested plants outside for couple of hours, and the algae was completely white. Left it outside for a few days, and it was completely gone. Plants never looked healthier too. BTW, this was during late spring. So don't do this now, unless you live down under.

 

[Opcn]

Amano shrimp eat hair algea, so do Siamensis algea eaters (the true ones not the false) plecos however do not eat it, your snails wont eat it either unless you scarape it off first, they refuse to eat algea if its too long