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IdahoReef 
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 Posted: December 04 2008 at 7:24am |
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So, what snails actually eat hair algae? I have NEVER seen a snail or hermit EVER eat the stuff.
ADZMCSS, if you have the room and your corals are all attached REALLY well, the urchin is probably the best bet. Coraline will grow back. That and water chemistry adjustments.
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adzmcss
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Posted: December 04 2008 at 5:06pm |
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what kinda urchin?
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IdahoReef
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Posted: December 04 2008 at 5:17pm |
Just a little curious???
 IdahoReef wrote:
What herbivour would you suggest for my size tank? Maybe a couple to choose from.
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Ryan Thompson
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Posted: December 04 2008 at 5:41pm |
adzmcss wrote:
what kinda urchin? |
Short spined. either a Blue Tuxedo or just a simple black one. All urchins eat algae. I know Reef Runners in Lindon has  blue tuxedo in their 210. Maybe they would sell it to you.
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Ryan Thompson
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Posted: December 04 2008 at 5:45pm |
IdahoReef wrote:
Just a little curious???
IdahoReef wrote:
What herbivour would you suggest for my size tank? Maybe a couple to choose from.
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A blenny of some kind. Either Bicolor, Redlip, or Horseface. I will caution you that once blennies eat shrimp they love it! They still pick at the rocks but they will wait for the shrimp to be put in!
Also try a small angel. I have a flame in mine and it grazes the rocks all day! Also a Coral Beauty would work. Some pygmy angels will nip at clams and SPS so be careful there too.
I know Mark loves Foxfaces, Rabbitfish. I think they are ugly but they love algae!
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IdahoReef
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Posted: December 04 2008 at 6:48pm |
But which of those would be best for my TWENTY NINE gallon reef tank with the current bio load. Please see my previous post on page one for that. Are red scooters herbies?
rtparty wrote:
IdahoReef wrote:
Just a little curious???
IdahoReef wrote:
What herbivour would you suggest for my size tank? Maybe a couple to choose from.
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A blenny of some kind. Either Bicolor, Redlip, or Horseface. I will caution you that once blennies eat shrimp they love it! They still pick at the rocks but they will wait for the shrimp to be put in!
Also try a small angel. I have a flame in mine and it grazes the rocks all day! Also a Coral Beauty would work. Some pygmy angels will nip at clams and SPS so be careful there too.
I know Mark loves Foxfaces, Rabbitfish. I think they are ugly but they love algae! |
Edited by IdahoReef - December 04 2008 at 6:49pm
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BobC63
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Posted: December 04 2008 at 7:49pm |
Steve -
Your problem is actually a little tougher due to your smaller tank size. Red Scooter Blennies are actually dragonets, not blennies; they do eat a little algae but mainly eat pods and other microfauna. IMO it would be difficult to keep one in a 29 unless you supplement the pod population on a regular basis...
Adrean -
I didn't see a reference to tank size but I'd guess a 125g based on the pictures...
I used to have a 125 myself. With a terrible hair algae problem, just like yours. I was able to go from "green" to "gone" in less than 4 days (!)
Hope that helps 
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- My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) -
* Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 *
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: December 04 2008 at 8:27pm |
adzmcss wrote:
i went out and bought 15 more snails and 10 hermit crabs! so i'll give it some time and see if it gets better...then i'll check back with you.... thanks for all the info you guys have provided me. |
That's not going to do it. If it were me, I'd call me before it gets worse and is even harder to eradicate. "So, what snails actually eat hair algae? I have NEVER seen a snail or hermit EVER eat the stuff." That's a very good point. Under normal conditions the average snail avoids long hair algae. It tastes very bitter. I've been doing this for years. I know what I'm talking about. If you think my confidence is offensive, what do you think about a tank covered with hair algae?  Do you prefer that, or this: 
Edited by Mark Peterson - December 04 2008 at 9:05pm
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Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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adzmcss
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Posted: December 04 2008 at 10:55pm |
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ok i'll give you a call.... when would be a good time
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: December 05 2008 at 12:52am |
Now is okay.  Before would have been fine, but now you're offline so how 'bout the day after today?  
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bgreenlee
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Posted: December 05 2008 at 8:45am |
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Have any of your used sea hares for algae elimination? I had "help" maintaining one of my tanks and algae set it on it. I put a sea hare in for about four weeks and the tank was spotless. I passed it on to another reefer to use. It is at user five or six now.
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adzmcss
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Posted: December 05 2008 at 3:56pm |
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i've been looking for a sea hare for awhile now...i've been to probally every fish store in utah! if someone has one please let me buy it off you
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Andreason
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Posted: December 05 2008 at 4:07pm |
Mark Peterson wrote:
Under normal conditions the average snail avoids long hair algae. It tastes very bitter.
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ROFL not gonna ask how you know that Mark!
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Andreason's
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kdinkel
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Posted: December 05 2008 at 4:17pm |
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I just recovered from a hair algea problem in the last few weeks. I was close to what you have. I called Mark and he gave some suggestions that helped a ton. (increased cleanup crew by 100 blue legs and 150 snails, and jacked up my magnesium with tech m). These two things stopped the continued growth more than getting rid of what was there. I think that was the break through. Once I stopped the new growth (from what I understand alot of things eat baby hair algea) I was able to get ahead of everthing. It was a combination of manually removing it (grabing it by the handful every day, and scrubbing the rocks with a tooth brush) and adding a rabbitfish and a seahare. I am now to the point that I have to feed my hare and rabbitfish supplemental food and have almost no hair algea. The seahare was tricky, I lost 3 before I found one that worked. The fancy ones seem useless. I got a mid sized green one from aquatica and it has been in the tank about a month now and cleans everything! Good Luck! It is frustrating to have that crap in the tank. I think the big thing for me was having enough patience to let everything do its part!
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: December 06 2008 at 3:43pm |
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As far as I'm concerned, Sea Hares are a last resort. They die too easily, algae is not their primary food and they look so darn ugly.
Keeping sufficient snails is the best choice for maintaining a tank free of bad algae.
One of the major steps to rid a tank of nuisance algae costs absolutely nothing and is so easy that people usually don't believe it. Go to the Feb 2002 SeaStar article Saving My Reef linked in the post above to learn more.
Edited by Mark Peterson - December 06 2008 at 4:04pm
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ReefBones
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Posted: December 07 2008 at 11:35pm |
Here is what I did ..........
10 Gulf ball size turbo snails + lots of hair algae = no more hair algae!!!!
with in 10 hours .. 90% of the hair algae is gone!!!!
Bird World has them on sale 10 for 20 bucks .. I am totally amazed .. Sorry Mark I know I talked to you and got some great advice .. the wife did not want to cover the tank .. so .. she opted to try this before the cover went on ... it worked!
ON EDIT: Now if we can get the Da** Aptasia problem worked out .. We have 4 peppermint in there now .. so ...
Edited by ReefBones - December 07 2008 at 11:38pm
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IdahoReef
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Posted: December 08 2008 at 7:23am |
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Thinking out loud here:
One thing I am understanding is that HAIR ALGAE is the SYMPTOM not the ROOT CAUSE. If the ROOT CAUSE (excess nutrients) is not treated properly the SYMPTOM will return.
What I mean is this: The snails and crabs eat the hair algae. Sure some of that energy will go into growth, but only a small amount. The rest will be put back into the tank as waste, broken down and made available for algae growth again.
I guess if you have the right number of harvesters a balance can be found, but I think it would be a delicate balance. Too many harvesters and they die from lack of nutrition and balance is broken. Any feeding can (probably will) disturb that balance.
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Ryan Thompson
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Posted: December 08 2008 at 11:19am |
ReefBones wrote:
ÂÂ
ON EDIT: Now if we can get the Da** Aptasia problem worked out .. We have 4 peppermint in there now .. so ... |
Peppermint Shrimp only eat the smaller ones. Once they are too big they will not touch them.
You can try 2 things:
1. Aptasia Control - works great for me 2. Inject the aptasia with brine shrimp and hope the Peppermint finds it.
Hope that helps
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Ryan Thompson
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Posted: December 08 2008 at 11:24am |
IdahoReef wrote:
Thinking out loud here:
One thing I am understanding is that HAIR ALGAE is the SYMPTOM not the ROOT CAUSE. If the ROOT CAUSE (excess nutrients) is not treated properly the SYMPTOM will return.
What I mean is this: The snails and crabs eat the hair algae. Sure some of that energy will go into growth, but only a small amount. The rest will be put back into the tank as waste, broken down and made available for algae growth again.
I guess if you have the right number of harvesters a balance can be found, but I think it would be a delicate balance. Too many harvesters and they die from lack of nutrition and balance is broken. Any feeding can (probably will) disturb that balance.
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You are right on! That is why Mark says snails and crabs won't fix the problem. They are a band aid when stitches are required!
You MUST find the cause to the problem. In this case I believe not enough water movement and the BIO-Wheel are the 2 big causes.
When you don't have good flow in the tank, detritus settles and then builds pockets in the sand. It then releases phosphates into the tank for the algae to thrive on. Snails may eat the algae but the detritus is still building and still releasing phosphates.
Excess phosphates = algae, and lots of it!
For months I fought hair algae and red slime, what a mess! I added two new powerheads and cleaned up the sand and now the tank looks great and no more algae or red slime. I didn't buy one new snail or crab to fight the issue. Just an urchin to help it go quicker!
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ReefBones
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Posted: December 08 2008 at 11:45am |
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I agree .. tossing a bunch of snails at the hair algae is just a band aid and will not fix the root of the problem ... but I have done everything to solve it .. to include feeding once a week ... all tests come up just fine but yet I have a hair algae issue ..
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140 gallon Reef
65 gallon Reef
55 gallon Aggressive
www.thesalttank.com
801-865-6074
"encourage other divers and sea enthusiasts to take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but bubbles"
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