[Gorilla Stoo]

So I've had a bad hair algae problem for a while now (as many people do). I've tried just about everything to fix the problem, except a sledge hammer. But before I do that, everyone seems to talk up Sea Hares. "They are voracious algae eating machines!" "My tank was wiped clean in 3 days!" etc.

Thus, I got one a few days ago and all I've seem it do is avoid the algae. It will slide around the rocks, fall off the glass and parachute to the bottom, but never touch the delicious hair algae. What the heck? I feel like nothing on the planet eats hair algae and anything that claims to is really just snake oil. Should I be worried the Sea Hare will die from starvation and release more toxins into my already toxic water?

-Frustrated Hack

P.S. I use RO filtered water, my nitrates and phosphates are now negligible, but were higher previously. Obviously that would have caused an algae bloom, but still, come on! Something eats this stuff right? How about chlorine?

[sweetie_baby_505]

hey there so you are having a hair algae problem if you dont have one already try a one spot Fox face . they are awesome eaters and cool fish and they love hair algae.

give it a try good luck

[noodles]

The hare will die. As for the hair algy, I tryed everything they said would eat it, some did some didn't . What worked was a lot of plucking. Careful not to let it go in tank, that will spread it to new spots in tank. Just keep plucking.

[map95003]

From experience I've had with algae and advise I got from other members here on RB, I would worry more about getting the water parms in check, if possible cut the lights for a few days. Once the nitrates and phosphates are in check that will starve the algae and it will start going away slowly on it's own.
If you're overfeeding cut back. Make sure your bulbs are OK, could try something like Pura Phoslock or Phosban.

I know you said you're using RO water, is it a RODI unit? if not consider adding DI.

After about 6 months my TDS meter was still reading "0" TDS and I had a crazy algae bloom...I got sick of trying almost every thing and replaced my RO filters...not sure if it's coincidence but the algae problem went away on it's own.

I've asked the question many times "does 0 TDS mean your water is OK?" I've read lots of articles, maybe I'm just stupid but I can't seem to get the "Yes" or "No" answer I'm after...It's like going to the Dr. they could never give a straight answer

Good luck

[unclejed]

Originally Posted by map95003

From experience I've had with algae and advise I got from other members here on RB, I would worry more about getting the water parms in check, if possible cut the lights for a few days. Once the nitrates and phosphates are in check that will starve the algae and it will start going away slowly on it's own.
If you're overfeeding cut back. Make sure your bulbs are OK, could try something like Pura Phoslock or Phosban.

I know you said you're using RO water, is it a RODI unit? if not consider adding DI.

After about 6 months my TDS meter was still reading "0" TDS and I had a crazy algae bloom...I got sick of trying almost every thing and replaced my RO filters...not sure if it's coincidence but the algae problem went away on it's own.

I've asked the question many times "does 0 TDS mean your water is OK?" I've read lots of articles, maybe I'm just stupid but I can't seem to get the "Yes" or "No" answer I'm after...It's like going to the Dr. they could never give a straight answer

Good luck

For you map, the simple answer is "yes", 0 tds is perfect water in the sense that is pure and will not add to any algae problem or lead to any. However, this "pure" water is stripped of all minerals and elements used by fish and coral, that is why we supplement. The number one reason for hair algae is phosphate and silicate. Excessive proteins don't help either. Some may find that adding a phosphate media (in bags) help but from my experience (and others I have advised) the application of Phoslock or phosban is with a reactor. You can clean what rocks you can by scrubbing with a tooth brush in removed aquarium water along with the use of the reactor as it will take about 2-3 weeks before you see the results of the reactor depending on how loaded the tank is.

[unclejed]

Originally Posted by Gorilla Stoo

So I've had a bad hair algae problem for a while now (as many people do). I've tried just about everything to fix the problem, except a sledge hammer. But before I do that, everyone seems to talk up Sea Hares. "They are voracious algae eating machines!" "My tank was wiped clean in 3 days!" etc.

Thus, I got one a few days ago and all I've seem it do is avoid the algae. It will slide around the rocks, fall off the glass and parachute to the bottom, but never touch the delicious hair algae. What the heck? I feel like nothing on the planet eats hair algae and anything that claims to is really just snake oil. Should I be worried the Sea Hare will die from starvation and release more toxins into my already toxic water?

-Frustrated Hack

P.S. I use RO filtered water, my nitrates and phosphates are now negligible, but were higher previously. Obviously that would have caused an algae bloom, but still, come on! Something eats this stuff right? How about chlorine?

Keep a close eye on the sea slug, they will die, even if they do eat. They will crash the tank if not removed promptly. See my response to map to address the algae problem.

[jiggyfly]

get a new sea hare. I have one that will mow the tank clean of hair algae and bryopsis. you can hold a frag up to his face with algae and he cleans it in about 45 seconds back to perfectly clean.

[Dr. Clyde]

I had a bad hair algae bloom last year from over feeding I think. The fastest way to get rid of it is manually and I think it's worth the effort. Take a 30 gallon rubbermaid tub & suck out 10 or 20 gallons for a water change. Pull each rock out by hand & scrub gently with a toothbrush(take xtra care if anything is growing on the rock obviously), place clean rock into your sump or another tub with water change water in it. Once all the rocks are out & clean, clean your glass & sand if applicable. Your tank will look brand new, have a fresh water change & you can concentrate on preventing whatever caused it in the first place. It took me about 3 hours to do this to 150lbs of live rock in a 125 gallon, well worth it. remember, theres no room for laziness in this hobby

Good Luck.