Aahh! Help! Green hair algae?

MattieH · 03/18/2019, 03:48 PM

So this happened recently. 6 month old 15 gallon nano. My basic levels are fine. I haven't checked phosphate levels. Tried treating with Algaefix but didn't make a dent. I've scrubbed with toothbrush and vacuumed the bed, but it just comes back.

Any advice on how I can get rid of this stuff?

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Orsamax · 03/18/2019, 03:59 PM

The standard ways are to cut down on feeding, do regular water changes, and (if you have a sump) run a macro-algae refugium to outcompete the algae present. Your nitrate and phosphate numbers will be incorrect because the algae in your tank mask (but prove) their presence. So I'd manually remove what you can, do a larger water change, cut down feeding and see how that goes. I know that I had some in my second (smaller) tank and I also cut down feedings and put a few more hermits in there, they have started eliminating it. So, the treatment I prescribed will limit its regrowth, but a few more things that eat it could actually get rid of what you cant pluck off and it will be gone faster. But they can't make it go away if you don't change the inputs to the system (and the export of nutrients).

mcgyvr · 03/18/2019, 05:47 PM

Reef Flux (fluconazole) works great..It typically takes at least 2 weeks after treatment to see big results but its fairly proven to get the job done..

Uncle99 · 03/19/2019, 07:32 PM

You need to lower your phosphate. You should know what it is now.
Bet you both your N&P are elevated.
You can chemical it but if you don't correct the situation, it just comes back.

03/18/2019, 03:48 PM	#1
MattieH Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 35	Aahh! Help! Green hair algae? So this happened recently. 6 month old 15 gallon nano. My basic levels are fine. I haven't checked phosphate levels. Tried treating with Algaefix but didn't make a dent. I've scrubbed with toothbrush and vacuumed the bed, but it just comes back. Any advice on how I can get rid of this stuff? Sent from my LG-H918 using Tapatalk

03/18/2019, 05:47 PM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Reef Flux (fluconazole) works great..It typically takes at least 2 weeks after treatment to see big results but its fairly proven to get the job done.. __________________ Who me?

03/18/2019, 03:59 PM	#2
Orsamax Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Posts: 60	The standard ways are to cut down on feeding, do regular water changes, and (if you have a sump) run a macro-algae refugium to outcompete the algae present. Your nitrate and phosphate numbers will be incorrect because the algae in your tank mask (but prove) their presence. So I'd manually remove what you can, do a larger water change, cut down feeding and see how that goes. I know that I had some in my second (smaller) tank and I also cut down feedings and put a few more hermits in there, they have started eliminating it. So, the treatment I prescribed will limit its regrowth, but a few more things that eat it could actually get rid of what you cant pluck off and it will be gone faster. But they can't make it go away if you don't change the inputs to the system (and the export of nutrients).

03/19/2019, 07:32 PM	#4
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	You need to lower your phosphate. You should know what it is now. Bet you both your N&P are elevated. You can chemical it but if you don't correct the situation, it just comes back.