Green hairy algae.....how and why ?!?!

[Alexpatrascu]

Hi guys.

I started my 50 gal tank at the beginning of February.....did the cycle with some media from my 15 gal RCS tank and it was done in a matter of days....

At the beginning of March I went to my LFS and bought 6 spotted corys and 1 ram.

After a week I checked the tank and it was Ok(amo-nitri-nitra) so I went and bought 8 neons and 8 rummynose......

Now I have this problem with the green hairy algae that I don't know how should I treat....it started at the beginning of March(I think) !!!

My tank is OK, did some WCs, scraped some algae of the driftwood but it still comes back !!!

I have it on my wood(upper section), plants and background !!!!

How did you guys got rid of it, if you had this problem off course ?!?

Thanks

 

[FastFly67]

too much light. you could add co2, reduce your light cycle or get amanos

 

[Alexpatrascu]

But I only have 108W over the 50 gal tank !!!!!

I was thinking of getting a UV !!

 

[BettaFishMommy]

that equates to over 2 watts per gallon. what is your lighting period each day? perhaps the lights are on a little too long.....

 

[cbster]

I'm not sure but I don't think a uv will do anything with hair algae. I had the same kind and I just increased my 70 % water changes to twice or three times a month. It seemed to take care of it

 

[Slappy*McFish]

But I only have 108W over the 50 gal tank !!!!!

I was thinking of getting a UV !!

That's more than enough light to grow algae very well. Especially if it is CFL or T5.
Manually remove as much of the algae as you can (again), add some SAE and/or shrimps, add more stem plants or duckweed and increase CO2.
Flourish Excel would help, as well.

 

[Jakezori]

^^^
Thats plenty of light to grow algae... Also, is your tank near a window?

Check your phosphates :woot:

 

[Alexpatrascu]

My lighting(T5HO) period is 8 AM to 8 PM......I don't use CO2.

I'll add ~12 amano and some duckweed soon !!!!

The tank is not near a window but I'll check for phosphates, that's prolly the problem....

 

[texasguy]

That's a pretty long photoperiod, some people have luck with adding a break in their lights, so for the time you aren't home you could add and hour or two of off time if your timer lets you do that.

 

[tiki19]

Wow - I've had this myself over the years but ONLY when my tank(s) were exposed to diirect sunlight. It's actually the only algae I don't mind having - it doesn't foul the water, some fish/snails love eating it and (for algae) I think it looks nice if kept in check. There's a whole site on purposely cultivating this type of algae. I know this was the exact opposite of the advice you were looking for, but figured I'd throw my 2 cents in anyway.

When you remove it, (easiest if you wind it around a tooth brush) make sure you really scrub the spot it grew from, and a little peroxide in a syringe applied at the base BEFORE scrubbing/removing (let it sit) seems to help keep it from returning - to that spot at least.