Help with Red hair Algae
- Thread starter Big Daddy58
- Start date
Well, Red Hair Algae is really the same as other hair algaes in the tank. The only real ways of getting rid, besides manually removing is to lower nutrients and lighting or using turbo snails...there is a type of turbo snail that prefers red hair, rather than green, but names escapes me...
Niko
Niko
We have no snails or clean up crew, can that be the problem? We have been feeding them every other day for 2 weeks and no change, keeps coming back
Bad water parameters (or nutrients as Atnixon calls them) are what is allowing that to grow. You manually remove it but it comes back because you have not found the root of your problem. If you find the root of the problem, then it will disappear. Make sure though that this is not a macro algae versus hair algae. I've seen some beautiful red macros out there. if it is truly hair algae, here would be my recommendation:
1. No cleanup crew is bad. Put in snails, hermits, and crabs. They will eat the waste that it just turning into ammonia. I would get online and buy a "cleanup crew package" but its going to run about $100 or so for a 55 gallon tank.
2. Check your water parameters and start doing water changes. Don't use some goofy chemicals that someone might recommend. The best thing would be water changes since its natural. You need to find out what is out of whack.
3. Check your water flow. Algae will grow where there isn't much flow in the tank. You can add powerheads to increase circulation.
4. Check your filtration system. Is there detritus built up in your wet/dry at the bottom? (Looks like sludge). is there detritus built up in your overflow area on the bottom? if there is, I would vacuum this out with a wetvac and clean it out. If there is, Im betting your nitrates are probably higher than normal as well as potential phosphate issues.
1. No cleanup crew is bad. Put in snails, hermits, and crabs. They will eat the waste that it just turning into ammonia. I would get online and buy a "cleanup crew package" but its going to run about $100 or so for a 55 gallon tank.
2. Check your water parameters and start doing water changes. Don't use some goofy chemicals that someone might recommend. The best thing would be water changes since its natural. You need to find out what is out of whack.
3. Check your water flow. Algae will grow where there isn't much flow in the tank. You can add powerheads to increase circulation.
4. Check your filtration system. Is there detritus built up in your wet/dry at the bottom? (Looks like sludge). is there detritus built up in your overflow area on the bottom? if there is, I would vacuum this out with a wetvac and clean it out. If there is, Im betting your nitrates are probably higher than normal as well as potential phosphate issues.
How do you tell the difference between Macro algae and red hair algae..
this algae was dark burgandy looked like velvet soft swaying in the current of the return pump. Was turning green in a few spots. rocks were completely covered, and crushed coral looked brown.
this algae was dark burgandy looked like velvet soft swaying in the current of the return pump. Was turning green in a few spots. rocks were completely covered, and crushed coral looked brown.
It almost sounds like Cyanobacter (or red slime algae) to me. if its any shade of red, soft, and looks like carpet then that is what it is. If its hairy, like cotton ball kind of hairy, then it is probably red hair algae (although I have never heard of red hair algae). If its got leaves forming in any shape, then its a macro algae.
Mike
Mike
Do you suggest purchasing a cleanup crew from Foster smith, or that fish place?
also thank you for your responses
Joe
also thank you for your responses
Joe
As i am in the UK i cannot suggest where, but, look at the clean up crews at Fosters and then shop around for something similar...Any more questions, just shout up mate...
Niko
Niko