Nerites: Good for hair algae?

[tolawdjk]

Like it says. I see the hair algae starting to take over my RCS tank. Apparently they aren't dropping babies fast enough. Nitrates are low...5 range. I'm lowering my light period and will probably just go with ambient room lighting for the next few days, but would a couple nerites in there help out or ignore it? I don't want swarmed with ramshorn or pond type...that will just make me get assassins, which strangely appeals to me.

I also don't want SAE in there as its only a 10 gal.

 

[blue2fyre]

I have nerites in my 5 gallon and they don't touch hair algae. I read somewhere amano shrimp will eat it.

 

[Lupin]

My last nerites actually eat BBA avidly but my apple snails prefer the hair algae.lol

 

[coach_z]

pay attention to the causes of the hair algae and correct them instead of putting a bandaid on it. Its a small tank so adding stuff to fight algae prevents you from having the stock that you actually want.

 

[tolawdjk]

I have been paying attention. Nitrates are low and the tank is planted with java moss, anarchis, hornwort, and dwarf sag. No CO2, no ferts. 10 RCS, one platy fry, and apparently now one endler is the fauna. 3 of the RCS are berried, so that load will increase and once that occurs, the hair algea eaters will increase as well.

Long term, I am looking at possibly some pyg cories and possibly some CPD if I can find a local source.

Immediate term is backing off the light to try and knock the flood back, but I was more wondering about nerites as hair maintenance. I know a guy that has some locally, but he wants to sell them to me, so of course he is telling me they are wonderful hair algea destroyers, I was looking for input from a broader community.

 

[Kuhlifan]

Sometimes the hair algae just gets started. I had it once and could not get rid of it. I finally got some flourish excel. Worked wonders. Just put in low doses and it will do a great job.

 

[alan j t]

you could keep yanking it out. spot treat excel or h202.
maybe it low nitrates causing hair algea?

 

[Linda S]

read the "got algae in your planted tanks" reference in coach_z's post. I've found it to be very helpful.

 

[c campbell]

I don't believe the nerites will do you any good. I have them in 2 of my tanks and have never seen them touch hair or beard algae. I also have siamensis algae eaters and amano shrimp and they don't seem to do a whole lot in the fight against algae. I would say that what has worked best for me is sticking to weakly water changes (30-50%) and dosing ferts. Soon to start Co2 as well.

 

[igor.kanshyn]

It's 'the best' type of algae. Almost any algae eating fish and shrimp will eat it.
Snails like green-spots algae more.

I specially grow this algae in a box with excessive light and then feed yellow an sulawesi shrimps.