Hair algae

[Shiggy]

Hey I have an hair algae issue. I just recently made a DIY co2 system and been dosing excel, but In some of my moss it looks like the hair algae is dead and white. Will my MTS and ramshorn take care of this dead hair algae?

[AUvet14]

Originally Posted by Shiggy

Hey I have an hair algae issue. I just recently made a DIY co2 system and been dosing excel, but In some of my moss it looks like the hair algae is dead and white. Will my MTS and ramshorn take care of this dead hair algae?

I don't know about the snails eating the dead hair algae, but API AlgaeFix works wonders on hair algae, although be careful using it if you have inverts. It will likely kill the inverts. You can remove the inverts and quarantine them while you treat the tank, but I recently used AlgaeFix on my 30 gallon that was overrun by hair algae when my CO2 ran out while I was on vacation and after 2 doses 3 days apart, 90% of the hair algae is dead and gone. While this seems to be a pretty reliable means to kill the algae once it is established, the underlying issue that caused the algae in the first place must be corrected if you want to prevent it from returning.

[Shiggy]

Thanks for the suggestion but I am kind of scared with using that stuff because i plan on getting inverts. Also i was wondering would amano or nerites do the job?

[AUvet14]

Originally Posted by Shiggy

Thanks for the suggestion but I am kind of scared with using that stuff because i plan on getting inverts. Also i was wondering would amano or nerites do the job?

It's fine as long as you remove the inverts during the treatment. This would be a time when it would be handy to have a quarantine tank . Just do a big water change or two after the treatment before adding the inverts back. I think it would take a large group of amanos to do the trick. I had around 17 in my 30 gallon and I couldn't really tell that they made much of a difference. Don't know about nerites. If you don't currently have inverts, it shouldn't be a problem to use the AlgaeFix. Only use the recommended dose though, don't overdose. It might also help to add an air stone just as a precaution. As I said though, the underlying cause of the algae should be corrected if you want to prevent the algae from returning.

[hbosman]

If it's dead and white, why not pick it out? Perhaps, you could wave a drain hose an inch so above where it is located while doing a water change.

[Shiggy]

Well i have tried to pick it out with a hose and suck it up and it has work but there is so much of it. Also most of it is attached to my moss and I lose a quite a lot of moss when i tried to suck it up.

[hbosman]

Originally Posted by Shiggy

Well i have tried to pick it out with a hose and suck it up and it has work but there is so much of it. Also most of it is attached to my moss and I lose a quite a lot of moss when i tried to suck it up.

I would just wait it out then. It will disintegrate in time. Fighting algae and dealing with the conditions that cause it takes alot of time. Unfortunately, this hobby takes alot of patience.

[AUvet14]

Originally Posted by hbosman

I would just wait it out then. It will disintegrate in time. Fighting algae and dealing with the conditions that cause it takes alot of time. Unfortunately, this hobby takes alot of patience.

+1. This is probably your best option at the moment. While I did say that AlgaeFix did kill the hair algae, like any algicide, I wouldn't use it unless you absolutely had to. Like I said, my tank was completely overrun with hair algae, so aside from removing all the plants and starting over with new plants, AlgaeFix was really my only practical option for timely solution. I wouldn't get in the habbit of relying on algicides, but it could help bail you out should a worst case scenario come up.

[Shiggy]

ok thanks for the advise I might just have to try the algae fix. do u know if it will affect my cories or celestial pearl danios?

[AUvet14]

Originally Posted by Shiggy

ok thanks for the advise I might just have to try the algae fix. do u know if it will affect my cories or celestial pearl danios?

I don't know about those fish specifically, but if you're worried, you can add an air stone to help oxygenate the water. I believe AlgaeFix affects respiration of animals or somehow affects oxygen dissolution in the tank, so that's why it is toxic to them at higher doses. I'm not 100% sure about that, but I'm pretty sure that's what I've read when I was looking into it. Adding an air stone should help oxygenate the water and keep things safe for the fish, but I don't see why it would have any negative effects on them as long as you stick to the recommended dose.

[Shiggy]

Ok I guess I will wait it out. Thanks to both of you for the suggestions!

[hbosman]

I had hair algae that refused to go away so, I removed what I could by twirling a tooth brush in it. Then dosed the recommended dose, waited 4 days, and applied the second dose. I have plenty of circulation and no shrimp so, I didn't see any negative effects. Hopefully, I won't have to use it again any time soon.