My tank has hair algae - how do I get rid of it?

42 comments

Does this picture look familiar?

 

Don't you just hate this stuff?!

 

I can almost guarantee that you will have probably seen this at some point in your aquarium. It's a frustrating algae because it looks awful and can be hard to get rid of. But don't panic, as I can solve your situation. PHEW! *wipes brow*

Let me first sort out an old wives tale and set some of you straight:

It has nothing to do with excess nitrates or phosphates

Now I'd like to quote some text from UKAPS which is an excellent forum for those who do not know. Clive, who writes a lot on there has a real knack for words and I just love what he wrote:

Hair algae has absolutely nothing to do with high NO3 or high PO4. Hair algae is strictly associated with poor CO2. My tanks always have super high NO3 and PO4 and they never get hair algae - until something goes wrong with my CO2.
Just because you are adding CO2 it does not mean that you are adding enough. Do not fall off the wagon. Do not look for other reasons. Only try to realize the truth. Moss is a low light plant, so when you pummel it with high light it suffers more than other plants if the CO2 is not excellent. Therefore the moss is telling you that it is suffering too much light and not enough CO2. You think your CO2 is good but your moss disagrees. At the end of the day it doesn't matter what you think, it only matters what your moss thinks.
Step number 1 is to reduce you lighting intensity significantly by 50% if possible. This will reduce the environmental pressures on the moss.
You also need to increase your CO2 levels without killing your fish. If this cannot be accomplished by gas injection rate increase then you need to add more liquid carbon and this has to be done daily, not once or twice a week. The liquid carbon is hostile to CO2 related algae and at the same time it delivers CO2 to the plant. You can use the bottle recommended daily dosage or you can multiply that by 2X or 3X assuming that you don't have plants that respond poorly to liquid carbon such as Riccia or liverworts/bladderworts or assuming that you don't have fauna that are sensitive to liquid carbon such as some shrimp.
Increase you number of water changes per week for a few weeks if this is possible.
As you lower the growth demand via reduction of the light intensity, and at the same time improve the available CO2, you'll find that the mosses and other plants will respond positively and will grow faster. The hair algae will subside. Use a toothbrush in a spiral motion to remove as much of the hair as you can.

This advice is soooo good and so honest. Let me know what you think. Have you suffered from hair algae or maybe you are suffering right now from it. Either way, let me know!

42 comments

Helen Ritchie
Helen Ritchie

Hi, Thank you so much for your advice. I have the Flora-Grow CO2 set and will get the other two this week :)

Richard
Richard

cutting your fertilisers is not the answer as excess nutrients does not cause algae. Change 30-40% of your water once a week. Dose your liquid carbon daily and your other fertiliser. Make sure you’re adding lots of algae eating shrimp too like these http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/amano-shrimp-p-5779.html

Richard
Richard

super.

pls keep up posted.

Steph
Steph

Hello Richard,

Just wanted to let you know that my tank is looking great, Hardly any hair algae. I am using 5ml Neutro T fert and 5ml of Nertro T liq CO2 daily as you suggested and I have my lights on a timer so they only come on for 6 hours a day at the moment. This really seems to have worked – Plants are looking good – healthy and nearly algae-less and fish v happy – and me :)

Thank you

Steph
Steph

Thanks Dr R,

I have ordered the fertilizer (and also some liquid carbon of the same brand) that you have suggeted so will see how it goes. Will let you know if Im successful in ridding my tank of the hair algae……

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