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

Richard
Richard

Yes remove the reflectors for the moment if you want to keep the lights on for 8 hours. However from an economical point of view, keep them on and run lighting for only 6 hours (cheaper).

I would also increase your Nourish to 7-8ml and 5ml Aqua Carbon. This will help.

Please keep me posted as to how your tank develops.

Richard

Carol Ions
Carol Ions

Richard, I read the article on hair Algae on Moss which I have in my 125 Ltr Tank. To reduce the light intensity what would be best ,my lights are on 8hrs 3 in a morning 5 evening I also have Two Reflectors, should I remove the reflectors leave the lights at 8hrs or drop to 6hrs leave the reflectors where they are.
I dose 5ml daily with Aqua Nourish and 2.5ml daily with Aqua Carbon would it be beneficial to increase the Carbon or leave that as it is.
Regards
Carol

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