Marine Hair Algae - Help!

[AC]

Hi All,

I have a mega gree hair algae problem in my 6ft reef tank, i've checked/done
so far:

phosphates and they are nil,
nitrates are nil,
ditto for nitrite.
iron is nil
Lighting periods i've lowered, changed the bulbs (twin 250 halides) and
ensured minimal "natural sunlight" (closed the curtains for the last 4
weeks).
Increased current flow in the tank
Introduced ozone to the skimming process
Yellow tanks aren't interested and nor were fox faces
I have lots of red legs etc they don't touch it either.

My water qualifty was described as "perfect" by my local shop when they did
the relevant merc tests etc. My pulse corals and everything else have never
been better, except they are getting slowly swamped in hair algae.

I'm desperate, nothing seems to make any difference, does anyone know of any
other things to try, i'm willing to try chemicals, critters, you name it!

Thanks

Adam

[Robert Cadieux]

Just a thought but perhaps your phosphate level is low because it has all
been absorbed by the hair algae. My understanding is that the hair algae is
basically incapable of living without at least a small amount of phosphate.
If you had checked that level at the beginning of your outbreak, you may
have gotten a reading. Now its al locked into the algae.

I had great success using a phosphate absorbing resin that can be dropped
into a cartridge filter. I used a Hagen product that come in a large tea
bag like package.

I also added an lawnmower or "sailfin" blenny. They love hair algae and mow
it down to the roots in no time hence the name. The added bonus is that
this blenny is the most entertaining fish in my tank. Great personnality
fish.

Robert


"AC" > wrote in message
...
> Hi All,
>
> I have a mega gree hair algae problem in my 6ft reef tank, i've
checked/done
> so far:
>
> phosphates and they are nil,
> nitrates are nil,
> ditto for nitrite.
> iron is nil
> Lighting periods i've lowered, changed the bulbs (twin 250 halides) and
> ensured minimal "natural sunlight" (closed the curtains for the last 4
> weeks).
> Increased current flow in the tank
> Introduced ozone to the skimming process
> Yellow tanks aren't interested and nor were fox faces
> I have lots of red legs etc they don't touch it either.
>
> My water qualifty was described as "perfect" by my local shop when they
did
> the relevant merc tests etc. My pulse corals and everything else have
never
> been better, except they are getting slowly swamped in hair algae.
>
> I'm desperate, nothing seems to make any difference, does anyone know of
any
> other things to try, i'm willing to try chemicals, critters, you name it!
>
> Thanks
>
> Adam
>
>