easy way to remove algae?

[Brian]

I have lots of green hair-like algae growing on my live rock. Is there an
easy way to physically remove this algae?

[CapFusion]

"Brian" > wrote in message
...
>I have lots of green hair-like algae growing on my live rock. Is there an
>easy way to physically remove this algae?
>

"Physically Remove" The only physically way is to use your hand and manually
pull it out.

General idea of GHA [courtesy of Marc] -
http://www.melevsreef.com/gha.html

CapFusion,...

[DANorgard]

You can, if your sump is lower than the main tank, get a 10'-12' length of
1/2" tubing and with a rubberband attach a leg of pantyhose to one end which
will sit in the sump. Start a siphon on this end and with the other end you
can vaccuum away to your heart's content. When done, just toss the
GHA-laden pantyhose.
Pretty simple.
Dan


"Brian" > wrote in message
...
I have lots of green hair-like algae growing on my live rock. Is there an
easy way to physically remove this algae?

[Pszemol]

"DANorgard" > wrote in message ...
> You can, if your sump is lower than the main tank, get a 10'-12' length of
> 1/2" tubing and with a rubberband attach a leg of pantyhose to one end which
> will sit in the sump. Start a siphon on this end and with the other end you
> can vaccuum away to your heart's content. When done, just toss the
> GHA-laden pantyhose.
> Pretty simple.

Have you done this before ?
The algae is growing on the rock and does not let go
as easily to be sucked of with the hose...

[phflyer21]

1) High alkalinity
2) reduce lighting period for a few days
3) push the calcium levels up
4) I personally set up a canister filter and attached an old toothbrush to
the suction end, then I reached in, toothbrushed the algae which was sucked
into the canister filter (magnum 350).....it's been under control for 2
months now.....but tank age is a factor as well....it's just a natural part
of the cycle, especially if you don't use RO.DI water.

grunfeld in Detroit
"Brian" > wrote in message
...
>I have lots of green hair-like algae growing on my live rock. Is there an
>easy way to physically remove this algae?
>

[Peter Pan]

How high should the Alkalinity and Calsium be to help reduce the Algea ?

[DANorgard]

Unfortunately I've done it several times. If its stuck to the rock you can
tape a stiff toothbrush at the opening of the tube. I bought one of those
hollow- handled dish scrubbers that you fill with soap and have bristles on
them. Drill a hole in the handle and insert the tube then drill a 1/2" hole
in the bristle base to let the water flow in.
Dan

"Pszemol" > wrote in message
...
"DANorgard" > wrote in message
...
> You can, if your sump is lower than the main tank, get a 10'-12' length of
> 1/2" tubing and with a rubberband attach a leg of pantyhose to one end
which
> will sit in the sump. Start a siphon on this end and with the other end
you
> can vaccuum away to your heart's content. When done, just toss the
> GHA-laden pantyhose.
> Pretty simple.

Have you done this before ?
The algae is growing on the rock and does not let go
as easily to be sucked of with the hose...

[Billy]

"DANorgard" > wrote in message
...
| Unfortunately I've done it several times. If its stuck to the rock
you can
| tape a stiff toothbrush at the opening of the tube. I bought one
of those
| hollow- handled dish scrubbers that you fill with soap and have
bristles on
| them. Drill a hole in the handle and insert the tube then drill a
1/2" hole
| in the bristle base to let the water flow in.


Oh, that's pretty cool. Noted for future project days.

[Billy]

"Peter Pan" > wrote in message
...
| How high should the Alkalinity and Calsium be to help reduce the
Algea ?
|

Ideal levels for calcium, I keep mine around 400-450, alk around 8-12
dkh.
read: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/calcalkmar.htm

cheers:)

billy

[Pszemol]

"DANorgard" > wrote in message ...
> Unfortunately I've done it several times. If its stuck to the rock you can
> tape a stiff toothbrush at the opening of the tube. I bought one of those
> hollow- handled dish scrubbers that you fill with soap and have bristles on
> them. Drill a hole in the handle and insert the tube then drill a 1/2" hole
> in the bristle base to let the water flow in.

Interesting - I tried this with Derbesia and Bryopsis and it did not work.
I must have done it some wrong way... I noticed the algae holds to the rocks
to strongly to be sucked off. I was rather using wooden spatula split at
the end and I tried to wrap algae strands around the wooden stick - I was
making something like cotton swabs with algae hair...
Of course some of it was always left on the rocks so if you do not improve
water quality removing algae this way would be your weekly entertainment ;-)

[DANorgard]

My sump is 4ft lower than the tank, which produces a fair amount of
fall/suction. That takes care of the 'loose' stuff and the brush takes care
of 90% of the rest. I'm not claiming my method returns the LR to
pre-purchase cleanliness, but it does a fair job.
Dan


"Pszemol" > wrote in message
...
"DANorgard" > wrote in message
...
> Unfortunately I've done it several times. If its stuck to the rock you
can
> tape a stiff toothbrush at the opening of the tube. I bought one of those
> hollow- handled dish scrubbers that you fill with soap and have bristles
on
> them. Drill a hole in the handle and insert the tube then drill a 1/2"
hole
> in the bristle base to let the water flow in.

Interesting - I tried this with Derbesia and Bryopsis and it did not work.
I must have done it some wrong way... I noticed the algae holds to the rocks
to strongly to be sucked off. I was rather using wooden spatula split at
the end and I tried to wrap algae strands around the wooden stick - I was
making something like cotton swabs with algae hair...
Of course some of it was always left on the rocks so if you do not improve
water quality removing algae this way would be your weekly entertainment ;-)

[perkinskr]

I too have hair alae in my tank or should I say had. The hair algae in my
tank was so bad I thought I had a chea pet seed packet in there. Anyway I
bought a powder brown tang yesterday and today the algea is under control
and well on it;s way out. I'm nervous that the tang won't eat anything else.
I did have the LFS feed him before I bought him and he ate some mysid
shrimp. So when the algae runs out he'll have to go back to shrimp and Nori.
Not saying this will cure your problems the LFS said the tang wouldn't eat
the algae at all. I bought him because he is extremly pretty. The fact that
he's a slob and tore the algae up was a benny...


"Brian" > wrote in message
...
>I have lots of green hair-like algae growing on my live rock. Is there an
>easy way to physically remove this algae?
>