Diatoms

Wayne Sallee wrote:
Pull the hair algae out. Hemostats are great for this. Then the
remainder hair algae, use a tooth brush to keep it down. Use the tooth
brush by quickly moving it in a side to side motion, like your trying to
blow the hair algae off.

Every time I try doing something like that, some of my fish get stressed out and
die. If there isn't a better way, the tank will stay a jungle.

George Patterson
If you torture the data long enough, eventually it will confess
to anything.

Do they not have hiding places so that when you put
your hand in there, they have sufficient places to
feel safe?

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


George Patterson wrote on 5/16/2007 8:50 PM:
Wayne Sallee wrote:
Pull the hair algae out. Hemostats are great for this. Then the
remainder hair algae, use a tooth brush to keep it down. Use the tooth
brush by quickly moving it in a side to side motion, like your trying
to blow the hair algae off.

Every time I try doing something like that, some of my fish get stressed
out and die. If there isn't a better way, the tank will stay a jungle.

George Patterson
If you torture the data long enough, eventually it will confess
to anything.

Wayne Sallee wrote:
Do they not have hiding places so that when you put your hand in there,
they have sufficient places to feel safe?

George Patterson wrote on 5/16/2007 8:50 PM:
Every time I try doing something like that, some of my fish get
stressed out and die. If there isn't a better way, the tank will stay
a jungle.

Hi George,

Can you post a pic and send a link? (Or, just email it to me.) I'm
curious because I've been battling hair algae for quite a while and I
think I'm starting to win (touch wood). I'll do the same.

About once a week, I've been using a soft bottle brush to clean my rocks
of the hair algae. I don't think my fish like it, but they don't seem
to suffer any harm. I have a floss filter in my sump return that
catches it, and I clean/replace it the next day.

It's funny when a stranger walks up to the tank because it goes from a
lively colorful show to an empty tank in a flash. There are lots of
caves and swim throughs in the rock work.

My coraline algae is really starting to grow, and it seems that once
it's established the hair algae doesn't grow back.

But, unless you hit zero phosphates, I think your hair algae will
continue to grow with abandon.

--Kurt

KurtG wrote:

Can you post a pic and send a link? (Or, just email it to me.) I'm
curious because I've been battling hair algae for quite a while and I
think I'm starting to win (touch wood). I'll do the same.

I'll do some cleanup work this weekend and send you a shot or two. Right now,
most of the front glass is covered. We moved my mother-in-law into assisted
living two weeks ago, and we've been trying to empty out her condo. On top of
that, I started a new job last week. Anyway, I'll set up a canister filter up,
scrape the glass, and get a few shots when the water clears.

George Patterson
If you torture the data long enough, eventually it will confess
to anything.

Wayne Sallee wrote:
Do they not have hiding places so that when you put your hand in there,
they have sufficient places to feel safe?

They have tons of hidy-holes, but I have to hang a filter unit on the tank to
clear the trash out that gets stirred up during this. I suspect that some of
them make a break for it during this time. One time it will be a firefish; the
next time a chromis.

I've got about 120 pounds of live rock, plus a rats nest of dead elkhorn coral
for a small forest in a 125 gallon tank. When I put a scraper in to scrape the
glass, everybody disappears.

George Patterson
If you torture the data long enough, eventually it will confess
to anything.

Ok, sounds like you might be doing too much at a
time. Don't add the extra filter, just reach in and
pull out a little hair algae, and then remove some
more the next day, and so on.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


George Patterson wrote on 5/17/2007 8:37 PM:
Wayne Sallee wrote:
Do they not have hiding places so that when you put your hand in
there, they have sufficient places to feel safe?

They have tons of hidy-holes, but I have to hang a filter unit on the
tank to clear the trash out that gets stirred up during this. I suspect
that some of them make a break for it during this time. One time it will
be a firefish; the next time a chromis.

I've got about 120 pounds of live rock, plus a rats nest of dead elkhorn
coral for a small forest in a 125 gallon tank. When I put a scraper in
to scrape the glass, everybody disappears.

George Patterson
If you torture the data long enough, eventually it will confess
to anything.