| Not many problems are worse to have in a saltwater | | | | battling one. |
| aquarium than a hair algae outbreak. Once it gets a | | | | - Dose kalkwasser solution (calcium hydroxide) at |
| foothold in your tank, it can be a real bear to get rid | | | | night. Kalkwasser has a very high pH of 14, and will |
| of. If not handled properly it can go on for months | | | | help to keep the pH of your aquarium up, and it will |
| and can lead to other problems such as loss of | | | | also precipitate out phosphates so that your protein |
| valuable corals. Here I will lead you to both the | | | | skimmer can remove them. |
| prevention and the cure. | | | | - Increase water changes. If your normal rate of |
| SURVIVAL TIPS: | | | | water changes was 25% of your total system |
| 1. Get a bigger cleanup crew - You are going to need | | | | volume per month, then I would recommend doubling |
| help, so spend the money and stock your tank with | | | | it to 50% per month until the hair algae outbreak is |
| plenty of worker invertebrates such as algae eating | | | | under control. |
| snails, emerald crabs, hermit crabs, and urchins. Having | | | | - Rinse your frozen foods. If you thaw out any of |
| the proper population of these hard working | | | | the commercially prepared frozen foods that are sold |
| invertebrates can help prevent a hair algae outbreak | | | | for saltwater aquarium fish, you will see a dark and |
| in the first place. Given that they are relatively short | | | | filthy soup left behind. This soup is loaded with |
| lived, you will need to replace these invertebrates | | | | phosphates, nitrates and other nutrients that fuel hair |
| roughly twice a year. And once you have a hair algae | | | | algae growth. I strongly recommend you pour the |
| outbreak, they are an absolute must. | | | | thawed out frozen food through a fish net (I use a |
| 2. Raise the pH to 8.4 or 8.5 and keep it there - An | | | | brine shrimp net) and then rinse the food with some |
| elevated pH helps prevent a hair algae outbreak from | | | | aquarium water. This will get rid of the nutrients |
| occurring in the first place, and is very helpful in | | | | before you add the food to your aquarium |
| keeping it from taking off and getting even bigger. | | | | - Use "R.O.D.I." water. This stands for reverse |
| 3. Increase water movement in the tank - One of | | | | osmosis water that has been post filtered through |
| the best conditions for a hair algae outbreak is a tank | | | | de-ionization resins. This is the most sure way to |
| with poor water movement. Strong water | | | | prevent the addition of phosphates and silicates, or |
| movement is one of the most critical conditions in a | | | | other contaminants, to your aquarium. |
| health saltwater aquarium. It keeps organic matter | | | | - Use activated carbon to remove dissolved organics, |
| and detritus suspended up in the water column | | | | which can help fuel hair algae growth |
| where it can be removed by the mechanical filter or | | | | 5. Jump in and help out - To help your algae-grazing |
| the protein skimmer. And it helps prevent new | | | | invertebrates get the hair algae outbreak under |
| detritus from being able to collect on the live rock or | | | | control, you will need to help give them a jump start |
| substrate. Strong water movement also helps gas | | | | by manually removing as much of the hair algae as |
| off carbon dioxide, which suppressed pH and fuels | | | | possible. This will need to be done at least once a |
| algae growth. | | | | week until the problem is resolved. |
| 4. Get your phosphates and nitrates under control - | | | | 6. Make sure your protein skimmer is working at |
| Few water quality parameters are more important to | | | | peak efficiency - Given that hair algae thrives on |
| get under control in a hair algae outbreak than | | | | dissolved organics, a properly operating protein |
| phosphates and nitrates. These nutrients are basically | | | | skimmer is going to be key to battling a hair algae |
| fertilizers that fuel hair algae growth. And if you want | | | | outbreak. Instead of the once a week cleaning, I |
| to prevent a hair algae outbreak, or get rid of one, | | | | would recommend twice a week. Also, make sure |
| you will need to get them under control. | | | | that the air intake or venturi on your protein skimmer |
| Phosphates should ideally be at or below 0.08ppm | | | | is not clogged or otherwise restricted. |
| (parts per million). And there are several ways to | | | | In the end, the best approach is prevention. It may |
| reduce phosphate levels. | | | | be a lot of work, but preventative maintenance is |
| - Use ferric oxide chemical filter media. The best way | | | | the cheapest work, and it is nothing compared to the |
| to use this media is in a substrate reactor or fluidized | | | | frustrating struggle of fighting a full blown hair algae |
| bed filter. It should always be in use to help prevent | | | | outbreak. |
| a hair algae outbreak, but is vitally important when | | | | |