Humble Newbie Hair algae question

[IronChef]

Well I guess now is the time to show my complete ignorance. I have a 5 week old 72galBF and I purchased a piece of live rock that has what I have determined from reading the posts here (I just found out about this site) to be hair algae. I am setting up the tank to be for fish and small critters like snails and hermmies. My question is how terrible is this hair algae and what should I do to get rid/eradicate it.

 

[imow]

If the hair algae is just on that one rock, scrub it with a toothbrush and then put it in your tank. If your water params are good, the HA wont be a problem. If you have bad WQ, and you introduce HA into your tank, you might be in for some trouble.

 

[Anonymous]

I and others here have found that dripping kalk helps with hair algae. I had a terrible problem for quite a while (my tank is one year old now) and I began dripping kalk, oh, 4 months ago maybe, and by the end of one week, it was turning brown and not looking too good, and now it is gone.

Blue tuxedo urchins are also fantastic hair algae eaters. They stay little and have tiny little spines so they don't cause all the problems (knocking things over and rearranging your tank) that others do. They are pretty and it's neat to watch them collect things to camouflage themselves. Plus watching them poop little rock pellets out of the top of them makes them so darn cute.

 

[Anonymous]

Oh and welcome aboard - love the name. Maybe you shouldn't have any urchins around

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[IronChef]

Thanks for the suggestions I will begin scrubbing away as soon as possible. I also like the idea of the sea urchin.....wonder were I can find one.