Battling Hair Algae and Cyno

[marrone]

I don't know if anyone tried this but some people have been combating Hair Algae and Cyno but leaving their lights off for 3 days. This seems to kill or weaken most of the algae. After the 3 days you need to do a good size water change, and you should try to siphon out whatever algae you see. Also you want to just put on the actinic for the first day, this will let the corals adjust to the lights coming back on.

This seems like a good alternative to using Chemi-Pure or other animals, like Sea Hares, to combat the algae. Of course you still need to get down the nitrates and phosphates.

I've done this personally in the past and have noticed that a lot of the algae is either gone or considerable weaken, not to mention that the tank water look very clear. As for the corals, there doesn't seem to be any adverse effects to them.


Here is a thread from RC on it:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1078532&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

 

[inline6]

Mike,

Would you happen to know if this technique works on turf algae?

 

[scumonkey]

Would you happen to know if this technique works on turf algae?

No - it does NOT!
My PBT seems to be taking care of that:wink1:

 

[inline6]

No - it does NOT!
My PBT seems to be taking care of that:wink1:

Excuse my ignorance - what is a PBT? peanut butter......something - lol

 

[Deanos]

Powder blue tang

 

[vinny]

powder blue tang

 

[vinny]

everytime i go to write something deanos gets there before me lol

 

[inline6]

PBT......not an option for me

 

[drperetz]

...

me too ((

 

[Omega]

Thank you for the info Marrone.
I'm going through some type of algae issue right now,
and was just going to post an inquiry on what to do.

 

[marrone]

Mike,

Would you happen to know if this technique works on turf algae?

I didn't read the whole thread but I think it would have some effect on it, whether it gets rid of it or just weaken it.

 

[Pedro]

A sea hare will destroy hair algea. Especially if it's a decent size. I know from experience.

 

[PalmTree]

But won't a seahare get sucked into overflows and powerheads?

 

[Pedro]

You have to take precautions, just like anemones can get sucked up as well. Although IMO, they tend to keep to the rockwork.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

I just cant see keeping the lights off for 3 days straight... i understand it might happen in the ocean where the corals belong, but these corals and fish that we care for have adapted to there current settings... i would be to scared to do it... i really wouldnt want to stress them out..

but hey if it works it works...

 

[Deanos]

I tried seahares I believe they died from the same elevated nitrate levels which helped spur the hair algae in the first place. Not until I reduced phosphate levels (limiting factor? :scratch: ) through aggressive water and phosban changes, did the hair algae die away.

 

[marrone]

Tony

I suggest you read the thread on RC, it's pretty long. You'll find that people kept the lights off for 2 to 3 days without any problems at all, including keeping clams and SPS. As for the fish, most wouldn't even notice.

M

 

[marrone]

I've tried 3 different sea hares and not one did the job for me. The last two I had didn't make it.

 

[masterswimmer]

I cannot, under any circumstance, see why turning your lights off for three days would have ANY negative effect on our corals. I also don't think that three days without light would have any helpful effects on the hair algae, but I think it's definitely worth a try. I've seen some decent effects on cyano with a reduced light cycle, so maybe there is some merit to it helping weaken HA.

swimmer

 

[DEEPWATER]

Ive always had great success with mexican turbo snails ,they work non stop .

I can understand that hair algae need light to grow as well as other things ,but if the persons tank is not up to par ,would this work for them ? if their phosphates and nitrate level are out of wack or a bit on the high side