Hair algae , good or bad ?? What would you do??

[saltwaterinbrooklyn]

I have a rock on the right side of my tank that has hair algae for about 4 months now and it is not spreading or going away , I could remove this rock easily but the problem I'm having is that my 3 tangs love this rock and they are always grazing on it , so should I remove it or should I let this rock continue to provide natural nourishment for my tangs? What would you guys do??

 

[lnevo]

As long as its not spreading and your tangs are enjoying it, I'd leave it...

But you know that nitrates and phosphates allowed it to get there so I'd keep your eyes on those levels to make sure it doesn't get out of control...

It wouldn't take much for the balance to tip against you...

 

[saltwaterinbrooklyn]

Yeah I got dual reactors with car on and gfo and I do water change every Wednesday and Sunday so it's quite the narrow balance lol and it's all that remains from the hair algae issue I had months ago it seems isolated !

 

[Aquadicted]

I would leave it. The algae is helping your tank. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.....

 

[sunny]

You say your tangs love the rock. Are they not eating the hair algae?

What tangs are we talking about?

 

[saltwaterinbrooklyn]

A sawtooth , sailfin and a yellow tang they all graze on this rock

 

[Awibrandy]

As long as it is not spreading to any other surface I would leave it be. The minute you see it try to spread on to other surfaces I would snatch it out.

A sawtooth , sailfin and a yellow tang they all graze on this rock

Interesting: The fish are grazing on it yet it is still there. I would have thought that with 3 tangs eating it, it would be gone or at least on it's way out.

 

[Nottick]

So your fish love the rock? What are they getting it for valentines day?

 

[saltwaterinbrooklyn]

Lol they are giving it tiny teeth lol , and these tangs are tiny as well , quarter size

 

[sunny]

Lol they are giving it tiny teeth lol , and these tangs are tiny as well , quarter size

So they are not keeping up with growth. My tangs are big and they graze all day for any algae they can pic from the rocks.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

the question you have to ask yourself is does it bother me to have this rock with algae on it in my tank. if your answer is yes take it out and scrub it really well. also find out why this rock keep growing algae.

it could be one of the following

overfeeding
phosphates
lighting
rodi water quality
amount of water changes

just trying to help you out buddy

 

[jaa1456]

Throw a few Mexican turbos on that rock and they should eat it up in a few days.

 

[saltwaterinbrooklyn]

Throw a few Mexican turbos on that rock and they should eat it up in a few days.

This is true , I had mex turbos and I also remember that they had that bull in a china shop effect , knocking over corals left and right lol but that is a good option as well , boggles my mind how it's only that rock !!

 

[jaa1456]

That rock could be leeching phosphates, I have seen it before.

 

[saltwaterinbrooklyn]

That I never thought of , didn't know it was possible