How to remove green hair algae from a reef tank.

You shoukd alwasys use R.O.D.I water from the start. Tap water contains phosphates. No.6 will only work to remove carbondioxide if you have low levels in the room. (see part 10 how to build a reef tank). Good flow and an open aquascape will stop the build up of waste, and help more waste to go up your skimmer. It does not realy matter what your phosphate levels are as long as they are below 0.03. A simmer is only 30-40% efective at removing all the waste, but make sure it working as properly. Whilest algae dose need other things to grow like iodine iron and nitrate, The phosphates are by far the easiest to remove. T5 light tubes shoyld not be more than a yesr old, and metal halide bulbes should not be mor than 8 months old. Your lighting should be on for no longer than 8 hours. All these methords can be used to remove red slime algae (cyano bacteria) as well, but Ihave a seperate video on just red slime. It is true that if you have lots of geen hair algae your phosphate levels will be low, as the algae sucks ot the phosphate quicker than you can test for it with some test kits. With the right test kit you will always show up phosphates, if you have large amounts of algae. A.P.I test kit is know good, as it will not show up levels below 0.25 Nutrifin is the same. Seachem, D.D, and Redsea pro test kits are difficult to read at low levels. Saliferts is very difficult to read at levels above 0.03, but is the best, because it will tell you easily if you have levels below 0.03. A digital hannha checker is exsencive but will give you a digital reading down to 0.01.

How to remove green hair algae from a reef tank. sentiment_very_dissatisfied 133

Reef tank 10 years ago 129,737 views

You shoukd alwasys use R.O.D.I water from the start. Tap water contains phosphates. No.6 will only work to remove carbondioxide if you have low levels in the room. (see part 10 how to build a reef tank). Good flow and an open aquascape will stop the build up of waste, and help more waste to go up your skimmer. It does not realy matter what your phosphate levels are as long as they are below 0.03. A simmer is only 30-40% efective at removing all the waste, but make sure it working as properly. Whilest algae dose need other things to grow like iodine iron and nitrate, The phosphates are by far the easiest to remove. T5 light tubes shoyld not be more than a yesr old, and metal halide bulbes should not be mor than 8 months old. Your lighting should be on for no longer than 8 hours. All these methords can be used to remove red slime algae (cyano bacteria) as well, but Ihave a seperate video on just red slime. It is true that if you have lots of geen hair algae your phosphate levels will be low, as the algae sucks ot the phosphate quicker than you can test for it with some test kits. With the right test kit you will always show up phosphates, if you have large amounts of algae. A.P.I test kit is know good, as it will not show up levels below 0.25 Nutrifin is the same. Seachem, D.D, and Redsea pro test kits are difficult to read at low levels. Saliferts is very difficult to read at levels above 0.03, but is the best, because it will tell you easily if you have levels below 0.03. A digital hannha checker is exsencive but will give you a digital reading down to 0.01.

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Most popular comments
for How to remove green hair algae from a reef tank.

Kenneth Johnson
Kenneth Johnson - 6 years ago
.... and I use reef crystals which is high in Phosphates..lol
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 6 years ago
Why are reef crystals high in phosphates. Who told you that?.
MrBrianalone
MrBrianalone - 7 years ago
When I use GFO my PH drops, what is the solution for that side effect?
MrBrianalone
MrBrianalone - 7 years ago
Thank you, I will take those measures.
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 7 years ago
MrBrianalone your alkalinity is very high. At 14. D. K.H corals start to die. The higher the alkalinity, the higher the p.h. Your p.h should be 8.6. Low. P.h is often the result of to much carbon dioxide in the air from human activity. Try opening a window, or running the simmer air intake pipe from the outside. Sounds like other things are affecting your p.h, and not just your g.f.o.
MrBrianalone
MrBrianalone - 7 years ago
Thank you I will turn down the flow rate to my GFO reactor as I didn't realize it was too high. I am pretty sure my Apex flow meters are accurate. If that does not make a difference I will try another brand of GFO but I want to stick with iron and not aluminum so the change is slow. My Apex and Hanna and my LFS say my PH is low so I think they are correct. This afternoon my calcium was low (357) and my alkalinity was high (14.7) but the rest of the parameters are good. The buffer is all gone and since it didn't work I won't use it again. My corals are all less than a month old but they are all open and look fine to me. Thank you again for the help!
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 7 years ago
The reefer 250, is 250 European litres as I understand it. That is = to 67 U.S gallons. The flow rate of water through a G.F.O reactor should be about 4-6 times your tank volume per day. Your flow rate is just over half your tank volume per hour, and so 12-14 times your tank volume per day.  This does depend on how much the flow rate of the water, is slowed down by passing through your G.F.O and carbon. I would try running some water from the reactor return pipe into a bucket. Time how long it takes to fill the bucket. If you know the volume of the bucket, you can work out the flow rate. You may find, you can slow down the G.P.H through the reactor.I use a brand of G.F.O called Rowa Phos. Try switching to a different brand. Rowa Phos is more expensive than regular G.F.O, but will last longer. Try to stay a way from the buffer. Is your P.H test correct. If your corals are fine, is your P.H really 7.6.
MrBrianalone
MrBrianalone - 7 years ago
I use the basic bulk BRS GFO in a 5 inch reactor with half carbon and half GFO. I only run about 38 GPH through it on my manifold back to my Reefer 250. If I run the GFO I cannot keep my PH above 7.9 even though I dose 25 ml of Triton Core 7 per day and even tried manually dosing Aquavitro 8.4 PH buffer. As soon as I turn off the GFO the PH rises but then the GHA returns within days. Other than my magnesium being high for some unknown reason avg 1500 and my calcium is low all my other parameters are spot on. There are no fish, just a CUC and I only feed Reef Roids to my corals. No fish food. The tank is about 3 months old now. My PH is usually 7.6 max in the morning. No coralline algae will grow at that level from my experience. I only have the Hanna low range Phosphate tester (HI713), not the ultra low range (HI736), but my level is always zero as you mentioned. My corals are all happy. I am raising the level of my dosing to 30ml per day to raise my calcium. I have done water changes but that does not seem to help either. Any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated. My LFS mentioned other people having similar issues with PH and GFO.
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 7 years ago
I have never had that that problem. What kind of G.F.O are you using. If you use to much, then that can cause a P.H drop. P.H can be anywhere from 7.8-8.5. Try slowly raising, and holding your carbonate to 10 or 11 D.K.H. Don't keep adding Carbonate, unless you have corals using carbonate. Maintaining a higher D.K.H will help keep your P.H up. As long as your P,H is above 7.8 just before your lights come on, (the time of day when P,H is lowest) you have nothing to worry about.
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 7 years ago
You just need to Google pictures of hair algae and biopsies. And remove ad much of the age as possible.
Yellow Pleco Caverns
Yellow Pleco Caverns - 7 years ago
How do you tell the difference between Bryopsis & "ordinary" hair algae? I bought some Green Star Polyps & it has tiny branching green hair algae on it. I don't want to move it from my quarantine tank to my display tank until I"m sure it is not Bryopsis.
Jonathan Richards
Jonathan Richards - 7 years ago
One of the more informative videos I have seen and them music seemed to match it too. Wonderful job... and some of these comments... just wow.
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 7 years ago
Jonathan Richards thanks.
#Rossy's Reeftank
#Rossy's Reeftank - 7 years ago
The Fish Tank Hack.
Hasso Hammerle
Hasso Hammerle - 7 years ago
Very good and simple explanation
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 7 years ago
Thank you.
Ryan Dunbar
Ryan Dunbar - 7 years ago
TheFishTank Doc. I'm sure. Tank looks ok. Uploaded new vid
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 7 years ago
Ryan Dunbar Until you get a skimmer and reactor, you will just get the same problems coming back time after time.

10. comment for How to remove green hair algae from a reef tank.

TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 7 years ago
Skimmers are great because they remove dissolved organic waste, (fish poo and pee that gets blown around your tank, and dissolves in the water) before it rots down in to ammonia and nitrate. This means less live rock, and more room for the fish to swim. The poo and pee will also rot down into phosphate, so having a skimmer will help remove phosphates, as well as the ammonia and nitrate. The problem with only using a skimmer, is that skimmers are not 100% efficient. They are only 30-50% efficient. This is why we need live rock and G.F.O reactors. If we didn't use a skimmer, we would need more G.F.O and live rock than the average tank can handle.  See part 1 and 8 of my guide on how to set up a reef tank.
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 7 years ago
Ryan Dunbar sounds like you're a rubbish/trash reefer like me!!!.
Ritu Kumari
Ritu Kumari - 7 years ago
thanks for this video
Daniel Vázquez Guevara
Daniel Vázquez Guevara - 7 years ago
You basically described all posible solutions. Phosphate removers ARE NOT the solution, plus the are expensive. I have found better results with a Macro Algae Reactor!
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 7 years ago
Yes O.K a macro algae reactor is slightly different to a scrubber, but they both do the same thing. They both grow algae to remove the phosphates, and nitrates from your tank. In both cases you harvest the algae, therefore removing the phosphate, and nitrate built up in the algae. A refugium does the same thing. The problem is, with out the macro algae reactor, your tank would have high phosphates. Where do the phosphates come from?. Feeding your fish!!!. So you need to have a 300g tank, with just 2 clown fish in. That would solve the problem. The basic problem is we keep to many fish, in a small space. So am I masking the problem by using phosphate remover. Yes!!!. Are you masking the problem by using a macro algae reactor. Yes!!!.  You have a very unnatural amount of algae for a small space. You need a balanced ratio of nitrates, and phosphates for you reactor to work. If one gets to low then the algae can't suck out enough of the other one, because the algae stops growing/slows down. You might find in the long term you need to dose nitrate, or phosphate to feed the algae. You might need to dose iron to feed the algae. The nitrates level in my 160g tank containing 14 fish, is  0.2ppm. I have no method of nitrate removal apart from a good skimmer, and the natural nitrate eating bacteria in my rock/shallow sand bed. Why do you need an algae reactor to remove nitrates!!. Is your tank set up correctly.  There are many reefers out there trying to grow algae to remove phosphates, and failing, simply because they don't have the right balance of phosphate and nitrate, or don't have enough iron, iodine, or other trace elements. Or the amount of algae is not big enough to suck out all the phosphates. Using phosphate remover is just easier. The sauce of the phosphate is the food/fish poo and pee. 100's of reefers use phosphate removers. Are they all masking the problem too!!!.I say in the video about the sauce of the problem. Lack of skimming, poor flow, over feeding. What do you think the sauce of high phosphates are!!!.
Daniel Vázquez Guevara
Daniel Vázquez Guevara - 7 years ago
... and you call yourself a doc? Reefkeeping is not about being "lucky." What you are suggesting is just masking up the problem instead of finding the source of it. I am surprised that you don not even know what a macro algae reactor is. A "scrubber" is not an macro algae reactor. It seems you are the one who needs to do more research. Your condescending behavior and lack of detail are probably the cause that 1/3 of your viewers dislike your video.
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 7 years ago
Daniel Vázquez Guevara The cost of my phosphate remover is £5/$7.50 per month. Algae scrubbers do not always work, You need a balanced ratio of nitrates, and phosphates. Most tanks don't have this balanced ratio, so scrubbers do always work 100%. You might also need to dose iron daily, In the long turm. This could cost more than my phosphate remover. Yes your scubber might work on your tank, because you are lucky. I have done my research. Have you?!!!!!.
Ken
Ken - 7 years ago
Thanks Doc, I learned a lot in the 6 mins. And another big thanks for the very listenable sound track. Nice groove, made the whole thing that much more pleasant.
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 7 years ago
Thank you. You are most welcome.
matt comb
matt comb - 7 years ago
I have been using good quality table salt and tap water to do very regular water changes. the algae keeps growing and I don't understand it.
inthesurf 07
inthesurf 07 - 7 years ago
matt comb hey man add an octopus and a coelacanth to your tank. Maybe some largemouth bass... I hear they do well with lionfish
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 7 years ago
matt comb you can't tell by looking at the water. You need r.o.d.i filtered water. gold fish are not salt water fish. This hobby is not cheap. You need do things correctly, or evening will die. You need to give the fish back to the fish store, before they die. you need a bigger tank to keep that many fish.
matt comb
matt comb - 7 years ago
Thanks. My lion fish died too. Sad. I have replaced with 3 more as one final time. It is a little cramped in the tank but they are doing well. I also added a couple of goldfish as they were quite cheap but very pretty.

I will ask about the salt, and also test my tap water. It looks pretty clean though.
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 7 years ago
matt comb sorry to be so hard on you last night. Sea salt is made by allowing water to evaporate from a pool of sea water. The salt gets left behind. As the water becomes more salty, the salt can no longer stay dissolved in the water, and salt crystals from. The salt crystals are then removed with a large soon, with holes in to drain of the water.. The water that gets left behind, contains lots of things important for marine life, and would make the sea salt taste horrible. Table salt is just salt, and no good. You need proper reef salt. instant ocean, red Sea, or reef crystals. Your local fish store where you brought the tangs should sell you some. How do you know your tap water is good. Did you test it for T.D.S, phosphates, copper, aluminium, silicates, carbonate, and so on. You need live rock, and a protein skimmer to help remove the ammonia that comes from fish poo. That is why your fish died. Ammonia is poisonous to fish Lack of oxygen as well, if you had 4 tangs in a small tank. Your local fish store should have asked you about your set up, if they sold you 4 tangs. Your the worst case of some one doing it wrong, I have come across. Sorry to be so honest. You are trying to recreate sea water over a coral reef. You have a lot of learning a head of you.
matt comb
matt comb - 7 years ago
Are tangs not salt fish? I have a book and it says they are. I got 4 but they don't really get on. All died now. I replaced with clowns and a lion fish. Bit there is so much algae I can barely see through the glass.

I'm thinking of adding a filter to clean the water. Can you recommend one?

I will take advise 're the salt. I will try a different supermarket as per your recomendation
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 7 years ago
matt comb sea salt dose not contain even thing in sea water. read my vids on how to set up a tank. tangs should not be in a nano tank. you are doing everything wrong. do your research.
matt comb
matt comb - 7 years ago
It is the best quality salt from supermarket. Sea salt. I had 4 tangs in my nano and all have died. Really sad
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 7 years ago
matt comb you must have phosphate in your water. what are you using to remove it. Table salt is no good. tap water is no good. even if you think it is good.
Northern Reef Systems
Northern Reef Systems - 7 years ago
I do agree.. the music is horribad!! Also a note, If you're going to make a video.. Make a video! Not a book, I watch videos to listen to someone not read!
Claire Bear
Claire Bear - 7 years ago
My sargent major eats hair algae plus zoas papaya mcdonalds chicken nuggets and out else it can get its gob round
Troll Doll
Troll Doll - 7 years ago
you fucking idiot, learn how to spell...
garyredg1
garyredg1 - 7 years ago
u godda durty mouf
starwind aquariums
starwind aquariums - 7 years ago
great info

20. comment for How to remove green hair algae from a reef tank.

Mena Fode
Mena Fode - 7 years ago
yes dumb ass with a uv sterilyzer
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 7 years ago
Mena Fode maybe you are the dumb ass, because you don't understand what a uv steriliser does. It might kill some of the free floating spores, but that is about it. If you have hair algae growing on the rocks, how will a uv remove/kill it. You need to remove the phosphate that the algae is feeding on. Please explain how a uv will remove/kill hire alge.
Dennis Younger
Dennis Younger - 7 years ago
think about it ! You say light is not the problem - then you say turn out the lights for 3 days and the algae dies. Can't be both ways...
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 7 years ago
Dennis Younger it depends on what corals you have. With some corals you have no choice but high light. lower light will help, but not do much if you have high phosphate.
Dennis Younger
Dennis Younger - 7 years ago
I didn't say keep the lights off. Don't put words in my mouth. Lower lighting will keep coral alive and algae less a problem. Works for me.
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 7 years ago
The easiest way to kill algae, is to turn of your lights permanently. That would defeat the whole idea of having a reef tank. In the wild you have permanent lighting and low phosphates. In you tank you need permanent lighting, to keep the corals alive. Remove the lights for more than 3 days and your corals start dying. so lighting can't be the problem, if you want to grow corals. Removing 95% of the phosphates won't kill your corals, but will kill the algae. This is why lighting is not the problem, and phosphates are. If you don't remove the phosphates at the same time as you turn out the lights for 3 days, then the algae will not die 100% and will just come back.
goodall1bay
goodall1bay - 7 years ago
Tangs tangs tangs
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 7 years ago
Yes tangs eat algae, but not enough to sort out a major problem. If you have low phosphate and a small amount of algae, than you might be O.K. You need a 100g tank to keep tangs. You need 50g of tank water per tang, sometimes 75g, to prevent fighting. In most situations tangs are not an option, or will not cope with the level of algae. High phosphate can lead to hard coral death. It is easier, and safer to remove the phosphate.
Roly Lorenzo
Roly Lorenzo - 8 years ago
Granted you have a point on the refugium only removing some phosphate, but that is not the main reason people have refugiums.
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 8 years ago
Yes this is true. Some macro algae is ornamental. Macro algae can also remove nitrate, be used to feed fish, fresh algae, be used to grow pods. It won't do much in the fight against hair algae, and alot of reefers still don't realise this.
CRIS TINA
CRIS TINA - 8 years ago
I just love the music!!! What is it?
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 8 years ago
+CRIS TINA it's a free YouTube piece of music. so try typing it into YouTube audio. The hair algae is feeding of the phosphates, keeping them much lower than they would otherwise be. you need a phosban reactor, with some form of granulated ferric oxide in. (g.f.o) I use 'rowa phos'. you are aiming for phosphate levels of 0.03. l have a vid on how to use a salient test kit (part of the Reef tank myths and mistakes series).
CRIS TINA
CRIS TINA - 8 years ago
Nothing pops up when I type this!
And yes, my tank is invaded slowly by surely by hair algae and phosphates are high
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 8 years ago
Just Because by Dennis Hitchcox. If you have a big hair algae problem, then nothing will eat enough hair algae, to keep it low. You need to remove the Phosphates!!.
Rotter Tube Reef
Rotter Tube Reef - 8 years ago
great video as always! straight to the point!
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 8 years ago
Thank you.
hoppincin
hoppincin - 8 years ago
I added a nice air stone in there tonight to provide extra oxygen while treating with chemiclean
Claire Bear
Claire Bear - 7 years ago
hoppincin Just use live plant and ro so simple
hoppincin
hoppincin - 8 years ago
Thanks i did purchase the phosphate rx now i am battling cyano in the same tank. I used phosphate rx in the past but my gha is not as long as what you pill out of your tank so it doesn't come off as easily. I watched your cyano vid also and am trating with chemiclear i think that is the name. Water changes today. My nems are pissed.
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 8 years ago
chamclean can use up lots of oxygen. this can piss anything off. Hope it works
A 20% way change might help.
hoppincin
hoppincin - 8 years ago
Thanks! I am suffering bad from GHA and only feed once a week I do have a phosban reactor I will set it up again I didn't think it did much but get clogged up.
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 8 years ago
you need a good test kit for phosphates. you are aiming for 0.03ppm or below. fish should be fed every day. rocks can sometimes contain undetectable phosphate. it can take weeks to sort out. Good luck.
Spic and Span
Spic and Span - 8 years ago
Love this video, the depressing music actually helped me sit and read through the whole vid. It was in sync with my bumbed mood about having green hair algae in my tank.
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 8 years ago
+Alex Gruenke just keep pulling the algae of the rocks. as long as you have phosphates levels below 0.03, the algae will soon use up the phosphate in the rock, and die.
Alex
Alex - 8 years ago
hmm...i too have some dry rock i added recently and am having a huge problem.. think i should take the rock out and clean it better? or just get rid of it? lol
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 8 years ago
+CeMe 40 I've had it twice. First time because I didn't control my phosphates, and second time because I used some dry ocean rock, that was full of phosphates. It takes time.

30. comment for How to remove green hair algae from a reef tank.

Charles Cox
Charles Cox - 8 years ago
I have 0.00 phosphates and 0 nitrates for the life of my tank and only 1 fish six line wrase , 24 gal cube, and have one rock that is covered with hair algea and some of the back glass spots of it everywhere and struggle with it all the time, I use Salifert test kits too. I've noticed water changes help the appearance of my tank.
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 8 years ago
It might just be a waiting game. Just keep pulling out the algae, and it might starve it self out, when it has sucked out all the phosphate from the rock.
Charles Cox
Charles Cox - 8 years ago
I am going to get my water tested at my lfs to check more accurately. And maybe replenish my clean up crew.
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 8 years ago
+Charles Cox Hair algae can grow at phosphate levels below 0.03, but it's growth is slowed down greatly. If your phosphate levels are 0.02ppm, then this level might not show up on a salifert test kit. You could try adding a bit more phosphate remover to your system. Your phosphates can never be zero. All you can say with a salifert test kit is they are below 0.03. Corals need at ;least 0.005ppm phosphate (levels over a coral reef). My nitrates are 0.2, and they show up on my salifert test it. Again like phosphate, you can never have zero nitrate. I don't know what a nitrate test goes down to. You have noticed that the hair algae is mainly growing on one rock. This must mean there is something in the rock, feeding the hair algae, that is not in the other rocks. Most likely this is undetectable phosphates. I an currently soaking some dry ocean rock in R.O.D.I water. This rock will be added to my current live rock, and used for my new aquascape, when I upgrade my 100g reef tank to 150g in a few weeks. By soaking the rock, and doing 100% weekly water change, this will help remove any phosphates in the rock. Is there any dead stuff on the back wall of your tank. Coraline algae for example. Try scraping this off and remove the algae at the same time. Maybe think about weather the phosphate that is feeding the algae is in the water, or in the rocks/dead stuff on the glass, before adding more phosphate remover. Maybe take a water sample down your local fish store and get it tested. Test kits can be out. I have a video (part 9 of reef tank myths and mistakes series), on how to test for phosphate.Hope this is helpful Doc.
Cat Soup
Cat Soup - 8 years ago
Nitrates also cause it. Just sayin.
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 8 years ago
Are you using any phosphate remover in a reactor. Are you over feeding your tank. Salt water tanks are always harder than fresh water tanks because the levels we are aiming for are much lower.
Cat Soup
Cat Soup - 8 years ago
I have a pretty tough time with nitrates and phosphates in my one salt tank. It's a 20 gal with one green spotted puffer (adult), one large blue legged hermit, and one tube anemone. sigh Shouldn't be that much tougher than my 115 freshwater planted. :/
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 8 years ago
+Cat Soup Yes you are right in some ways. Lots of things cause algae. Algae is 98% water, so you could say the biggest problem is water, but we can't remove the water. My nitrates in my 100g with 11 fish and no sump, refugium or deep sand bed are 0.2ppm.This is quite low. Removing any more nitrate is difficult. And getting it down to a level that will keep the corals happy, but stop the hair algae growing is almost impossible. Removing the phosphate is easy. Just place some Granulated ferric oxide ('Rowa Phos') in a reactor, and have a flow rate of 4 to 6 times your tank volume per day. I have seen tanks on you tube with 100ppm nitrate and no hair algae. Some times with high phosphates. Often something else like iron or iodine is limiting the algae growth. There is no easy method to remove iron or iodine, or create a tank that is low in iron or iodine. If your tank is low in iron or iodine  and therefore iron or iodine is limiting algae growth, you are just lucky.
Majihira Sayonara
Majihira Sayonara - 8 years ago
I have this on my 20 gallon tank. Can I just pull them?
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 8 years ago
+Majihira Sayonara You need to pull it out, and get the phosphates sorted, before it gets out of control.
Majihira Sayonara
Majihira Sayonara - 8 years ago
+TheFishTank Doc. The green hair algae. Each time I see them I want to get a tweezer and pull them.
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 8 years ago
Can't pull what?. If you want to remove the phosphates, then you need a phosban reactor. Most other filters don't work.
pit asgard
pit asgard - 8 years ago
Fanally some one that has the answer about the algae grow and how to eliminate it! thanks man! you are the man!
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 8 years ago
+pit asgard Thank you. Many things affect algae growth. The easiest to remove is the phosphate. See my vid (reef tank myths and mistakes part 9) on testing for phosphate. If you have phosphates built up in the rocks, then this is harder to deal with, will be undetectable, and it will take a while for the algae to eat all the phosphate and die.
Justin Smith
Justin Smith - 8 years ago
Good video and pretty informative. Bad spelling and grammar though.
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 8 years ago
+Justin Smith Thank you. And yes sorry about the spelling, I'm slowly getting better with my latest vids.
Tainowarrior00707
Tainowarrior00707 - 8 years ago
I don't think is just phosphate that causes hair algae high nutrients also causes hair algae out bracket...
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 8 years ago
+Tainowarrior00707 In some ways you are right. Nutrients are dissolved organic waste. The fish poo and pee that gets blown around by your power heads, partly dissolves in your water, and ends up in your skimmer cup. The phosphates represent only one small part of this dissolved organic waste. Another part is nitrate, (the final part of the nitrogen cycle), which is also important for algae growth. Dissolved organic waste can also contain iron, and iodine, trace elements needed for algae growth. Remove any of these food sauces, and you kill the algae. Removing iron or iodine to a level that would starve the hair algae, but not effect other life in the tank, is difficult. Removing the nitrates is also difficult, and might mean big water changes. I could remove the phosphates from a reef tank, to levels that don't affect coral growth in less than 24 hours, with some Granulated Ferric Oxide ( GFO) in a simple phospban reactor. The reactor would take less than 1/2 an hour to set up, and cost $50-$75.Hair algae also needs light, but you can't remove the light on a perrmanent basis, unless you don't want to see your fish!!.
Michael Sullivan
Michael Sullivan - 8 years ago
cant finish watching past 12 seconds... music hurt my head
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 8 years ago
Thank you. I don't have a great speaking voice, so sorry about the text. 
I use a salifert test kit. Any sign of blue and phosphates are to high. A Hannah checker is good. If the phosphates are built up in the rocks, then no test kit will be any good!!.
Michael Sullivan
Michael Sullivan - 8 years ago
+TheFishTank Doc. haha much better! i didnt realize it was all just type anyway. tuned it down and read. very good information. may have to get that digital checker. thanks!
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 8 years ago
+Michael Sullivan I hear you!!. Have changed the music.
Discus BOL
Discus BOL - 8 years ago
great video with crap music ;)
Ivan Chen
Ivan Chen - 8 years ago
I know right.
Damion S
Damion S - 8 years ago
Nice video, this should help a lot of noobs.
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 8 years ago
thanks.
QuittingYoutubeKThxBye
QuittingYoutubeKThxBye - 9 years ago
Easiest way is a bicolor blenny pair there cheap and can eat algse pellets and mysis after algaes gone
Faded Demons
Faded Demons - 9 years ago
1 cool
2 idk :P
QuittingYoutubeKThxBye
QuittingYoutubeKThxBye - 9 years ago
+iko dino y u stalk me
QuittingYoutubeKThxBye
QuittingYoutubeKThxBye - 9 years ago
+iko dino​ yes Saltwaterfish is my lobby
Faded Demons
Faded Demons - 9 years ago
seem to like fish i see im checking out your google plus btw
QuittingYoutubeKThxBye
QuittingYoutubeKThxBye - 9 years ago
Yes I know I use natural lighting, My aquarium is sun lit ;p
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 9 years ago
If you have no corals, then you would not need strong lighting, for a fish only tank, and there for not have the lighting, to cause much of an algae problem.
QuittingYoutubeKThxBye
QuittingYoutubeKThxBye - 9 years ago
I'm not a coral person, They're ugly to me I just supply my local petco with clownfish I breed.
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 9 years ago
+MisterE007 It depends how much algae you have you in the first place. You need to stop it coming back, by removing the phosphate. A pair of blennys will not remove the phosphate. If you have high phosphate, you might have problems keeping corals.
QuittingYoutubeKThxBye
QuittingYoutubeKThxBye - 9 years ago
Easiest way is a bicolor blenny pair there cheap and can eat algse pellets and mysis after algaes gone
CRIS TINA
CRIS TINA - 8 years ago
I have one and it doesn't eat the algae
Twelve Nine
Twelve Nine - 9 years ago
Nice Idea
Twelve Nine
Twelve Nine - 9 years ago
+TheFishTank Doc. Welcome sir, subscribed :)
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 9 years ago
+Twelve Nine thanks.
Zahh Hess
Zahh Hess - 9 years ago
This information is the most throughout I have ever found, I will apply all the steps given here to get rid of the hair algae even though a couple months ago when started I though it was really nice especially after my doty back loves to play in it as one of the jets hits through it, but now it has taken over my whole 125 g tank, rocks and all.. not nice anymore and its time to go.. Thank you for your knowledge and video Fish Tank Doctor !!
Jason Walters
Jason Walters - 9 years ago
I have a 38 gallon innovative marine tank but Iv had some green hair algae but I tested water and ph is 8.4 ammoinia is 0 nitrite is 0 nitrare is 40  but I do 7to 10 gallon a week water change and have 5 hydro powerheads running and two spinstreams and uv also need a little help tanks been up for 2/1/2 years now
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 9 years ago
You could of cause start again. A big step, and would need some careful thought.
If your nitrates were only 20ppm, and you had a large tank full of corals, and big aquascape, I would not recommend this.
Remove the live rock fish and to corals to a spare tank or storage container, with a heater, and air stone or power head for movement, and aeration. Remove and through out the rest of the water and the sand bed. If you wanted  you could keep the very top of the sand, to reseed the new sand bed. Add new dry sand bed, (1-2 inch, then new aquascape  made of dry rock, then the old live rock on top. You will need to wait for the dust to settle ( a few hours).
This would remove any nitrates built up in the old sand bed. Better flow over the new sand bed may help stop the problem happening again. 
Keep an eye on the ammonia levels when you add the fish and corals back.
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 9 years ago
Just looking at your tank history. I answer so many Q's, it hard to remember who's who.
How many pounds of live rock do you have. You need about 30-40 pounds, and a sand bed of 1-2 inches. How many fish do you have?. I would put no more than 5 clown fish size fish in your tank. The only place nitrates come from, is dead matter and fish waste. They can get trapped in the rock/sand if you do not have enough flow, skimming, or are over feeding. Or you over fed in the past. They could then be released at some point, particularly if you, or a fish stir the sand bed.  
Don't just look at what's happening in your tank at the moment, or your current filtration but what has happened in the past few months/years. If your tank is 2 years old then, how long have you had high nitrates?.
I have 12 fish in a 100g, with just a 5% weakly water change, I have 0.2ppm nitrates.
The only to things you need to remove nitrates are skimming, and bacteria, provided your tank is not over fed, and has good flow!!.
How about a video/pictures of your tank. 
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 9 years ago
It takes time. If you only do a 255 water change, the colour change in the test kit may not be that great. Good skimming not over feeding and plenty of flow = low nitrates.
Try a 50% water change, and sea what happens. The denitrofying bacteria  that eat nitrates take time to get going sometimes 2-3 months. 40ppm is a lot for the bacteria to eat.
Try a different test kit to see if the test kit is at fault.
Jason Walters
Jason Walters - 9 years ago
did water change yesterday 10 gallons but nitrare r still in 40 range they want come down this is every week doing the same water change reactor be here this week some time  any thoughts
Jason Walters
Jason Walters - 9 years ago
ok were r u located at im in Alabama
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 9 years ago
I take it you mean how often to change the G.F.O (granulated ferric oxide). I would change it every month, rather than trying to work out how long it lasts.
It is difficult to say how long it takes to remove green hair algae. It depends on the phosphate levels built up in the rocks.
Jason Walters
Jason Walters - 9 years ago
ok about how long to remove g h a in system and how often  to change it once a month or longer
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 9 years ago
I sea you have been looking at some other videos on removing G.H.A. None of these methods will work, or are easy to use. Just stick with the G.F.O. 
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 9 years ago
Up load a vid on setup that would be good.
Not sure what you mean by running seachem, they make lots of products. Activated carbon and perigein do the same thing, ung one or the other is good, but it won't help the nitrate/phosphate problem. Do you know what your phosphates are?. As I have stated in this video, a refugium will do very little for your nitrate, and phosphate. I have a whole video on why refugiums don't work.
Running G.F.O in a phosban reactor is good.
You could mix it with activated carbon in the reactor. Sandwich it between some filter pads so it does not tumble. I have a video on skimmers and phosban reactors (how to build a reef tank part 8).  You need to use R.O.D.I water, or your tank won't work.
Jason Walters
Jason Walters - 9 years ago
I also run seachem and carbon on right sideand perigein also I can send a video to show setup
Jason Walters
Jason Walters - 9 years ago
yes changed to refugium on one side and just order carbon reactor with gfo  not a lose of any thing I have rodi unit not off hand doing a 7 gallon water change in am ill check them got gost skimmer and open auqascape now sence set up only three pieces live rock and 2 corals with gha on it
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 9 years ago
You an ecotech marine tank. It should have all the right filtration. Are you using R.O.D.I water. Are you using some form G.F.O (rowa phos or PO4X). Has your tank always had algae. Have you changed any thing recently. Why do you have high nitrates. Has something died. Have you always have high nitrates. Ammonia, P.H, and nitrite, levels don't matter.
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 9 years ago
why do you have high nitrates. The denitrifying bacteria in the sand bed should be removing them.
Sounds like you have good flow. You need a good skimmer and an open aqua scape, to help remove as much fish waste as possible. This will also help remove the phosphates. Are you using any thing to remove the phosphates. Your phosphates should be below 0.03ppm. You need the right test kit like slaifert. Do you know what your phosphates are?.  
Ever Wild
Ever Wild - 9 years ago
will leaving the lights off mess up any of my corals? I have all different corals. i also have red sea no3:po4-x.
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 9 years ago
Leaving the lights off will not mess up your corals if it is only for 3 days, provided your corals are healthy. It can be cloudy over a coral reef for a few days, so corals don't always get as much sun as you think. The important thing is that you lower phosphates (PO4) at the same time, other wise you will not kill the algae.
PO4 NO3 X is a form of carbon dosing, a bit like using vodka or biopellits. The carbon sauce in the PO4 NO3 x feed bacteria that also eat phosphate, and nitrate (NO3) The problem here is that the bacteria can take weeks to get going. I have never used this product before, so have no idea how long it takes to work. you also need a good skimmer. The bacteria will slowly die and reproduce. Any dead bacteria will go up the skimmer taking he PO4 and NO3 they have eaten with them. I use rowa phos in a phosban reactor to remove PO4. You need to keep it below 0.03. I just let the natural denitrifying bacteria remove the nitrates, along this good skimming. 
 
Rotter Tube Reef
Rotter Tube Reef - 9 years ago
awesome vid
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 9 years ago
Thanks.
LEOPAZZO TV
LEOPAZZO TV - 9 years ago
Hey doc
I have a 125 reef and only hair algae is in my overflow boxes. I have 2 overflowed and grows back every few weeks. I think I have to cover the top of the overflow box with a piece of black acrylic so the lighting doesn't get inside the overflow box. But doesn't explain why there isn't any in the display tank anywhere else. The odd time I will get a sprout of it on the top of the Wavemaker. I'm thinking it has to do with flow and lighting and phosphates. I use only RO water with Tds 0.00.
Test kits? Garbage, I don't bother, period, to be honest!
Waist of money and false results and time. My opinion at least.
Any help would be appreciated doc!
Respect
Damion S
Damion S - 8 years ago
+LEOPAZZO TV
That answer implies you don't test enough to know what your phosphate readings are. Am I wrong? What are your phosphates at right now?
LEOPAZZO TV
LEOPAZZO TV - 8 years ago
+Damion S well if it's the phosphates I'm using RO water only and the other thing I can think of is feeding. I don't feed that much. Roughly 3-4 times in a week. And a special feeding once or twice a month. If that
Damion S
Damion S - 8 years ago
+LEOPAZZO TV
No doubt your phosphates are not in check, yet, as well..
LEOPAZZO TV
LEOPAZZO TV - 8 years ago
+TheFishTank Doc. Thanks doc
But where my algae has been growing are all in the areas of lots of flow.
Teeth of overflow box and directly on the wavemakers them selfs
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 8 years ago
+Damion S nutrients like phosphate are more important than the flow. algae can't survive on flow. often if you get a build up of waste on the over flow, then the algae will feed off it.
it is normally lack of flow that causes algae, because lack of flow causes waste build up. read what I have written and learn.
Damion S
Damion S - 8 years ago
most likely, the type of algae you have requires high flow to thrive and it finds it in your overflow, and perhaps tangs, or blennys, or clean up crew handle the tank for you.
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 9 years ago
Hair algae needs 0.03 ppm phosphates or above to grow. Below this, hair algae growth is slow or it won't grow.
If your phosphates are below 0.03 and you still have hair algae, then it could be living of phosphates built up in the rocks which are not detectable. It can also grow from dead coralline algae, or any waste/slime build up on glass or overflows.
What are your phosphates levels?. what test kit are you using?. Are the over flow boxes clean. Hair algae can also trap waste which then brakes down into phosphates. You have to work out where the phosphates are coming. I have zero hair algae in my over flow box. Maybe it is because I don't have an sump, so don't have an over flow box!!
Covering the box would work, but it is better to try and fix the phosphates first. 
iZaher
iZaher - 10 years ago
Many thanx.
Dp Reloaded
Dp Reloaded - 10 years ago
Thanks and very good info
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 10 years ago
your wecome.
Dp Reloaded
Dp Reloaded - 10 years ago
Won't mangroves help with this?
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 10 years ago
Mangroves work like a refugium but need 0.08ppm phosphates to grow realy well. Keeping mangroves and keeping the hair algae down involves having the right clean up crew. It will not easily fix an algae problem. Grow mangroves because you want to grow mangroves, not because you wan't to fix a hair algae problem!!.

50. comment for How to remove green hair algae from a reef tank.

GENISIS1TWENTYONE
GENISIS1TWENTYONE - 10 years ago
I'm debating on removing my refugium. My chaeto has died off due to low nutrients source and thats a lot of space being used. So I don't have GHA in my main display but on some of my LR (highest concentration from lights) I have this clear haze that is on it. Any idea what it is?
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 10 years ago
Not sure about the clear haze, could it be some form of sponge, or just another form of algae,
The trubble with a refugium is you need the right amount of macro algae. To much, and it will eat to much phosphate and starve itself out. If the macro won't grow then this is good one less thing to worry about. I just use rowa phos in a reactor, and have phosphate levels of 0.02/1.
ReeferGil
ReeferGil - 10 years ago
Spot on as always.
ReeferGil
ReeferGil - 10 years ago
Spot on as always.
Jorden Watkins
Jorden Watkins - 10 years ago
You put out great info! However I must say, a little music or something would go a long way with your viewers...it's painful to watch 6 minutes of quiet subtitles...just saying
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 10 years ago
Yes you are quite right. I could not wait for it to up load, to add the music so I whent to bed. Thanks for watching.
mnelson10000
mnelson10000 - 10 years ago
I'm with you on the refugium... HIGHLY overrated for nutrient export.  It's just a detritus trap IMHO...
mnelson10000
mnelson10000 - 10 years ago
+TheFishTank Doc.
It's a good nutrient barometer, though... if your chaeto is growing, you have too much phosphate!  :)
TheFishTank Doc.
TheFishTank Doc. - 10 years ago
Well said!!.  You could use it to grow algae to feed your fish, but it's alot of work just to grow some food that costs pennies!!!!

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