Hair Algae in the Planted tank

So I have been doing some looking around on other forums to start a new tank. I want to make this a breeding tank for whom ever, but primarily for shrimp and bladder snails, the snails for my puffer. And I came a cross a few posts about how to get rid of the trouble some hair algae.

Of course there is the "natural" way of using fish, such as the florida flag fish and the Amano Shrimp. Both of which are very good methods, but how many would you have to buy to take care of the problem.

The second option that I found that a lot of "aquascapests" are using is to over fert the problem area with Excel. Of course if you do not fix the underlying water problems first than there is no reason to over fert. But, it will work.

So I just bought a 200 dollar 5 stage ro/di unit from www.bulkreefsupply.com, which will fix my water problem area. And I am getting the ro/di water conditioner here in a few hours as I am going shopping for the new smaller tank.

Just thought I would share that good news if you will.

Holy Cow! That's some pretty fancy equipment. It could make the water so clean that you need to add buffers.

I hope that it makes the water clean, im tired of this hair algae and bush algae trying to invade my tank. I have had it for way too long. Its time to take a stand.

As for the conditioner, I will definitly have to recondition it, which aids in the buffering and essential elctrolytes.

Any one know of a good brand? Or maybe a brand that you have had experince with?

I use Stress Coat water conditioner, but it's not a buffer. Another way to get rid of algae is to use up all of its nutrients. Live plants do a good job of that.

Yeah, but you have to understand why this type of algae grows. All algae grows because there is an excess of some nutrient that the plants aren't taking in. For example, my tank is loaded with plants, but not so much as there isnt any room, there are about 8 to 9 plants in my 29 or 30 gallon which ever it is. But the algae still grows. My water is very very high in phosphates, which the plants can't consume if they don't have the essential nutrients to turn that phosphate into useable food. I saw somewhere that using potassium works. But I didn't know where to get it and I personally find that just ro ing the water is easier. I have also tried the phosgaurd by seachem, but the way you had to use it was defeating the purpose of my co2 injection. So I'm back to buying fancy things to make cleaner water.

As for the conditioner I use that as well but it doesnt add the good things that ro takes out. So if using an ro unit you have to buy something like kents ro/di reconditioner. Keeping a healthy and beautiful tank isnt always as easy as it may sound or look.

The carbon dioxide supplement probably contributes to the algae problem, but it also helps plant growth. Can you adjust the output? Like you said, it's not easy to to get an aquarium balanced. If you want really lush plants, it's hard to avoid carbon dioxide supplementation, but you also have to deal with water chemistry issues.

No matter how much I try to make my aquariums look good, they mostly look like some old geezer just randomly dumped in a bunch of driftwood and plants. I retreated from aquascaping issues by getting easy-to-grow, low light plants and keeping things clean. Still, there's nothing quite so beautiful as show quality aquascaping.

johnarthur wrote:

No matter how much I try to make my aquariums look good, they mostly look like some old geezer just randomly dumped in a bunch of driftwood and plants.

LOL! John you crack me up! I don't know much about aquascaping, but have felt that same level of frustration with other projects!

If you guys really want to see where i get my inspiration from you should visit www.plantedtank.net

This website is where it makes me want to go at it more and more. Im addicted.

But Jogn, so far, the hair algae hasn't been growing anymore. But right now I have co2 which stays on 24/7 as of like 4 or 5 days ago, at nite i turn it down real low, during the day its up to like 5 bps. I just started using seachem excel and you should see the take off of some of the plants I have. I'm going to go and take a picture right now, just so everyone can see what I have.

Oh, and on my sink I have a brita water filter, and thats what I have been using instead of the tap water and it has greatly reduced the hair, but not stopped it. This algae takes over plants and kills them. I have posted before about this, but in my 37 gallon high it was really bad, due to now what I know as not enough lighting and really really poor water conditions. Now transfering tanks, everything is looking better.

Cool site thanks!