Hair Algae
From ReefPedia
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[edit] AlgaeProfile
Drawbacks: Quickly overrun tank and corals, will foul equipment and cause tannis(yellow of water), which can block light to corals. Invasiveness: High, spreads through additon of live rock/live sand. Hardiness: very, sensitiive to changes in ph and high alkalinity. Growth Rate: Dependant on nutrient, typically high phosphate and nitrates will increase its growth. Dependant on intensity of light and the kelvin of it as well as the par. Availability: common, in high nutrient systems. |
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Benefits:
Questionable food source, and reduction of phosphate and nitrate, accompanied by iron. Must be exported and not left to decay.
Introduction
Hair algae the scourge of aquarists, an oppourtunistic grower, will take advantage of any available food. The algae are existant on the coral reef, but are said to be reduced and maintaned by herbivores and low nutrients. It thrives on phosphates and nitrates. Is also said to reduce ammonia. Iron is criticle to it.
The algae will also trap detritus to further its growth. As the detritus is allowed to sit inside the hair algae it will begin to decompose by bacterial action, releasing N,P near them.
Common Names
Hair algae,turf algae,
Scientific Names
Derbesia SP
Is it a Pest?
Yes. Reduction of nitrates,phosphates,and lighting along with manuel reduction
Known Predators
Yellow tangs, regal tangs, algae rock blennies, hermit crabs, turbo snails,lettuce nudibranchs, most copepods and amphipods, almost all reef creatures will eat some of it. It is generally not toxic.
Cultivation
self propagating
Methods of control
Keep and maintain low nutrients in the system. Use phosphate removing media like gfo, granular ferric oxide. or aluminum based ones, or liquid based such as phosbuseter pro -lanthanum chloride. Keep nitrate low. Check that your input fresh water top off is not contaminated and is pure. Use ro/di water filters to make sure water is not adding any impurities. Do not use tap water. Have a clean up crew to eat it such as snails and hermit crabs. Doing all this will reduce or remove hair algae.
FAQ
excess iron is believed to accelerate growth, many tank supplements contain iron, nitrates and phosphates. use of phosphate removing media is suggested.UV sterilizers have little effect. Twirling a toothbrush in hair algae is one approach to manuel removal.
