Hair Algae Treatment
August 9, 2009
Welcome to the nightmare that is Derbesia sp, common name, Hair Algae. Almost everybody in the marine aquarium hobby has had hair algae problems at some point in time. 
What may seem like like a bit of hair algae here and there is really a precursor for bigger things to come. And in a matter of weeks, you have a full blown hair algae problem. It seems it can grow everywhere, your aquarium glass, your live rock and even on your expensive corals.
As many hobbyists have witnessed, these things are a nightmare to deal with. They seem utterly indestructible in the beginning. Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can deal with this plague-like hair algae.
The source of the problem inevitably starts at nutrient levels. If they are spreading all over your tank, it is a sign that your nutrient levels are too high. They can also produce energy from light as they are photosynthetic, and most tanks have lights.
Nitrates and phosphates are the two key nutrients that affect the growth of hair algae. These nutrients can come from a number of different sources. Mainly fish food, fish waste and the water that you use for top-offs and salt mixes. We begin by looking at ways to rid our system of these nutrients as efficiently as possible.
Do you use treated tap water or RO/DI water for your aquarium? Switch over to RO/DI if you're using treated tap water as tap has both nitrates and phosphates in it. Next, feed your fishes less and in lower frequencies. Siphon out any fish waste, fish food and detritus you can see. Remove all underwater equipment such as your power heads, protein skimmer and clean them up.
Now we need to quickly lower nitrates and phosphates in your tank. Removing nitrates is easy, water changes. Thankfully phosphate removal can easily be done with the use of a good PO4 remover.
There are some algae eaters available in the market that may help you with the algae problem. Green Emerald Crabs, nerite snails and turbo snails all eat hair algae.
Aquarium lighting can contribute to the hair algae problem as well. Their spectrum changes when they're too old. Hair algae likes the red spectrum so change your bulbs just in case.
Hair algae removal products can help accelerate the process. But they are not a long-term solution to the problem. While it may kill hair algae, it will keep comingback because of your nutrient problem. It doesn't fix the root cause of the hair algae outbreak, which is nutrients.
What may seem like like a bit of hair algae here and there is really a precursor for bigger things to come. And in a matter of weeks, you have a full blown hair algae problem. It seems it can grow everywhere, your aquarium glass, your live rock and even on your expensive corals.
As many hobbyists have witnessed, these things are a nightmare to deal with. They seem utterly indestructible in the beginning. Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can deal with this plague-like hair algae.
The source of the problem inevitably starts at nutrient levels. If they are spreading all over your tank, it is a sign that your nutrient levels are too high. They can also produce energy from light as they are photosynthetic, and most tanks have lights.
Nitrates and phosphates are the two key nutrients that affect the growth of hair algae. These nutrients can come from a number of different sources. Mainly fish food, fish waste and the water that you use for top-offs and salt mixes. We begin by looking at ways to rid our system of these nutrients as efficiently as possible.
Do you use treated tap water or RO/DI water for your aquarium? Switch over to RO/DI if you're using treated tap water as tap has both nitrates and phosphates in it. Next, feed your fishes less and in lower frequencies. Siphon out any fish waste, fish food and detritus you can see. Remove all underwater equipment such as your power heads, protein skimmer and clean them up.
Now we need to quickly lower nitrates and phosphates in your tank. Removing nitrates is easy, water changes. Thankfully phosphate removal can easily be done with the use of a good PO4 remover.
There are some algae eaters available in the market that may help you with the algae problem. Green Emerald Crabs, nerite snails and turbo snails all eat hair algae.
Aquarium lighting can contribute to the hair algae problem as well. Their spectrum changes when they're too old. Hair algae likes the red spectrum so change your bulbs just in case.
Hair algae removal products can help accelerate the process. But they are not a long-term solution to the problem. While it may kill hair algae, it will keep comingback because of your nutrient problem. It doesn't fix the root cause of the hair algae outbreak, which is nutrients.
Posted by Pima Laga
vertheless there are tried and true methods of pond algae control and thi... 
Love everything about saltwater aquariums!
