HAIR ALGAE

[MidasMan]

Where can i find hair algae??? Is it a good idea to put it in a tank???

[piranha45]

you can grow it yourself in a freshwater tank. Just leave a tank out in the sun for a few weeks, and poof, you will have hair algae.

Fish, any type of fish, will ravenously devour it within minutes, though.

[Daddyo72]

Once you get hair algae it is really hard to get rid of. It generally is a sign of improper water parameters. I do have a few cures for hair algae when you decide it stinks.Hair algae tends to like high phosphates/iron/nitrates (along with high light).

[piranha45]

a sponge works wonders on it...

[Daddyo72]

a sponge works wonders on it...
Not on plants, substrate and dam near anything it clings too. Once you get it its VERY hard to get rid of. I've had it in one of my three planted tanks and it is nasty and not anything you can remove with a sponge. Using a sponge to remove it is putting a band-aid on a much larger problem. The root of the problem(water parameters as listed above) must be corrected.

[rayman45]

i want a tank coated in hair algea, not the glass just botton and decor

[Daddyo72]

BTW, hair algae CANNOT be removed with a sponge. I'm not sure what your referring too, but it isn't hair algae.

[iheartfishies]

nooooooooo...

Kyle and I visit a LFS that has it in lots of their tanks.


It's nice, we like it.

We want some.

I heard if I just got some of theres' it would spread in my tank.

I think it looks awesome.

[Daddyo72]

nooooooooo...

Kyle and I visit a LFS that has it in lots of their tanks.


It's nice, we like it.

We want some.

I heard if I just got some of theres' it would spread in my tank.

I think it looks awesome.
It does look cool for a while, but you cant just remove it when your tired of it. Think it over before you put you tank and fish in harms way to achieve hair algae. If you do try to elevate your phosphates/iron/nitrates, do it with feeders and not fishyou want to die.

[CentralMayhem]

i have full spectrum lights on my tanks and have them near windows to recieve natural sunlight. it grows naturally and helps keep down nitrates and such. if you have nutrients and light algae will grow. all my cichlids graze on it and i believe it is very good for them to graze as they would in nature. we feed a majority of protien, they need a little roughage. and daddyo it isnt a sign of bad water quality, its just that it goes rampant in what we consider bad water parameters. and you dont want any algae in a planted tank. in fish only tanks it is great. let there be light and the hair algae will grow. as long as you prune it back, it makes the tank look more natural and the fish benefit as well

[CentralMayhem]

and daddyo72 must have planted tanks and reef tanks both of which despise algae, i know cause ive kept reefs for years, cyanobacteria, not just the mats, but the hair, and derbesia are almost impossible to get rid of once they get started. same as hair algae growing on the leaves of your aquatic plants. but all in all in a fish only tank it is a benefit to the fish. if you dont like it get rid of it its not hard. take away the sources it needs to thrive and it will die. prevention is always the BEST cure, but not the ONLY cure. if you despise it get rid of it otherwise prune it back and let the fishes eat their spinach

[iheartfishies]

i have full spectrum lights on my tanks and have them near windows to recieve natural sunlight. it grows naturally and helps keep down nitrates and such. if you have nutrients and light algae will grow. all my cichlids graze on it and i believe it is very good for them to graze as they would in nature. we feed a majority of protien, they need a little roughage. and daddyo it isnt a sign of bad water quality, its just that it goes rampant in what we consider bad water parameters. and you dont want any algae in a planted tank. in fish only tanks it is great. let there be light and the hair algae will grow. as long as you prune it back, it makes the tank look more natural and the fish benefit as well

That's exavtly why we want the hair algae!

It's pretty, and the CHICK-LIDS love it.... :hearts:

[Daddyo72]

i have full spectrum lights on my tanks and have them near windows to recieve natural sunlight. it grows naturally and helps keep down nitrates and such. if you have nutrients and light algae will grow. all my cichlids graze on it and i believe it is very good for them to graze as they would in nature. we feed a majority of protien, they need a little roughage. and daddyo it isnt a sign of bad water quality, its just that it goes rampant in what we consider bad water parameters. and you dont want any algae in a planted tank. in fish only tanks it is great. let there be light and the hair algae will grow. as long as you prune it back, it makes the tank look more natural and the fish benefit as well
Every reference out there says that it is (is a sign of improper water parameters.) Show me a tank with hair algae, and I will show you a tank that was neglected at one point.

[Daddyo72]

and daddyo72 must have planted tanks and reef tanks both of which despise algae, i know cause ive kept reefs for years, cyanobacteria, not just the mats, but the hair, and derbesia are almost impossible to get rid of once they get started. same as hair algae growing on the leaves of your aquatic plants. but all in all in a fish only tank it is a benefit to the fish. if you dont like it get rid of it its not hard. take away the sources it needs to thrive and it will die. prevention is always the BEST cure, but not the ONLY cure. if you despise it get rid of it otherwise prune it back and let the fishes eat their spinach
It can be a benefit to fish, but the process to get it is dangerous to fish. Thats all I'm saying.

[iheartfishies]

It can be a benefit to fish, but the process to get it is dangerous to fish. Thats all I'm saying.
ok...

I see now.

[CentralMayhem]

check my gallery, my tank has it, and i laugh at anyone who says my tank has ever been a danger to fish other than the fact that some fish get a beatin and some get eaten .truth of the matter is this. do you ever see a pond that has no algae whatsoever in it, no, most of the time there is hair algae all over the sides of the rocks , at least what isnt consumed by the fish, when you have a water parameter problem you will get an algae bloom and have GREEN WATER, dangerous to fish yes. Hair algae, im afraid not. as long as there are nitrates and other trace elements combined with the presence of strong lights you will have algae. That is why they recommend in BEGINNERS tank books that you do not have too strong of lights if you dont want algae. All tanks have nitrates save a few very advanced reef tanks, unless you do 80 to 100 % a day, LARGE fish produce waste and waste produces the fuel for algae. BEGINNERS dont like to clean their tanks that often thats why they dont like algae. If i were to skip water changes for any amount of time i could theoretically grow a jungle, but i care for my tank and make sure it doesnt get out of control. and as a matter of favct many salt water aquarists use it as a means of nutrient export along with their water changes. algae uses nitrates and phosphates etc. if you harvest the growing algae out of your tank you are removing nutrients and creating room for new growth for the uptake and removal of more. save me the stuff about algae is bad. algae grows in all water with lights. the only thing determining how much and what type is you. remember we are in total control of our systems. are we not. and fishkeeping is about self expression. some dont like algae some do. it is not bad. why is it that pond fish look so much healthier and happier than aquarium fish. i believe it has something to do with great light from above and the availability of all the delicious algae and microfauna.

[Daddyo72]

check my gallery, my tank has it, and i laugh at anyone who says my tank has ever been a danger to fish other than the fact that some fish get a beatin and some get eaten .truth of the matter is this. do you ever see a pond that has no algae whatsoever in it, no, most of the time there is hair algae all over the sides of the rocks , at least what isnt consumed by the fish, when you have a water parameter problem you will get an algae bloom and have GREEN WATER, dangerous to fish yes. Hair algae, im afraid not. as long as there are nitrates and other trace elements combined with the presence of strong lights you will have algae. That is why they recommend in BEGINNERS tank books that you do not have too strong of lights if you dont want algae. All tanks have nitrates save a few very advanced reef tanks, unless you do 80 to 100 % a day, LARGE fish produce waste and waste produces the fuel for algae. BEGINNERS dont like to clean their tanks that often thats why they dont like algae. If i were to skip water changes for any amount of time i could theoretically grow a jungle, but i care for my tank and make sure it doesnt get out of control. and as a matter of favct many salt water aquarists use it as a means of nutrient export along with their water changes. algae uses nitrates and phosphates etc. if you harvest the growing algae out of your tank you are removing nutrients and creating room for new growth for the uptake and removal of more. save me the stuff about algae is bad. algae grows in all water with lights. the only thing determining how much and what type is you. remember we are in total control of our systems. are we not. and fishkeeping is about self expression. some dont like algae some do. it is not bad. why is it that pond fish look so much healthier and happier than aquarium fish. i believe it has something to do with great light from above and the availability of all the delicious algae and microfauna.


and daddyo72 must have planted tanks and reef tanks both of which despise algae, i know cause ive kept reefs for years, cyanobacteria, not just the mats, but the hair, and derbesia are almost impossible to get rid of once they get started. same as hair algae growing on the leaves of your aquatic plants. but all in all in a fish only tank it is a benefit to the fish. if you dont like it get rid of it its not hard. take away the sources it needs to thrive and it will die. prevention is always the BEST cure, but not the ONLY cure. if you despise it get rid of it otherwise prune it back and let the fishes eat their spinach



http://www.pet-mart.com/education/algaecontrol.html






HAIR ALGAE

The Source- Hair algae matches its name- hairy. And green. And everywhere, attaching to any rock, coral or object in the tank. This form of algae is very normal in small quantities but can be devastating if left unchecked. Excessive nutrients, including pho sphates are the culprit here.



The Cure- Since hair algae is a natural part of the reef, the goal is to control it, not to wipe it out completely. It feeds on any biological process, so the natural processes in your tank allow it to grow. In order to combat it, you need to take a methodical approach to removing organics from your tank. Clean any filters regularly.

[Daddyo72]

Q: I have a hair algae problem. What can I do to keep it under control?


A: Green hair algae is probably the most annoying problem that most reef aquarists face. The problem rarely occurs in fish only tanks because the algae is inhibited by copper treatments for parasites. Reef tanks, however, almost always suffer from bad growth of hair algae due to the fact that they can not be medicated, because the same copper that kills ich and oodinium will kill all invertebrates.

What is a reef aquarist to do? First, lets see why the problem occurs. Reef tanks require good lighting for proper growth of invertebrates that have algae cells growing in their tissues. Strong lighting also spurs hair algae growth. (Fact of life, plants grow faster with stronger light—chlorophyll etc) The main problem is evaporation, through. High evaporation rates, combined with city water, high in PHOSPHATES, spell sure trouble with hair algae. Although lighting and other things contribute, the point to remember is PHOSPHATE = HAIR ALGAE. Stop the phosphates and the hair algae growth will stop, or at least come down to a manageable level where snails etc. can keep your tank looking good.

Phosphates generally enter through city water, but some "trace element" mixtures available on the market have substantial amounts of phosphates. In fact, the two best known trace element supplements, have phosphates added on purpose, so BEWARE! (Kent Marine Essential Elements is an excellent trace element supplement without phosphates or silicates!) Of course algae growth fertilizers generally have phosphates also. (Kent Marine Micro Algae Iron Supplement with Manganese has NO PHOSPHATES OR NITRATES1) Some sea salt mixtures have more phosphates than others, so read up on these and use one with the lowest phosphates possible.(Recommended salts are Instant Ocean, Reef Crystals and of course Kent Sea Salt) Several popular calcium and strontium supplements contain gluconates or other sugars. One new product promises to "turbo charge" natural enzyme systems and can cause ich to go dormant. That product is loaded with sugars. There is some evidence that hair algae can make use of these carbon sources, so beware! They also will cause other problems such as cyanobacteria growth. Sugar has no place in a reef!.




Hair algae: Long green strands. Easy to pull off by hand. I've seen strands of this stuff over 4 inches long.
Primarily a problem when there is excess iron in the water. High iron normally results from excess fertilization, but some water supplies have high iron levels (especially well water). When I was over-dosing my 29g tank with Seachem Flourish, I got lots of this stuff. Reducing dosage of iron containing fertilizers completely eliminated the problem.

I've seen my Tiger Barbs, SAEs, and Algae-Eating Shrimp all nibble at this

[Daddyo72]

Hair algae, im afraid not.

Not the algae, but the process of getting it.

[CentralMayhem]

all tanks go through a procees where it is dangerous at the beginning thats why we are on the careful side with the fish. so you are tryin to tell me that you have a pretty clean low light algae free system and you then put it in a window or something and that once SAFE tank you had just went through a drastic dangerous change. wrong, algae grows if you do not get other stuff to keep it out. you got your info from pet-mart. HAHAHAHA. joke all in itself. in a reef tank you dont use straight tap water like most cichlids, you use nitrate and phosphate free salts and r.o. or deionized water. you could also use OZONE, yet its more dangerous to fish than any algae. in a reef tank if you get algae like that, you didnt do you job right. i have been talking FRESH system talk and you bring in reef **** when this is MFK. and if you keep monsters in your reef then you are gonna have algae and an unsuccesful reef. i have had healthy disease free fish for a long time, and never had a fish die of ammonia poisoning or other NTS. reef tanks and planted tanks have no place for algae thats why they use other organisms to out compete it. Plants and photosynthetic corals for starters. and in marine fish only tanks, hair algae is also a great benefit my friend. some of the hard to keep fish need tanks overflowing with the stuff. most moorish idols are known to be hard to keep, yet they thrive in tanks with heavy algae growth, tangs as well, as well as angels, so in fact you would only want to totally exclude algae if you have a reef or planted tank. Thank you and have a good night

[CentralMayhem]

and that article says it doesnt grow in fish only tanks because of copper medication. well who medicated their whole tank and why. arent you only supposed to treat if there is a reason to do so. they keep copper in their tanks as many lfs' do because they have over crowded stressed fish which leads to outbreaks of parasites etc. if you quarantine and such your display tank should be disease free and able to grow algae and other plants which all benefit the fish. absurd info you just got handed by pet mart dude.

[Daddyo72]

all tanks go through a procees where it is dangerous at the beginning thats why we are on the careful side with the fish. so you are tryin to tell me that you have a pretty clean low light algae free system and you then put it in a window or something and that once SAFE tank you had just went through a drastic dangerous change. wrong, algae grows if you do not get other stuff to keep it out. you got your info from pet-mart. HAHAHAHA. joke all in itself. in a reef tank you dont use straight tap water like most cichlids, you use nitrate and phosphate free salts and r.o. or deionized water. you could also use OZONE, yet its more dangerous to fish than any algae. in a reef tank if you get algae like that, you didnt do you job right. i have been talking FRESH system talk and you bring in reef **** when this is MFK. and if you keep monsters in your reef then you are gonna have algae and an unsuccesful reef. i have had healthy disease free fish for a long time, and never had a fish die of ammonia poisoning or other NTS. reef tanks and planted tanks have no place for algae thats why they use other organisms to out compete it. Plants and photosynthetic corals for starters. and in marine fish only tanks, hair algae is also a great benefit my friend. some of the hard to keep fish need tanks overflowing with the stuff. most moorish idols are known to be hard to keep, yet they thrive in tanks with heavy algae growth, tangs as well, as well as angels, so in fact you would only want to totally exclude algae if you have a reef or planted tank. Thank you and have a good night

Can you read? If you don't really understand the basics of hair algae then don't post about it. You don't completely understand hair algae. That is obvious. Now your ignorance is getting on my nerves since you won't READ the facts. Stop wasting our time. Read the previous posts on the cause of hair algae. The process to get it is unsafe for fish and a sign of improper water conditions. I don't understand why you are defending your posts. They are loosly based on facts and don't at all apply to hair algae.

BTW, I don't run reef systems. The basic info on hair algae applies most types. Even you can figure that out.

[CentralMayhem]

MOST being key here. where do you get your info. all the info u submitted is about reefs. shut your mouth about how it is UNSAFE. why dont you go put your tank in a window and put a few hundred watts of full spectrum light over it and take a pic in a few months. you WILL get hair algae, and then i want you to tell me how many of your fish died from the DANGEROUS situation. You apparently know NOTHING about fish tanks and the whole nitrogen cycle and its management. Find me info that says getting hair algae in a fresh water tank or any saltwater tank other than a reef is dangerous to the fish. and how do you even know the fish were there before the algae. Oh by the way. NO NO NO and I mean NO PET-MART info please you donkey. and tell me this, is ALL hair algae the same. I THINK NOT. what you would have in your reef and what i have in my freshwater tank are two completely different species of algae. Plants use nitrates as food. is your tank nitrate free. and if you are worried about the phosphates and silicates, again ill say you only get your info from a reefer. I have kept fish since childhood and worked at 3 very reputable lfs' 2 in san diego and 1 in phoenix. NEVER have i had a problem from letting some hair algae grow in my tank, and my fish have always consumed the stuff, so WHATS SO DANGEROUS. Dont just say it is dangerous, i want you to come up with facts. These days I hear so many people talking about their fish getting bloat. THE CAUSE way too much protein. Every week when my fish are "FASTING" for 2 days, most of the algae in my tank is consumed. And besides man, im not wasting anyone but YOURS and MY time, seein as we are the only 2 involved in this conversation, so save your breath, the rest of the MFK members WONT save you or your time. if your not man enough to do it yourself then step off.......THATS HOW YOU DO IT........THATS HOW YOU DEBATE.!!!!!!!!!!

[CentralMayhem]

i mean i just clicked on your bs link and it says SALTWATER ALGAE CONTROL. talks about reef tanks. talks about controlling the stuff. which is what we do. WE control our tanks right. If you dont want algae eradicate it, if you dont mind it control it. There may be a few dangerous noxious nasty ass types of algae fish wont eat, but all algae and plant life needs the same general stuff to survive. therefore you should say that any tank that has grown ANY algae has gone through a dangerous process. it is called the NITROGEN CYCLE.

[CentralMayhem]

and YOu dont completely understand Hair algae. thats obvious. so quit pissin ME off. tuff guy. bada bing bada boom.

[Monster VooDoo Fish]

Once you get hair algae it is really hard to get rid of. It generally is a sign of improper water parameters. I do have a few cures for hair algae when you decide it stinks.Hair algae tends to like high phosphates/iron/nitrates (along with high light).

It's not improper water parameters, it's more like a wrong ratio of Nitrate/phosphate which should be 15 to 1.

I would think H/A would not like a high phosphate.

H/A will not hurt your fish unless they get stuck in it.

quick cure is bs.

[CentralMayhem]

Thanks VOODOO

[MidasMan]

umm...thanks you angry peps.... :angryfire i think i got this hair algae thing down :thumbsup: BOP

[Daddyo72]

It's not improper water parameters, it's more like a wrong ratio of Nitrate/phosphate which should be 15 to 1.

I would think H/A would not like a high phosphate.

H/A will not hurt your fish unless they get stuck in it.

quick cure is bs.
Umm that IS an improper water parameter.

[Daddyo72]

MOST being key here. where do you get your info. all the info u submitted is about reefs. shut your mouth about how it is UNSAFE. why dont you go put your tank in a window and put a few hundred watts of full spectrum light over it and take a pic in a few months. you WILL get hair algae, and then i want you to tell me how many of your fish died from the DANGEROUS situation. You apparently know NOTHING about fish tanks and the whole nitrogen cycle and its management. Find me info that says getting hair algae in a fresh water tank or any saltwater tank other than a reef is dangerous to the fish. and how do you even know the fish were there before the algae. Oh by the way. NO NO NO and I mean NO PET-MART info please you donkey. and tell me this, is ALL hair algae the same. I THINK NOT. what you would have in your reef and what i have in my freshwater tank are two completely different species of algae. Plants use nitrates as food. is your tank nitrate free. and if you are worried about the phosphates and silicates, again ill say you only get your info from a reefer. I have kept fish since childhood and worked at 3 very reputable lfs' 2 in san diego and 1 in phoenix. NEVER have i had a problem from letting some hair algae grow in my tank, and my fish have always consumed the stuff, so WHATS SO DANGEROUS. Dont just say it is dangerous, i want you to come up with facts. These days I hear so many people talking about their fish getting bloat. THE CAUSE way too much protein. Every week when my fish are "FASTING" for 2 days, most of the algae in my tank is consumed. And besides man, im not wasting anyone but YOURS and MY time, seein as we are the only 2 involved in this conversation, so save your breath, the rest of the MFK members WONT save you or your time. if your not man enough to do it yourself then step off.......THATS HOW YOU DO IT........THATS HOW YOU DEBATE.!!!!!!!!!!

Grow up. I never got mad. I'm simply trying to tell you that the water parameters involved in the process of getting hair algae isn't safe for fish. I never said they would die, just that it isn't safe. It's you that doesn't understand. Your saying things that have NOTHING to do with what I'm talking about. You can do water changes to fix the improper water parameters and make it safe, but the initial process isn't safe. That what I've been trying to tell you. Grow up you fool. Do you understand yet?

[Daddyo72]

It is simply that you don't understand what I'm trying to say. Thats all. Concentrate hard. You can do it.

[CentralMayhem]

no you FOOL, do you. I have been saying ALL aquariums go through processes that arent safe for fish. The only thing I am saying is that hair algae isnt bad, and all aquariums go through the process of accumulating nitrates. if you actually have a fish only monster tank with less than 15ppm of nitrate then you must do tons of water changes and run tons of carbon and barely ever feed your fish. nitrates happen. PERIOD. water changes are the means of removal. ALL tanks have the capability to grow hair algae, and at the same time as soon as you have it started and growing it acts like a filter in itself. helps to rid the aquarium of your so called dangerous elements. How dangerous are nitrates man. can you tell me that. what makes algae grow can you tell me that. and what are the water parameters in your tank. im sure you could grow some hair algae in your tank, and never once put your fish in any more dangerous a situation than what you have them in at the moment. im sorry for sounding rude man. we are all mkf's and i dont want to argue. even though i like arguing, this arguement is getting old. I will say this lets call a truce. YOU are right that the nitrogen cycle can be dangerous to fish. I am right in saying hair algae isnt harmful and the process of growing it can benefit your fish. and besides, WHAT is really dangerous to the fish is neglect on our part. as long as we act responsibly our fish should be able to thrive in our systems. mfk for life. peace out daddyo

[CentralMayhem]

GOOD DEBATE MAN :cheers:

[MidasMan]

Amen :y220e:

[Daddyo72]

no you FOOL, do you. I have been saying ALL aquariums go through processes that arent safe for fish. The only thing I am saying is that hair algae isnt bad, and all aquariums go through the process of accumulating nitrates. if you actually have a fish only monster tank with less than 15ppm of nitrate then you must do tons of water changes and run tons of carbon and barely ever feed your fish. nitrates happen. PERIOD. water changes are the means of removal. ALL tanks have the capability to grow hair algae, and at the same time as soon as you have it started and growing it acts like a filter in itself. helps to rid the aquarium of your so called dangerous elements. How dangerous are nitrates man. can you tell me that. what makes algae grow can you tell me that. and what are the water parameters in your tank. im sure you could grow some hair algae in your tank, and never once put your fish in any more dangerous a situation than what you have them in at the moment. im sorry for sounding rude man. we are all mkf's and i dont want to argue. even though i like arguing, this arguement is getting old. I will say this lets call a truce. YOU are right that the nitrogen cycle can be dangerous to fish. I am right in saying hair algae isnt harmful and the process of growing it can benefit your fish. and besides, WHAT is really dangerous to the fish is neglect on our part. as long as we act responsibly our fish should be able to thrive in our systems. mfk for life. peace out daddyo
Your so close to understanding. Hopefully you will actually have an original thought rather than reheating what you already said. You just want to win the debate even if you don't totally understand the facts. It's ok, common newbie problem. (New to the hobby.) Thought you weren't going to respond anymore.
:newbie:

[CentralMayhem]

ok man thats it. why dont you just type what you mean instead of letting it be up to me to GUESS. explain your reasoning to me and then maybe we will have another debate. NEWBIE!!!!! hahaha i have been in the tropical/native fish hobby for many many years. let me see 19 yrs. NEWBIE problem hahahahahahahahaha. you are lame man. i tried. but you are just too lame. you are like one of the kids in the school yard in elementary school who says that something is right cause his dad told it to him. you have NO legit info at all that you have posted for me to read, besides one account from pet smart that is about CONTROL of it in a reef tank. youre the kid who says " all that matters is I know, I dont have to explain myself to you" hahaha. just drop a bomb on me if im that stupid. unleash all your info and prove to me what you are TRYING to say. The only thing I heard from you is that the process of getting hair algae is dangerous. guess the cold war is over. i tried to call a truce and you came with your snide ass remarks. but what else should i have expected from a NEWBIE!!!!!! hahahahahahah

[Daddyo72]

ok man thats it. why dont you just type what you mean instead of letting it be up to me to GUESS. explain your reasoning to me and then maybe we will have another debate. NEWBIE!!!!! hahaha i have been in the tropical/native fish hobby for many many years. let me see 19 yrs. NEWBIE problem hahahahahahahahaha. you are lame man. i tried. but you are just too lame. you are like one of the kids in the school yard in elementary school who says that something is right cause his dad told it to him. you have NO legit info at all that you have posted for me to read, besides one account from pet smart that is about CONTROL of it in a reef tank. youre the kid who says " all that matters is I know, I dont have to explain myself to you" hahaha. just drop a bomb on me if im that stupid. unleash all your info and prove to me what you are TRYING to say. The only thing I heard from you is that the process of getting hair algae is dangerous. guess the cold war is over. i tried to call a truce and you came with your snide ass remarks. but what else should i have expected from a NEWBIE!!!!!! hahahahahahah
What ever gets you thru the night. Believe what you want. :newbie:

[M|L]

Discussions are welcomed, but please do not resort to flaming or insult to other members.

:)

[CentralMayhem]

still no info to back up your claims huh daddyo. oh well man. i thought you had it in you. guess not. but as of NOW i quit this discussion, and should anyone else have a hair algae question, i will tell them to consult with you, as you are the authority on the stuff. since i know nothing of aquariums or the processes they go through, i will forever keep my mouth shut when asked such questions. and by the way. since we started this debate, i have been thinking. i dont think i want my fish in a dangerous environment. so............daddyo.......how do i get rid of the stuff and keep it from coming back. why did i get it in the first place, and what can i do to prevent it in the future. any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Daddyo72]

still no info to back up your claims huh daddyo. oh well man. i thought you had it in you. guess not. but as of NOW i quit this discussion, and should anyone else have a hair algae question, i will tell them to consult with you, as you are the authority on the stuff. since i know nothing of aquariums or the processes they go through, i will forever keep my mouth shut when asked such questions. and by the way. since we started this debate, i have been thinking. i dont think i want my fish in a dangerous environment. so............daddyo.......how do i get rid of the stuff and keep it from coming back. why did i get it in the first place, and what can i do to prevent it in the future. any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Otto cats, black outs, APC has some great pieces on Flourish Exell and it's ability to kill it. A fert called tropical master grow I've found seems to kill it. Twirl it into a toothbrush to remove it. I have a siphon I rigged to hook up to a scrub brush so when I scrub algae away, it gets immediately removed. Cutting back on unnecessary organic material with at least a weekly water change(or as needed) until the problem is removed. Add some nutrient absorbing fast growing plants such as Wisteria, duckweed, hornwort, fairy moss, water sprite,Hygrophila, Bacopa mint ( has a few of the same ingredients found in Melafix) and a carnivorous aquatic plant, Utricularia macrorhiza (Bladderwort) is amazing at destroying algae, more specifically the food they use. This plant is amazing being that it actually traps micro organisms as a food source. You can also soak rocks and such in peroxide and do a diluted dip for aquatic plants. The hair algae if not scrubbed off after the dip and placed into the tank will turn pink when it is dead.

Further more I only said that the process of getting hair algae isn't safe or better yet optimum. You can make it safe/ improve the water conditions and still have hair algae. It's hard to kill. I already explained how you get it. Feel free to ask for any more info.

The dip with plants has to be exact in amount and soaking time or it will kill the plants. If you need details on the process let me know.

[CentralMayhem]

thank you for not using the word DANGEROUS. All plants, being algae or other higher order plants have the same needs in terms of food. The reason people use other plants to combat the stuff is because of that fact. The uptake and removal of other forms of plant life will help rid a tank of the stuff you dont want accumulating. In a planted tank or a reef tank you want as little algae as possible as it will cover corals and the leaves of plants, overgrowing and taking over if left unkept. I dont want a planted tank(well i do but we will start a new post for that) but i do like the benefits of full spectrum lighting. One reason for my argument for hair algae is that it can be asthetically pleasing, without all the necessary fertilizers, and required trimming associated with the higher order plant forms. Another reason is the fact that it does play a role in the removal of excess nutrients. My fish LOVE the stuff, and the fact that I have had hard to keep species thrive in tanks with HEAVY algae growth until they could be coaxed into eating other foods makes me believe that the benefits GREATLY outweigh the risks. And daddyo, as much as i bagged on you and vice versa, i have been waiting for someone who likes a good debate as much as i do. Thanks for keepin it up and putting up with my hard ass head. Happy fish keepin dude. hope to share some more good posts with you.

[Daddyo72]

thank you for not using the word DANGEROUS. All plants, being algae or other higher order plants have the same needs in terms of food. The reason people use other plants to combat the stuff is because of that fact. The uptake and removal of other forms of plant life will help rid a tank of the stuff you dont want accumulating. In a planted tank or a reef tank you want as little algae as possible as it will cover corals and the leaves of plants, overgrowing and taking over if left unkept. I dont want a planted tank(well i do but we will start a new post for that) but i do like the benefits of full spectrum lighting. One reason for my argument for hair algae is that it can be asthetically pleasing, without all the necessary fertilizers, and required trimming associated with the higher order plant forms. Another reason is the fact that it does play a role in the removal of excess nutrients. My fish LOVE the stuff, and the fact that I have had hard to keep species thrive in tanks with HEAVY algae growth until they could be coaxed into eating other foods makes me believe that the benefits GREATLY outweigh the risks. And daddyo, as much as i bagged on you and vice versa, i have been waiting for someone who likes a good debate as much as i do. Thanks for keepin it up and putting up with my hard ass head. Happy fish keepin dude. hope to share some more good posts with you.
No problem. Happy fishkeeping as well.

[golcondorus]

wow, that was a long debate, I do agree with the monster fish eater, probablly the best local fish shop here in portland oregon, called The Wet Spot, (yes, I know it sounds like a strip club but its a really big fish store) they have hair algae in lots and lots of their tanks, and it looks really cool, in fact im planning on asking them if I can have some next time I go in there, it would look great on my rocks in my 100 gallon