Green Hair Algae????

[ridehardorgohome]

I have a 12g nano cube with Breeding Red Cherry Shrimp and the tank is starting to grow Green Hair Algae but the shrimp are not eating it,I don't really want to add chemicals because of the babies, I have 2 baby siamese algae eaters in another tank and was wondering if I put them in that tank if the SAE would eat or bother the shrimp or hatchlings?????? Any other idea you may have would be great, Thanks
A pic with no algae

 

[three-fingers]

SAE will eat baby shrimp, and get far too large for that tank anyway. Eventually they would eat adult shrimp.

To combat algae, lower photoperiod, increase circulation and reduce light. Adding floating plants goes a long way (they get CO2 from the air, so are great at combatting algae, plus they block some light).

 

[ridehardorgohome]

Right on, I removed one of the light about a month ago,and it was doing fine with not having the OG algae, come to think of it I just ran out of Flourish Excel about two weeks ago and am using The tetra brand Fert just cuz I had it laying around,I remember someone telling me that the excel has some thing in it that stops algae,Have you heard anything on this?Let me know thanks

 

[JakeH]

Excel is a carbon source & helps combat algae, but the Tetra garbage is just potash with some iron. Algae looooves that crap. I still have a bottle, but I just use it on my patio plants now & I will never put it in my tank again.

 

[ridehardorgohome]

Yup I just had it layin around and didnt even think about it until the GH started, What is the best way to get rid of it because I have breeding RCS and do not want to kill the babies with chems? Thanks

 

[JakeH]

If you have a decent amount of nitrate (10-30ppm), I would just quit dosing ferts until you can get more Excel or the algae goes away on its own. Blacking out the tank really never helped me with algae, but it did turn all my plants brown & CO2 is kind of a big step. You could add an Otto catfish or 2, but that would cause your nitrates to build faster... Definitely skip the algae eaters. Those things are a cancer.

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

I have never seen any of my otto's eat hair algae. But that does not mean they don't.

I would suggest if you are not running any co2 then do not use ferts of any kind. Just water changes every couple weeks(50-75%) or a small one weekly (25%). That will replace all the nutrients that a lower tech tank needs.

Excel is also a great idea to give you some insurance against algae, and get some better growth from the plants. I dose 2ml everyday and 1 cap ful on sunday after a 50% water change in a 5.5g. But I do this to balance with ferts and diy co2.

For you I would do 2-3ml daily in your 12g with no ferts.

 

[yashaswibs]

Excel is good against hair algae but I am not sure how it would affect the baby shrimps. It certainly hurts them at algae killing dosage.

Cutting the photoperiod, increasing co2 and circulation are a good start against any algae.

 

[ridehardorgohome]

The Excel is fine with the babies,Never have had any problems, That is the only fert I use,But ran out and had this Tetra crap laying around someone gave me, NEVER again will I use that stuff Excel is the only way, I use it on all my planted tank and use no O2 and things are green lush and full,So to anyone using fetzs leave Tetra alone,Thanks for all the input,I'm going to start adding excel and will keep posted

 

[ridehardorgohome]

If you have a decent amount of nitrate (10-30ppm), I would just quit dosing ferts until you can get more Excel or the algae goes away on its own. Blacking out the tank really never helped me with algae, but it did turn all my plants brown & CO2 is kind of a big step. You could add an Otto catfish or 2, but that would cause your nitrates to build faster... Definitely skip the algae eaters. Those things are a cancer.

Why is it that you say the SAE are cancer??? I love mine I've got 6