Solution for long hair algae

[TigerBarbs]

That would probably help but if u scrape it off it's still in the tank. It might just colonize on something else. You could try a turbo snail or two or other snail species.

[Gregcoyote]

I have algae scrubbed for the past 20 years. It works fine, but is a bit of work to setup. Probably the most effective way to strip nutrients from the water. Certainly one of the most natural ways of doing it.

If you don't remove the algae from the system, the nutrients just recycle and make more algae.

[Leighton79]

To the op, how's your alk? (dkh)

[TigerBarbs]

Just got freakin tired of the ugly green hair and pulled most of it off. I don't know my alk. Lol prob should get alk and calcium test kits. Next lfs run, I will get them

[EriksFish315]

10 turbo snails in the tank just ow there busy as can be going at it feel like a made a great purchase.

[TigerBarbs]

Awesome! And 10? How big is your tank?

[EriksFish315]

55g I heard reccomendations on 1 per 3 gallons

[TigerBarbs]

O okay 10 isn't that many.

[EriksFish315]

No but they deffinetly have put a huge dent in the algae since 4 oclock.

[TigerBarbs]

Wow I might try one

[EriksFish315]

What size tank one might not be enough.

[TigerBarbs]

It's a 29.

[EriksFish315]

Yeah a couple will do it just be a slow process but deff will control it.

[TigerBarbs]

I'm just a little skeptical because they're known to topple rocks.

[EriksFish315]

I think the rocks I have are a lot heavier then them and are in place good.

[TigerBarbs]

Mine are a little precarious. If I get some, I'll go for the smaller ones

[mr_X]

Originally Posted by EriksFish315

55g I heard reccomendations on 1 per 3 gallons

That's ridiculous. You better add food for them, because you definitely don't have enough food for 10 turbo snails in your 55.

[Leighton79]

Yes you should have an alk test. Stable dkh is vital IMO. Plus low dkh will mean green hair algae. Get the dkh up and nutrients out and poof, it will go away without the aid of creatures.

[TigerBarbs]

Originally Posted by Leighton79

Yes you should have an alk test. Stable dkh is vital IMO. Plus low dkh will mean green hair algae. Get the dkh up and nutrients out and poof, it will go away without the aid of creatures.

Isn't testing alk with out calcium useless. I've heard you need the right balance between them

[Leighton79]

I'm not quite sure I understand what you are asking. Alk, cal and mag are related, but it's mag that makes cal available. Therefore when everybody bangs on about "I can't get my cal up" mag is usually the culprit. However that's a whole different matter. With such a large acceptable range (8-12 maybe even 13) I don't accept that alk without cal is useless at all. Mind you you should really have all 3 kits if you are keeping a reef anyway.