26th Nov 2009
How to Control Green Hair Algae in Your Saltwater Aquarium
If you find some green, feathery mass in your saltwater tank, Green Hair Algae is probably what you have. Though algae help improve the water quality during the early stages of your aquarium, excess growth cold spell quite a nightmare. This filamentous type of algae is hardy and tends to spread alarmingly. If left uncontrolled, your fishes and the whole tank would be in trouble. Dealing with such algae requires a little understanding about how it thrives. In order to survive, green hair algae would require light, nitrates and phosphates. If you intend to control and rid off this nuisance from your tank, you should not give it what it needs. Starving it off from the nutrients it requires is the first step.
Phosphate could be introduced in your water through what you feed your fish. Uneaten fish food left in your tank increases your water’s phosphate content and would break down into nitrates. With the use of an anti-phosphate resin in a filter and implementing low oxygen in it, both phosphate and nitrate could be reduced. You could deprive these algae from light by adjusting your tank lights to a much lower settings. Though it is always possible to remove the excess amounts of algae by hand, introducing certain predators that would feed on this type of algae has been found to greatly help in its control. Some algae eating fish, the surgeon fish, grass carp and those of rabbit fish families, or snails, urchins and hermit crabs could be added to your tank to eat off the algae. Contrary to what others believe, salt will not kill it. Treating your tank with some algae specific chemicals is much more advised.
Preventing green hair algae from taking over your tank is so much better than curing it. Since fish food is where most of the phosphates begin with, as well as the development of nitrates, a controlled and disciplined feeding would better maintain your water in its most desirable parameters. Inadequate aquarium care is another factor in the growth of this type of algae, a more responsible water and tank management should be observed. Along with that, make sure your equipments are functioning properly. Never let this messy, smelly, slimy algae cover your whole tank. With the right maintenance, you do not only keep your aquarium free from green hair algae, but you are also keeping all your aquarium inhabitants healthy.
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