Best cleaner to remove hair algae?

[derekg]

I have a 2 gallon pico jar and getting some hair algae. The hermits have got some of it but its growing really fast. Any recommendations??

 

[Spare time]

Maybe a female emerald crab. That would be my bet as to what to get.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have a 2 gallon pico jar and getting some hair algae. The hermits have got some of it but its growing really fast. Any recommendations??

Avoid chemicals at all costs
Best is to remove what you can by hand and add a few snails such as turbo grazer and astrea
Is your pics near a window?
Are you using RODI water or tap water from the faucet?

 

[derekg]

Avoid chemicals at all costs
Best is to remove what you can by hand and add a few snails such as turbo grazer and astrea
Is your pics near a window?
Are you using RODI water or tap water from the faucet?

RODI water and not near a window.
I have a zebra, nerite and a trochus in there right now with two dwarf hermits. Will turbos and astreas get too big for a pico?

 

[derekg]

Maybe a female emerald crab. That would be my bet as to what to get.

thank you! I heard emerald crabs but wanted to avoid because they could eat zoas. But is that only the males? And how do you tell the difference?

 

[OctaviusBrine]

I loved my emerald till he ate two of my torches. Best cleaner I ever had was a tuxedo urchin but also gotta watch as they can nibble on corals.

 

[vetteguy53081]

RODI water and not near a window.
I have a zebra, nerite and a trochus in there right now with two dwarf hermits. Will turbos and astreas get too big for a pico?

Turbos can get large but slowly- astrea- are good. Cerith also stay small

 

[JaimeAdams]

That stay small, Money Cowrie.
Mexican Turbo Snails get pretty big but are a good bet at eating hair algae
Emerald Crabs may or may not pick at stuff (I have them in all of my tanks)
A small Urchin is a good bet.

 

[Aiptaisia anemone]

turbo snail... but if you can get one of those rare cuc like chitons or stomastella they eat alot of algae. Sea hare are also a monster when it comes to algae eating.

 

[Dburr1014]

Couple squirts of h2o2.
Do you know why you got gha?

 

[derekg]

Turbos can get large but slowly- astrea- are good. Cerith also stay small

thank you!! Any reccs for glass algae? I have a jar so it's hard to clean the curved glass

 

[derekg]

Couple squirts of h2o2.
Do you know why you got gha?

I've never done h2o2 and water to avoid taking frags out of tank b/c they're already glued down.
The GHA came with the frags .. the hermits took care of 2 of them but the other 3 frags are getting overrun with the algae

 

[Spare time]

thank you! I heard emerald crabs but wanted to avoid because they could eat zoas. But is that only the males? And how do you tell the difference?

Eh crabs get blamed for everything lol. Female emerald crabs are small and lack the large pinching claws that the males have. A single one should be fine.

 

[derekg]

Eh crabs get blamed for everything lol. Female emerald crabs are small and lack the large pinching claws that the males have. A single one should be fine.

perfect i love how they look too. Might have to order one because stores near me don't have them atm for some reason. thank you!

 

[Spare time]

perfect i love how they look too. Might have to order one because stores near me don't have them atm for some reason. thank you!

PS they will eat seaweed sheets, pellets, etc, if you run out of hair algae.

 

[Aluco]

Fwiw I just ordered a Tuxedo urchin for gha in a 9.7 gallon from algae barn. They ship at about 1" it says. May be worth a look.

 

[vetteguy53081]

thank you!! Any reccs for glass algae? I have a jar so it's hard to clean the curved glass

Magic eraser sponge - ORIGINAL, Not scented
So many LFS sell thse for $2 as super algae sponge and you could by a 4 pack for that

 

[derekg]

Fwiw I just ordered a Tuxedo urchin for gha in a 9.7 gallon from algae barn. They ship at about 1" it says. May be worth a look.

Mines a 2 gallon pico jar, won't any urchin be too big?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I have a 2 gallon pico jar and getting some hair algae. The hermits have got some of it but its growing really fast. Any recommendations??

Manual removal with tweezers (or fingers).

 

[StatelineReefer]

Toothbrush rubber banded to a turkey baster....