I am not sure if this is hair algae or not. Anyway, I like to remove whatever algae this is on the sand. Can I remove the affected sand and replace with new sand or that wont help?
Hair algae on sand?
- Thread starter tmccaff
- Start date
I remove it and 2 days later comes back actually worse. I am thinking remove sand and replace. I am guessing it's hair algae. However, nothing seems to eat it. Thoughts?
I had the same problem, ( this is what worked for me) don’t remove or replace the sand. What I did was use a cat litter box scoop and skimmed the top of the sand. What ever came out with the algae oh well. Later I was able to use a scoop with a screen. You have to be persistent, pick it off the rocks every couple of days and the sand at least once a week. I also put 3 sand sifting stars in the tank. I took about a month and a half for it to pretty much go away.
How long has your tank been set up? I purchased Reef Flux, as my 65 Gallon was overrun with GHA. I have Mermaids Fan, Money Plant, and Red Algae, though. Someone suggested Vodka Dosing, I did the slow ramp up on the dosing. It did wonders for the GHA. Also I got two Tuxedo Urchins to help. The Vodka Dosing didn’t work on my newer set ups.
If you replace with new sand, you may end up with the same issue.
I had this problem on a newer tank as well. I doubled down on clean up crew, good water flow, remove as much as you can with regularity, and monitor parameters. Mine ended up going away, but took a little while.
I had this problem on a newer tank as well. I doubled down on clean up crew, good water flow, remove as much as you can with regularity, and monitor parameters. Mine ended up going away, but took a little while.
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Do you have a sump?
One trick with a sumped tank, put a filter sock in your sump, place one end of a hose in the sock, the other end in your tank. Start a siphon, then use the hose to suck up the crap out of the sandbed. As you suck up the sand and crap, it gets caught in the sock.
Empty the sock, rinse the sand, bleach for a few days, rinse in RO/DI, let air dry completely(this will off gas the bleach also), add back to tank at a later date.
Been cleaning my sandbed like this for many years.
One trick with a sumped tank, put a filter sock in your sump, place one end of a hose in the sock, the other end in your tank. Start a siphon, then use the hose to suck up the crap out of the sandbed. As you suck up the sand and crap, it gets caught in the sock.
Empty the sock, rinse the sand, bleach for a few days, rinse in RO/DI, let air dry completely(this will off gas the bleach also), add back to tank at a later date.
Been cleaning my sandbed like this for many years.
Looks like hair.
Full tank picture?
Trying to gage how bad you have it.
Sand, pick it out.
1 or 2 rocks, h2o2 over the kitchen sink.
Do you know the reason for hair algae?
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