Help!! hair algae bloom.

[PeterGwee]

Kelloggs, try the routine as followed for 3 weeks and see how you feel about it.

Trim and remove as much algae as possible.
Clean filter if flow rate drops.
Do a large 50% water change
Add 3/4 tsp of KNO3 2x a week
Add 1/8 tsp of KH2PO4 2x a week
Add 15-20ml of flourish, TMG or lushgro micros 2-3x a week
Keep the CO2 high and good.
Repeat the routine for 3 weeks and see how you feel. Forget about the algae and focus on the plant growth. If things are not growing much, check and recheck the CO2. Add more if in doubt but do check on the critters for signs of CO2 overdose just in case.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[kelloggs]

thanks peter, i will follow your "time table' closely for the next three weeks to see how are things getting.

By the way, is SAE effective? so far, i have noted mixed feelings among forumers. Thought of getting some but they are fond of doing sudden movement, disturbing the peace.

[Blue Whale]

For Driftwood and stones that kena algae, take out and subject it to Boiled water treatment. Just use a kettle and pour through every inch of the driftwood. Yup u will smell cooked vege.

U got time, scaped it. No time, just put it back. U will see the algae only after 2 to 3 months time.

So far works well for me after my mad doctor experiment. me of course.

[Addie]

kelloggs,

Any luck for reducing the hair algae? I face the similar problem in my 4x2x2 tank. I have glosso as the foreground but they are not doing very good as the hair algae grow around them.

I'm being conservative on dosing the fert but I think it is time for me to increase the dosage for my tank to see what happen after that.

I am also thinking of getting some SAEs. Would your SAE eats the hair algae?

regards,
addie

[kelloggs]

[quote:13fbe7c3bd="Addie"]kelloggs,

Any luck for reducing the hair algae? I face the similar problem in my 4x2x2 tank. I have glosso as the foreground but they are not doing very good as the hair algae grow around them.

I'm being conservative on dosing the fert but I think it is time for me to increase the dosage for my tank to see what happen after that.

I am also thinking of getting some SAEs. Would your SAE eats the hair algae?

regards,
addie[/quote:13fbe7c3bd]

Addie has just reminded me to give an update regarding my fight against hair grass.

It has been 3 weeks since i posted my dilema.

YES!!! thanks to the helpful experts here in sharing their knowledge, i have succeeded in significantly reducing the hair algae in my tank. Now it is only ten percent left! I will definitely continue the regime as recommended.

My observation is that contrary to the traditional view of fighting algae by reducing dosage of fert, lightout method, adding anti-algae chemical and what have you.. , the more you give the algae the care and nutrient, lighting, improved parameter, co2, the faster the algae will wither away because the higher plants will compete with algae to starve them... in short, care for the plants and the plants will take care of the algae

Just read this thread and follow the recommendation for 3 weeks and, to borrow PeterGwee's words, "see how you feel"

BTW, the SAE is really effective and hard working but the caveat is to recognise SAE from Flying Fox, the latter are really a nuisance. I have 3 flying fox bought wrongly and put in my tank and i now don't know how to catch them as they are too fast

Addie, keep us updated of your tank
Regards