Black Hair algae eater 40 Breeder???

Hello all I just migrated from my 20 gallon to my 40 gallon breeder. While the 40 gallon was cycling I left my 20 with my parents and it all went to hell, by the time i got my fish an saved some rock the tank was covered in black hair algae.

I have had my new tank (40 gallon breeder) with my 2 clowns for about a week and I am already seeing patches of stringy black hair algae on the sand bed........it must have been on some of the rocks.

I am extremely angry I hate that stuff!!! What should I do i tested the tank before I put the fish in a week ago and all my phosphates nitates and nitrites were under 3 and just two clowns the tank in definitely not overstocked.

I need a cleanup crew, what will eat the dang hair algae and churn the sand???????

I am running a hob bubble magnus skimmer and a aqua clear with some carbon. I plan on adding a refugium with some chaeto soon.

 

Do you maybe mean black turf algae? Do you have a picture? Lots of GFO, protein skimming, water changes. The cheato will help and carbon can help prevent breakdown of organics into more inorganic nutrients, by first removing them. All this stuff may slow down the growth, but if it's turf algae may not get rid of it. Mexican Turbo snails can sometimes help. Others may have other ideas if that doesn't work, but the turbos are safe place to start. Other predators such as urchins may work too.

 

It may be black turn algae, It is black and forms in clumps on the substrate, with black hairs coming off of it. I have attached a picture.

It eventually spreads to the rocks.

 

all levels should have been at 0 before adding fish

ammonia and nitrites should never be above 0 after tank has cycled and nitrates as close to 0 as possible

 

agreed with brunoboarder244 especially ammonia, phosphats and nitrates, these will feed algae like crazy. I want to put my fish in my cycling tank badly cause waiting sucks beieve me i get where your coming from. but I still have 1 ppm of nitrates which is nothing and everything else is perfect, but you should have 0 its just better this way, patience is always key

 

you'll never get nitrates down to 0...its very hard and more work than its worth 1ppm nitrate wont do any damage as long as it is kept in check....... ammonia, nitrite have to be 0 and phosphates 0 but that is somewhat difficult without starving your fish

 

I am thinking about adding a gfo reactor (phosban make) or a refugium, which one would be better for controlling the algae, im thinking the reactor.

 

Fuge is definitely cheaper and may be good enough depending on how high all your levels are

 

Two Little Fishies Inc Phosban Aquarium Phosphate Reactor 150 is only $33 on amazon, the cpr fuges are all 100+