green hair algae is taking over

I am somewhat new to the hobby and not sure what advice is good because it all seems to be different. The latest problem I am having is green hair algae. My lfs sold me a seahair slug and told me it would go through algae like a "lawnmower", just temp acclamate and watch it go! Sorry to say it didn't go anywhere, I purchased two one disappeared and the other never moved. Seems like the only things that are still alive is one damsel, two shrimp, some hermits and a six line wrasse. Any information will be greatly appreciated thank you.

 

I'm not at home now ( at work) but the algae is about an inch to an inch and a half green of corset and looks like hair!

 

Good news just talked to my wife and the slugs are alive!

 

How often do you do water changes? Do you skim? what water do you use and what are your parameters?

 

I make my own ro water do a 20% every two weeks and my nitrates may be a little high but everything else looks good. I don't have a skimmer yet its next on the list.

 

If I where you I would try to remove as much as you can manualy during water changes, get a good skimmer asap, feed less, run phosphate remover in a reactor and it will go away. But right now you fish waste and exess food that a skimmer helps clean out is staying in the tank water and feeding the algae

 

I'm actually having the exact same problem on my tank. The only thing I've found that helps besides the herbivors is a 10% water change every week or so. Mine seems to be going away slowly.

 

If you have a sea hare, they do their work at night. Once you eliminate the algae they will starve unless you try feeding dried seaweed.

 

Keeping excess nutrients out of the aquarium water is one key element in eliminating your hair algae. There are many things that can add excess nutrients into your tank like some commercial foods which may contain undesirable things like nitrates, phosphates etc and overfeeding the tank is also another factor. Using a phosphate remover, RO/DI water, a good tank clean up crew ie. hermit crabs and snails and a high quality salt with no NO3, phosphates etc like Tropic Marin or similar good quality salt should really help bring the algae under control.