hair algae on polyp

everyone i have a slight problem with my star polyp... it is growing hair algae on it... all my pms are good but i cant seem to rid the tank for this one spot of algae. It must have been introduced with the polyp. it grows on it and just since then as i pull it off and some pieces float away it is slowly showing up in scattered areas... it is not growing out of control but only on the source spot on the polyp.... i am afraid to pull it off when the polyps retract at night because when i do it seems that it rips up some of the polyps protective layer that it retracts into... is that bad? anyone have a suggestion on how to get rid of these? also i am starting to get some brown algae dusting the live rock.... i think this is just from my lights and lack of snails...can that be? def need advice on the hair algae asap though thanks!

 

First thing, check your phosphates, secondly, make sure there is no stray light coming in from any direction. Thirdly, if your bulbs are getting old, they may have changed spectrum and may be the cause of the hair algae. Fourthly, snails wont eat hair algae, you'd be best of getting a sea hare (However, don't just buy it for a small bit of hair algae like you mentioned). IN conclusion, if there is a single source spot, I would guess that there is some sort of stray-lighting hitting that area causing the growth. Hair algae usually affects us all at one point or another, I wouldn't get too concerned about it, but run through the possibilities and you'll figure it out

 

phophates are 0 and bulbs are new... moonlights wouldnt provide and unwanted light right? also anyone have tips about cleaning the hair algae off the star polyp without killing it?

 

new bulbs will sometimes cause an algae bloom.