hair algae out break

no its on a timer

 

This could be a clue, your buddy may have over indulged the fish.

 

if thats the case, i feed every other day, and i have done a large water change since i came home and added phosx. any thing else i can do?

 

maybe he put faucet waater in it

 

As said above and...
Sources of phosphates are many things and is algaes' favorite food.
Flake food
Tap water or old RO/DI filters
Frozen foods
Check over feeding.
Check for old light bulbs.
Another temporary fix is this product:
Blue Life Phosphate Control 1oz

 

Using the "lights out method" isn't going to work. You will prolly kill your corals before you kill the gha. GHA is caused from excess nutrients in the system. BAR NONE!!!!!!!! I don't care what anyone on here says, the root of your issue is NUTRIENTS!!! Not light!! If light were the issue, those of us that are running a ton of light in their sps tanks would all have hair algae. I agree that your buddy probably over indulged your fish while you were gone. I would stop feeding all together for a couple of weeks. Maybe once per week.

 

Oh and turn your skimmer up on KILL!!!!!!!!!!

 

I agree but..
I think what people are referring to is when lights get old the spectrum changes that favors algae growth...but I think they would have to be really really old.