I'm confused...

Listen to Tangster, I had a HUGE hair algae problem, and thanks to his advice and from others on here regarding my water parameters, mine is now all gone.

Two more things I would suggest that seemed to work for me, adjust your skimmer to wet skim. I was emptying mine twice a day (AquaC Remora) while I had the hair algae. I'd also suggest running a phosphate removing product and consider cutting back on your feeding some.

These things combined with getting my water parameters correct did the trick.

As for critters to help, the one's that really made a huge difference were Zebra snails...the big ones. I have a total of about 10-15, but 3-4 that are 2" plus and they eat more than all of my others combined. They literally leave 1" wide clean streaks through the hair algae. Can't recommend them enough.

 

Thanks so much. What do you mean by "wet skim"? I run my skimmer constantly and have to clean the collection cup out about once sometimes twice a week.

 

Old bulbs sometimes are at fault, how old are they?

 

"wet skimming" is by where you turn your water valve down to where the "water level"
start to come up in the cylinder , adjusting it will make the skimmer push the 'lighter"
stuff' up to the bowl.
But watch your jug/bucket it will fill quickly some times.

also it will take water level down in the sump ' so watch that as well , you have to add back more often.

 

Exactly. Basically removes more organic material from the water and catches any algae floating around too.