I'm new to Talkingreef and I just want to say hey before I start. Ok now to the question. My big brother just gave me his old Nano cube 6 gallon, which he didn't take care of at all. It is covered with green algae. I got rid of some but it's crazy. I put a phosphate filter in and got a couple of hermits and snails. I also did a water change when I first got it. Any other suggestions?

time and patience. every water change will require manual removal and siphoning. you can also take the rock out of the water and scrub the rock with a toothbrush (do not reuse it though, lol), after scrubbing ... rinse in old tank water (from the water change) and replace in the tank.

what are the water parameters ?? do you have test kits ??

what are the water parameters ?? do you have test kits ??
Dimensions: 11.81" (L) x 13.39" (W) x 11.81" (H) and about the test kits, my brother tested the water before the water change and then he had to go back home out of town. I need to buy some.

I feel your pain; i have been battling this crap for a while now and i think i am just beginning to get the upper hand.

Check out the thread i had going on this: Need Hair Algae Ideas. (http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/marine-tank-problems/5033-need-hair-algae-ideas.html)

Don't be surprised if your tests for phosphate and nitrate are 0. The hair algae is probably sucking them all up. However, do you have a DSB to remove nitrates? If not, that is where i would start.

Also, I agree with Bobby. Keep pulling and scrubbing the junk out of the tank. It is tough but attacking it constantly will eventually give other algae an upper hand (such as coralline). If you don't have some type of macro algae, i would add some. However, i have seen my calupra covered in hair algae in just a few days, so keep on the offensive!

Lastly, although i haven't tried it yet, i have heard Marine SAT is a good product for fighting this stuff off.

What else is in the tank besides the hermits and snails? If it is only these guys you could turn the lights out for a few days. I found when I was battling HA that this would weaken it and then I could even siphon some of it off the rocks. If you only have the snails and hermits I would recommend not feeding them more than a tiny little bit a couple times a week. This will encourage them to eat the algae.

i would definately run out and pick up some test kits. i use the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Inc. (API) test kits, htey are a lot cheaper and easy to use.

I've got a mixture of API, Salifert and SeaChem kits. I would love to see more head to head comparison of kits like this Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine - Product Review: Alkalinity Test Kit Showdown (http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/8/review) Dana Riddle article.

Marine SAT for Saltwater tanks is a great way to fight hair algae. I have been using it for about a month. Just about all the hair algae on my back wall of my tank has disappeared and the hair algae I have picked off the rocks comes off in huge mats. I really like the Marine SAT.

Don't be surprised if your tests for phosphate and nitrate are 0. The hair algae is probably sucking them all up. However, do you have a DSB to remove nitrates? If not, that is where i would start.



Great suggestions Astrivian. Just wanted to say that in a nano tank (especially a 6 gallon) I've heard that there is not enough surface area to develop a good denitrifying DSB.

Keep pulling and scrubbing the junk out of the tank.

Don't go overboard with the "scrubbing", though, especially on live rock. In a system with only 6 gallons of water (and, I assume, not much LR surface area) I'm sure you could easily unbalance your tank's biological filter.

Don't go overboard with the "scrubbing", though, especially on live rock. In a system with only 6 gallons of water (and, I assume, not much LR surface area) I'm sure you could easily unbalance your tank's biological filter.

Which, ironically, would probably cause more hair algae to grow! :)

I typically use a small brush and just rub it across the rocks in the tank to loosen the algae up. I to not remove the rocks, however, for the very reason you are talking about Doc. Also, i don't want to cause a rock slide and crush my animals.

Mine is finally gone. There are little clumps here and there but it is under control and not covering everything. Yank, scrub, siphon...and it eventually goes away.