getting read of green in a salt water tank??????????????

Question

i have a 50 gal reef tank i have a lot of green hair grownig in it . i have use the green crabs but they died fast . what can i do to stop it from coming back , what can i use to get reid of all of it ???????????????

Answer 1

Look up the type of algae you have in this link, then use the number beside that type to find an organisms at the bottom that will eat it: http://saltcorner.com/sections/guest/algaepage/algaepage.htm

The emerald crabs don't do much to remove hair algae - these are better for Valonia (bubble algae). Snails or hermit crabs will do a better job for you, especially if what you have is Derbesia or Bryopsis hair algae.

You can also help to keep it under control by controling the nutrients in the tank. Keep a close eye on the nitrate and keep the readings under 20ppm. If you use tapwater, this can be a source of nitrate and phosphate, both of which are algae fertilizers. There are resin pads you can cut to fit in your filter to remove them (need periodic changing), or you might want to switch to reverse osmosis water. You can buy filters for home use, or buy the water already prepeared at some pet stores or super WalMarts (Culligan water).

Sea urchins do a wonderful job of keeping the hair algae down, but they also scrape off coraline algae (and leave white "trails" through the pink and purple), and if big enough, they can topple live rock.

Answer 2

How old is your tank? Hair algae outbreaks are pretty normal in a young system. Also, are you using a protein skimmer? They will help remove the nutrients that fuel micro-algae. Ensure that your light bulbs aren't too old, and that you are not over-feeding, as these will also contribute to nuisance algae. I am concerned about your green crabs (Emerald Mithrax?) dieing so fast, as they are generally very hardy. This may be an indication that some of your water parameters are out of whack. You may try some small hermit crabs and Astraea snails in your aquarium. They will help remove what's already in the tank, but you really need to address the source of the problem.

Regards