[Chris]

Hi all

Have just returned from a weeks holiday and got a really bad hair algae problem it's brown and all over the tank and sand tanks been up and running for 4 weeks no fish in tanks looking really bad, every level is perfect so don't understand is there anything I can do to get rid of it? Also can I put fish in while it's like this or will it harm them? Thanks

[hayes]

Hi Chris im a newbie to, its a natural acurance the algie is blooming on the nitrates in the sand it will burn its self out after a while,
mine took about three months after i bought a clean up crew and some turbo snails to turn over the sand.

[Rona]

Are you sure it is brown hair algae?

Part of the normal cycle is diatoms which are brown and can cover the rocks and sand. Hair algae is normally green whispy strands.

Too early to add fish IMO. Nassarius and cerith snails will help the sand bed and turbos snails will clean up the rocks for you. If you choose hermits, make sure there are empty shells for them or they can kill the snails for theirs to move into.

Do the normal water changes and wait for the diatoms to clear up if I were you.

[Chris]

Thanks guys I'll get some snails and crabs, just looked closer the rocks are brown and the hair is green whispey strains and fury, how many snails should I get and how many hermit crabs is a vision 180litre tank 3 ft long thanks

[ZeeGy]

In my vision 180 I have about 20 turbo snails and about 7 snails that sift the sand and about 10 hermits. Hope this helps? What equipment are you running?

[Chris]

Hi Zeegy

I'm running 2 jbl 900 with filter floss in each, 2 x 100w heaters, 20 kg live rock, deltec mce600, cleartide reactor, standard jewel lights ( gonna get 2 x led tiles soon and blue led strip, and one powerhead, getting crabs and snails tomorrow can only get hold of turbos at the minute but will keep my eyes out forthe others, how long would you leave it to put fish in? Thanks Chris ps what fish do you have in your vision?

[Rona]

You put the fish in after the tank has cycled. The diatoms are showing that it is still cycling.

What are the current test reading?

[Chris]

Hi Rona

Just done all tests everything is perfect also the rocks look like there original colour again just with green hair algae, I have put in crabs and snails today so hopefully that should help, when will I know it's ok to start adding fish? Thanks