Hair Algae on Substrate

[AdamScott]

I am trying to remove this hair algae that is starting to spread over my substrate. I attempted to remove by hand but it latches on to my substrate and I end up losing a good deal of gravel. 

Looking for best ways to remove and prevent hair algae from returning.

Nitrates at 10ppm. Lighting on fixed schedule 7 hours a day. Afraid to increase nitrates any higher to avoid stressing out neos. Weekly 20% water changes.

Maybe Easy Carbon?

[Patrick_G]

I think you’re on the right track with manual removal. Maybe you can pull the algae/gravel and then drop the algae back in the tank? Easy Carbon should work too but it might take a few doses over a few weeks. 

[Pepere]

You can always drop the algae and gravel in to a bucket and treat it.  
 

peroxide, seltzer water,  your choice.  Once the algae withers away you can return the gravel.

I have not been all that impressed with easy carbon. I went through a few bottles and can not honestly tell you it made a noticeable difference in my tank.

 

 

Edited December 28, 2022 by Pepere

[Darax]

If your tank can support it, a siamese algae eater nomed stuff like that up in my tanks. That being said, my neocar shrimp aren't reproducing. Can't say if it's my SAE,  the guppies, or the plecos that are eating baby shrimps. Too bad temporarily homing a fish is stressful to the fish. The algae eaters could be rented out like goats to a blackberry patch. 

[JoeQ]

Congratulations on the beautiful algae!!! If it were me I'd get some critters to help clean the glass, then sit back and admire the substrate algae. 

[DaveO]

A couple things might help you with this algae problem. First I think your light schedule is too short. Try nine hours instead of seven. Plants want light. Plants also want fertilizer. Up your nitrates to between 20 and 40 ppm. Trust me, your shrimp will not be affected. I have no shrimp troubles at 50 ppm. These two things should help your plants to thrive and out compete the algae. One other thing to watch for is over feeding. Don't let fish or shrimp food lay around the tank. Algae loves the leftover food as much as the snails.

[Mmiller2001]

Using root tabs?

[nabokovfan87]

I think the best choice here is going to be amano shrimp 🙂

Edited January 2 by nabokovfan87