Flourish & Hair Algae

[kmk]

Somewhere I read that an effective way to get rid of hair algae was to apply Flourish directly (using an eye dropper I suppose). Does anyone know which Flourish product should be used, how much to use, and/or anything else that might be relevant to this technique?

[J-P]

good question... I would assume excel is the product used but I have never tried that technique myself.

[RTR]

Flourish is the group title of Saechem's supplement line. You do need to specify Flourish XXXX to name a particular product,

That said, Flourish Excel is the product you are talking about. It does have detrimental effects on some algae at higher than standard dosage. BUT, you do need to be aware that those out-of-normal-range doses may be detrimental to some plants (kiss any Vallisneria or Anacharis goodbye - they are damaged to destroyed by algae-effective high doses), and there are potential fish or invert issues as well. Such usage is not, repeat not, sanctioned by the manufacturer and if you use such, you are purely on you own. The company will not take any responsibility for high-dose or direct local application of that or other products. Damage of death caused by such are solely your responsibility.

There are several agents which have such effects. Flourish Excel, peroxide, ozone, dissolved chlorine gas, and others all have the same or similar effects. But none are fully safe for fish or inverts (or in some cases humans) contact outside rather low levels. All must be considered dangerous to you and your livestock.

Caveat emptor!

[kmk]

Thank for the reply RTR.

[J-P]

just got a tip.

3 mil / gal of hydrogen peroxide will work. I'll be doing a dip at a higher concentration and see how that goes

[RTR]

I'll offer another and likely less welcome tip. Hair algae is/are an indicator of light/nutrient/plant imbalance.

Hair algae - most algae in fact - indicates vascular plant issues. Treating the hair alga w/o correcting the problem will lead to another alga, or recurrence of the same algae.

Best and most lasting results are from treating the problem, not just the symptom.

[J-P]

of course

Correcting the underlying problem is always necessary.

I don't mean to hijak, but I had my CO2 ran out on a weekend I forgot the lights on. One section of my tank is currently festooned with hair algae (it is incredible how quickly a little can grow in such a short period of time).

The advice offered was peroxide at low doses, and keep the lights to a minimal + manual removal of as much as possible.

I think my java moss is toast. No hope for it but my other plants may survive manual removal and a high concentration dip.

Is this a wise move or just feeding the propaganda?

[geronimo69]

RTR is right again of course. My 55 gallon planted went nuts with hair algae! I realized I had my lights on too long. I now do 4 hours on, 2 off, 4 hours on again. I also use Flourish Excel everyday. The algae is almost completely gone.

[PolishPuff]

also, you got to take sun light for consideration.

[RTR]

A slow but handy hint for treating Java moss infested with various filamentous algae. Assumption: that you are on a public water supply with chlorine or chloramine disinfectant. Set a smallish tank, bare bottom, with a fence post or other smallish piece of slate-mounted driftwood. Add a small pump or even just an airstone for some circulation and a heater. Add a couple of common pond snails. DO NOT treat the tap water for disinfectant. Low light is sufficient. Staple a bit of alga-infested moss to the wood.

Do 50% partials once or twice per week. Within a few weeks, most filamentous algae is killed off by the water disinfectant. Start trimming the developing edges of the moss and transfer to whatever tank you want clean moss to start up.

This can also be done with any plant which will survive weeks without a substrate. Floating or weighted down crypts, Anubias species or cultivars (these are very slow), weighted stem plants able to live bare-root, etc.

Chlorine and chloramines destroy many but not all algae, especially filamentous ones.

Simple and more effective than you would think, but not speedy.

HTH

[J-P]

I hesitate to do the peroxide method to the main tank as the hydrogen peroxide directly effects the O2 levels. I do have a little 5 gal fish bowl that I used to keep my betta in that I can play with

[RTR]

Somehow I find it satisfying to be able to actually use the water disinfectant for something I need periodically. That is better than spending a lifetime always fighting it.