I love my hair algae

[Greg S]

Well not exactly a true statement but my fish certainly do like it. Here are some more pix.

[Greg S]

Lets try to get these pictures bigger.

[lfish]

Great pics of the clowns.

[lfish]

the deep forest green color really offsets them. It reminds me of a painting I saw in Fla or Ca (cannot remember where exactly) that showcased clowns and corals in a similar way. Beautiful.

[Liza]

If you get yourself a sea hare and decide to rent it out I'd rent it from you for a week or two.

[schneijt]

IIRC, there's only PC lighting over that tank, right Greg? I'd be careful with the anemones in there, I'm not sure there's enough lighting to keep those anemones going long-term. One already looks like it is bleaching, so you might want to consider T5 or MH lighting in the near future over that side of the tank. But, maybe they'll color up better with some time under the PC's.

Also, Greg, I'm going to bring you a Candy Cane coral frag today when I come to your store. I'm going to be there around 3pm to give some live sand to the guy I met there Sat. afternoon, so I'll bring the frag with me unless you don't want it. It's a small frag that I've got no real room for, so I'm going to see if it'll prosper in your tank in the store. See you at 3.

-Joe

[Petunia]

GREAT pics!! the white is sooooo white... beautiful! see you soon.

[gwen_o_lyn]

I have to agree with Joe- you should read Mike's experience with an anemone- his screen name is Skeety and his website is listed under his profile... I will look for the link... but yeah it looks bleached... and most anemones don't live under PC lighting. Here is the link http://mysite.verizon.net/s0da/sabae.html For the sake of the animal, take it back if you can't keep it alive- I'm not saying that you can't.

Also the hair algae will kill corals- keep that in mind. It will grow over them and sufficate the coral. I almost lost corals myself.

[pogodzib]

Originally Posted by schneijt

IIRC, there's only PC lighting over that tank, right Greg? I'd be careful with the anemones in there, I'm not sure there's enough lighting to keep those anemones going long-term. One already looks like it is bleaching, so you might want to consider T5 or MH lighting in the near future over that side of the tank.

PC's may be and may not be enough light for those anemones. I keep anemones in tanks with only PC's and VHO/MH's. I have yet to have any problems keeping either my green/brown BTA or RBTA under the PC lighting. What kind of anemone's are those? If the first pic is of a Sabae, then I would guess that the PC's may not be strong enough. If it is a condy, then I would guess that it is strong enough. As to the bleaching, was the anemone like that when you first got it, or has it gotten more white? With regards to T5's, I personally would not use them over anemones or most softies. I have heard of way too many people killing them due to the T5's creating too much intensity. MH's would be my first choice.

Originally Posted by gwen_o_lyn

Also the hair algae will kill corals- keep that in mind. It will grow over them and sufficate the coral. I almost lost corals myself.

Yes, hair algae CAN grow over corals and sufficate them, but that usually won't happen to anemones or taller corals. That usually happens more to SPS, zoos, etc. that are either short or do not contract and expand. I have had my issues with hair algae in the past. You can try different kinds of fish, critters, sea hares, etc... Some people have had success with those types of things, I have not. The only thing that ended up working for me was a lot of hand picking and eventually it all died off.

[schneijt]

Well, I've just returned from Greg's store. He claims he has not done any water changes on the 125 gallon in rougly 6 months. Topping off only he says. The only filtration is a filter/skimmer combo unit, and there is good circulation. In an attempt to explain the algae bloom, DevilBoy and I convinced Greg to do water readings. We tested with two different kits and were shocked by the readings. PH-8.1 Nitrate-Hovering around 0 Nitrite-0 Calcium-roughly 400

We tried a phosphate kit, but ran out of the test liquid and didn't have another one on-hand.

I must say, I've got to hand it to Greg. With a heavy stocking load, this tank is amazingly healthy. We think there's a phosphate issue causing the algae, but of course we can't verify that at the moment. However, this just goes to show you how success comes in many forms ...

I guess we can stop giving so much crap to Greg, he's figured it out somehow. No, on second hand, we'll still give him crap ... He has a virtually maintenance-free tank that has no problems other than the strong crop of hair algae. Take it at face value, but I'm amazed by these readings we took given how well the tank is doing after 6 months of no water changes!

-Joe

[chazz-66]

At least it's not red, Eh Greg?

[lfish]

Interesting post Joe! Sounds like you guys had fun running tests on the tank. I am glad that things are healthy.

I am going to bring a couple of things by the store that may help with the hair algae. Are you in tomorrow greg?

[docdocmurdoc]

I haven't had a problem with my sebea anemone, or my purple LTA anemone under PC lighting. They both are doing very well. When I got the sebea he was as white as gregs, and now he is tan. He is doing wonderful. I am upgrading my lights here shortly, so hopefully they will love it.

[Loverotties]

Also if your tank is new,having anemone is no good!Has to be running for a year with steady readings!

[Greg S]

Hey Lori I will be in from 9 until 4:30 or so. The frags you brought are doing great by the way. I will take some pixs tomorrow