What Is Red Hair Algae & How To Control It?
Are you struggling with red cotton-like algae strands taking over your reef aquarium? While some algae inside your aquarium can be beneficial, red hair algae present unique challenges that can be troublesome because they grow so rapidly and are difficult to get rid of.
In this article we will get a better understanding of the root causes of hair algae and how you can manage algae outbreaks.
What Is Red Hair Algae?
Red hair algae (Centroceras clavulatum) is a type of hair algae that ranges from pink to deep red, combining its thread-like strands to form cotton-like clusters inside reef tanks. Unlike green hair algae, red hair algae is more challenging to deal with due to its aggressive growth pattern and capabilities to spread like wildfire inside the water. This algae should not be overlooked as even the smallest thread of red hair algae can quickly establish and colonize different areas inside your aquarium.
One of the most distinguishing features of red hair algae is how resilient it is. While other common algae types can be easily eradicated, red hair algae can still thrive in poor aquarium water conditions.
Why Does Red Hair Algae Grow Inside Reef Tanks?
Following the trend of most algae species, red hair algae thrives inside aquariums when the following conditions occur:
Nutrient Imbalances
The main driver of red hair algae growth inside reef tanks is elevated nutrient levels. The common culprits include nitrates and phosphates. Spikes in these nutrients typically come from decomposing organic matter, overfeeding stock, poor water changes, insufficient mechanical filtration, and using tap water rather than reverse osmosis (RO) or deionized (DI) water.
Aquarium Lighting
If your aquarium lighting is too intense or the light cycle is too long, it can contribute to red hair algae outbreaks. If you have recently set up an aquarium, this puts you at a greater risk of red hair algae due to more clean and bright surfaces available for the algae to attach to. This is because new reef tanks have less coralline algae and beneficial bacteria than well-established reef tanks.
How To Control Red Hair Algae In Reef Tanks?
Red hair algae doesn’t have to be a headache, as there are ways to control it. However, it is key to understand that red hair algae control is a multi-faceted approach that you should pay close attention to, to prevent spreading the algae further when removing it.
Manual Red Hair Algae Removal
The first step involves manually removing the algae, however, extreme care must be followed. Here are some tips!
- When manually removing red hair algae, never pull the algae off of surfaces without properly containing the strands/colony. If you leave loose red hair algae fragments behind, they can rapidly establish into new algae colonies.
- We love the “spaghetti fork” removal method. This uses a simple tool you use every day at home - a toothbrush! Using the bristle end of a toothbrush, carefully twist the toothbrush to remove the algae from the root end.
- If your live rock is covered in red hair algae, if you can, remove the rock and clean it in a separate container to prevent the algae from spreading in the aquarium.
- After removing the red hair algae, always dispose of it outside of the aquarium and tank system to prevent it being reintroduced into the water.
Biological Red Hair Algae Control
Did you know that some aquarium creatures are fantastic at controlling red hair algae? If you are looking for a more natural way to control your algae outbreaks, you can try introducing the following:
- Turbo and Florida cerith snails
- Emerald crabs - caution when adding these critters as they can sometimes damage coralline algae
- Sea hares - perfect for severe algae outbreaks, but often need to be removed after they have devoured the algae if you have aggressive or predatory fish inside your aquarium
- If you aquarium space allows, algae-eating saltwater fish such as yellow or kole tangs can help manage red hair algae growth
Environmental Red Hair Algae Control
There are some simple environmental methods you can also try:
- Reduce the aquarium lighting cycle to 8 hours a day.
- Increase mechanical filtration to aid with removing any algae fragments or floating particles in the water.
- Increase the water flow to prevent the red hair algae from settling in dead spots - always be careful when increasing water flow near fragile coral colonies.
- Install a good quality phosphate reactor with the relevant media.
Chemical Red Hair Algae Control
If you have tried all the above and are still struggling with red hair algae inside your aquarium, it may be time to bring in chemical methods.
As a last resort, consider using reef-safe algaecides to remove the red hair algae. Always check the manufacturers guidelines with using chemicals alongside tank inhabitants.
Preventing Red Hair Algae Outbreaks
Prevention is key to a healthy reef aquarium, and there is no exception when it comes to red hair algae, as it is much easier to prevent algae outbreaks than eliminating it once established. Here are some ways you can prevent red hair algae taking over:
Good Water Quality Management
- Perform regular water changes
- Always carefully vacuum the aquarium substrate - unsure how to clean your substrate, take a look at our full guide HERE
- Only use RO or DI water when topping-off your aquarium and when mixing saltwater
- Frequently test the water parameters, particularly nitrate and phosphate levels
- If you are experienced enough, we recommend running an algae refugium
Maintaining Your Aquarium System
- Remember to remove any uneaten food or detritus - you can use a turkey baster or pipette
- Maintain good water flow throughout the aquarium
- Clean the mechanical filtration often to reduce nutrient build-up
- Keep your aquarium equipment cleaned and well-maintained, replacing equipment when needed
Stocking
Adding stock to an aquarium is a very exciting time, but it is key to follow some rules to prevent red hair algae making an appearance!
- Never overstock your aquarium with fish, as this can lead to excess nutrients
- Create a diverse community of appropriate clean-up crew and herbivores
- If using snails for biological control, ensure there are some extra shells for snails to prevent aggression
Summary
Red hair algae inside reef aquariums is a nuisance, however, with patience and consistency, you can successfully remove the algae. By regularly monitoring your aquarium system and ensuring your aquarium is healthy with the appropriate biological controls, you can effectively manage and control algae outbreaks.
While waking up to an algae outbreak may seem like a daunting task, by understanding the root causes in this article, you can create a more stable aquarium. If you need help with your aquarium or have any questions regarding algae outbreaks, do not hesitate to contact the team at Reefco Aquariums today!
