Green Hair like substance growing like crazy in my overflows

[saltman1]

Hey all, My 144 G reef has been up and running for 8 months now. All is well SPS and others are doign great. As of late my overflow slots have been taken over by this green hair like bushy substance. I clean the crates and they get clogged again withing a week. It's growing faster than my xenia...lol. Any ideas??

[jdbassin]

green hair algea, Are your nitrate and or phosphate levels up???

jd

[saltman1]

It's not green hair algae like I see at the fish stores...it's a lighter green..maybe chaeto??? Need pics of Cheoto maybe. Also it's not over everythign just the top slots of the overflows.

[jdbassin]

there is several different types of hair algeas, I've had dark green light green, reg and even a purple grow in the overflow and skimmer tubes.


jd

[raddogz]

I have the green and the purple kind. The purple kind likes to grow in the overflow areas. You just have to be diligent in plucking it off.

[saltman1]

I see, well is there a particular reason it's popping up all of a sudden??

[hgbarwick]

Check your phosphate levels.

[reefinmike]

i have that same problem, i just view it as an in tank refug.

[easttn]

Nutrients are too high. In the meantime cover your overflows to block the light. No light no algae. Keep it scrubbed before you begin, the algae will detach in clumps.