How to Remove Hair Algae From a Planted Tank

The presence of hair algae in a planted aquarium is indicative of excess nutrient levels in your aquarium. Hair algae is a filamentous algae that spreads quickly in aquariums with high levels of phosphates and nitrates. While physically removing hair algae is a simple process, long-term control of the nuisance growth requires adjusting the chemical balance in your planted aquarium.

Things You'll Need

  • Water chemistry testing kit
  • Full spectrum lighting
  • Phosphate removing pads
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Instructions

    • 1

      Test the water chemistry to determine the phosphate and nitrate levels in your aquarium. Both chemicals are harmless to fish, but an important food source for aquatic plants including hair algae. The levels of both chemicals should be as close to 0 parts per million as possible, but nitrate levels below 20 parts per million are acceptable. High phosphate levels indicate that there are excess nutrients not being consumed by plants in your aquarium.

    • 2

      Physically remove hair algae from your aquarium by pulling the algae away from their growing medium by hand. Algae spores will remain in the aquarium and develop as new clusters of growth as long as phosphorous levels remain high in the water, so physical removal is only a temporary solution.

    • 3

      Inspect the health of the plants in your aquarium. Dead or dying plants are a source of excess phosphorous. Prune any dead leaves and remove them from the aquarium.

    • 4

      Install a high-quality, full-spectrum lighting system in your aquarium. Full-spectrum lights promote plant vitality and growth, which increases the ability of plants in your aquarium to remove phosphorus from the water column and limit the nutrients available for hair algae, reducing its growth in your aquarium.

    • 5

      Reduce the amount of food you offer your fish with each feeding. Uneaten food contains many organics including phosphorous that fuel hair algae growth. Feed your fish smaller volumes of food more often to reduce uneaten food in your aquarium.

    • 6

      Install a phosphorus removing pad in your filtration system to help absorb excess phosphorous and other organics from the water in order to starve hair algae.

    • 7

      Change 15 to 20 percent of the water in the aquarium each week to help reduce the concentration of phosphorus in the water column while implementing the steps above to help reduce the excess organics and prevent hair algae from returning to your planted tank.