Instructions
Remove as much hair moss as you can with your fingers or a clean toothbrush.
Cut back on the amount you feed your fish. Aquarium fish always appear hungry, but overfeeding leads to algae problems. Most aquarium fish should be fed no more than they can eat in five minutes, twice a day. Siphon out uneaten food.
Add plants to freshwater tanks. Live plants out-compete hair moss for nutrients in the water, but have their own requirements for light and fertilization to grow well.
Improve your water filtration by changing the filter media regularly. When the filter media gets dirty, it no longer does a good job removing waste from the tank water. You may also try using special phosphate-removing filter media, because phosphates contribute to hair algae growth.
Use reverse osmosis water. Occasionally, frequent water changes don't help because your tap water may be naturally high in phosphates and other nutrients that contribute to hair moss growth. Reverse osmosis filtration systems remove all water impurities. However, fish and plants cannot live in pure reverse osmosis water, so you may have to experiment with mixing reverse osmosis water with regular tap water to ensure the water has the necessary trace elements. Pet stores also sell powdered chemicals to mix with reverse osmosis water that will make the water suitable for aquarium use.
Control the amount of light that the aquarium is exposed to. Freshwater and saltwater tanks need no more than 10 to 12 hours of light a day.
Add algae-eating fish and shrimp to the tank. In freshwater tanks, Siamese algae eaters, American flag fish and Amano shrimp are among the species that consume hair algae. For saltwater tanks, look for turbo snails, surgeonfish or tangs. Each of these species has its own care requirements and may not eat much hair moss if other food is present, so don't rely on them alone for algae management.
How to Get Rid of Hair Moss in an Aquarium
Hair moss is the common name for several different types of algae, but every type adds up to the same situation: an unsightly problem for freshwater and saltwater aquariums. Algae growth indicates a fish tank that is out of balance; for example, the aquarium water may be high in phosphates, or the tank may be getting too much light. Aquarium owners may have to try several different techniques to keep this type of algae at a manageable level.