29/05/2026
Hair algae can form on plants and substrate in any size tank, and quickly suffocate said plants - and in extreme cases, fish too. Ergo its name, hair algae is a long, stringy species of freshwater algae that can take over a tank in an incredibly short amount of time, recognisable by its texture and long green strands that form mats.
As is with most problems, in order to deal with hair algae you first have to address the root cause. Algae is primarily caused by imbalances in a tank's ecosystem, such as improper/excessive lighting, a surplus of nutrients or unstable CO2 levels. Testing your water for nutrient levels can provide a helpful insight to the wellbeing of your tank and potential causes of algae. Alternatively, you can bring in water for a free water test and advice.
Adjusting light levels in your tank can help decrease the spread of hair algae; for example, minimising your lighting time from 8 - 6 hours, or in extreme infestations, a three day blackout can be necessary. Manual removal can be performed by twisting a fork, skewer, or your fingers inside your tank in order to attach and remove the strands. Some aquarists prefer to use clean up crews to eat their hair algae, such as Shrimp, Mollies, or Siamese algae eaters. However the clean up crew method is unreliable, and they aren’t guaranteed to consume the hair algae, and won’t address the root cause.
Hair algae blooms can be distressing for any aquarist, but with the right knowledge and approach, it can be easily handled and controlled. As always, if you need further support, don’t hesitate to come in for advice
