MH on overgrown LR

[vetteman]

I received some LR overgrown with hair algae. If I place it under a 250 MH light will it get worse or will the algae subside. Or maybe under CF 10K.
Thanks

[Chuck S]

Light will usually make algae grow more. However I would look more towards the reason why it is covered with Algae. What are your water parameters. If you do not have the nitrates or phosphates to help the algae grow usually the corraline algae and such will outcompete the micro algae for the remaining nutrients.

[tendar]

Since you recieved the rock from some one else I would scrub it down as best as you can to remove as much hair as possible and if you water is good it should go away even under halides. If your water quality isnt so good it will continue to grow.

[vetteman]

Rock is still in the tank, previous owner was using shop lights. No fish, I am running a skimmer on it right now and am getting ready to do some massive water changes over the next week or so. there are a lot of sea squirts, sponges and signs of some polyps and mushroom here and there. I wanted to save as much life as possible before moving the tank and setting it up again. but wanted to get rid of the algae. I have not checked the water paramaters yet I thought I'd wait until a couple water changes. I did'nt know if MH would overwelm the hair algae or not /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Thanks