Help! Hair/String Algae invasion!

For the past week I’ve been battling hair algae in my aquarium. The tank is a 10 gallon divided for 2 bettas and has been running algae free for 7-8 months now. But suddenly I have hair algae everywhere, in my hairgrass, in the wood, and worst of all, in the moss. At first I tried manual removal and I cut back on ferts and lighting, yet two days later it had all grown back. Then I tried removal by trimming the plants covered in it, still didn't work. I tried the blackout method for 3 days and upon uncovering the tank I discovered the invasion was worse than usual. I’m fighting it blindly right now and some insight would be greatly appriciated!

 

Following as I am battling same in 20gal long neocaridina tank. Only one out of 8 tanks w issue

 

Here's my unorthodox answer: gather it all up and roll into ball several times. You can put it back in aquarium/pond and fry, snails, shrimp will use it as a nursery. If you don't want it at all, gather it up and put outside in sun to dry and then throw away or burn.

 

Here's my unorthodox answer: gather it all up and roll into ball several times. You can put it back in aquarium/pond and fry, snails, shrimp will use it as a nursery. If you don't want it at all, gather it up and put outside in sun to dry and then throw away or burn.

Not hair algae shrimp wont eat!!! Actually they can get stuck in there legs on it. I'm watching it happen now. So personally I dont recommend this.

 

Here's my unorthodox answer: gather it all up and roll into ball several times. You can put it back in aquarium/pond and fry, snails, shrimp will use it as a nursery. If you don't want it at all, gather it up and put outside in sun to dry and then throw away or burn.

Haha I have a container filled with dried algae from my outdoor tanks which I feed my algae eating stock sometimes, but I’d really like to get this problem at its root. Manual removal always just gets it coming back for me.

 

Are u fertilizing g regularly and what are your lights? My moms tank got it because nitrogen and phosphorous, aka poop, were there in excess as well as light. Went away with trace elements for the plants and a regular 8 hour photo period

 

Are u fertilizing g regularly and what are your lights? My moms tank got it because nitrogen and phosphorous, aka poop, were there in excess as well as light. Went away with trace elements for the plants and a regular 8 hour photo period

I was fertilizing regularly until I saw the algae then stopped. Light for 8 hours. Should I add my micro mix fertilizer to help the plants absorb that nitrogen/phosphorus? I just removed all the visible stuff by hand and did a 30% water change.

 

I have the supplies for a DIY CO2 system coming in the mail tomorrow (I’ve been wanting to try it for a long time) and I’m wondering if CO2 will help get rid of the algae. I also have staghorn algae and some other algaes often associated with CO2. I don’t add any liquid carbon and my tank is filled with stem plants and fully carpeted for DHG... I wonder if the new setup will help.

 

Basically algae is caused when plants cant optimally utilize nutrients. Co2 may help, but not if the plants are lacking other nutrients. It's all about balance. I'd try the micros, wait a month and see where the tanks at. I dont know much about co2 aside from it can go wrong quick, so I'd hold off.