Battle With GHA in a tank where removing rock is not possible

[SlugSnorter]

Hello, I've been dealing with GHA in my currently fishless few month old 15 gallon. Due to the way rocks are set up, I cannot remove them to scub at GHA. I do pluck GHA by hand daily though. What are some other steps to take towards treatment? Ive been preforming weekly 20% WCS and plucking GHA by hand as I said, and have reduced my already light feeding.

 

[Lavey29]

You need to identify the source problem that is causing your GHA typically water parameters and lighting. What are you current numbers?

Diverse clean up crew works well. Tuxedo urchin and turbo snail mow down GHA in my tank fast.

 

[Lavey29]

Another remedy is keeping magnesium 1500 to 1600. I do this in my tank and the GHA turns white and dies off too but if you have chaeto it can hurt it too.

 

[SlugSnorter]

You need to identify the source problem that is causing your GHA typically water parameters and lighting. What are you current numbers?

Diverse clean up crew works well. Tuxedo urchin and turbo snail mow down GHA in my tank fast.

Tank receives some light from the window, that could be part of it. Its also quite young and started with dry rock. Ive got a few kinds of snails, but could do with a turbo or two and maybe the tuxedo. Thanks

 

[Wasabiroot]

I agree with lavey29, tuxedo/shortspine and some turbos will annihilate it. I would only get one urchin in a tank that size. They eat all day long and will go for coraline also.

 

[Atrumblood]

I agree with lavey29, tuxedo/shortspine and some turbos will annihilate it. I would only get one urchin in a tank that size. They eat all day long and will go for coraline also.

Hey there. Not trying to take over OPs thread, but would you say that 2 tuxedo or 1 tuxedo and 1 pincushion urchin would be too much for a 30 gallon?

 

[Bucs20fan]

I agree, I will just add that I had a decent GHA outbreak and after manual removal and control of nutrients my turbos took care alot of it.

 

[Wasabiroot]

I would start with one and go from there.

 

[Atrumblood]

I would start with one and go from there.

Yep, I have one already. I was debating on a 2nd.

 

[Wasabiroot]

Yep, I have one already. I was debating on a 2nd.

If it's not keeping up or seems to have plenty to eat, you could try a second.

 

[SPS2020]

I have six Tuxedos in my 100g and they are fantastic...at staying far, far away from any GHA.

 

[Atrumblood]

I have six Tuxedos in my 100g and they are fantastic...at staying far, far away from any GHA.

My tuxedo urchin is great at keeping the edges of the rockwork clean, but he can't get into the nooks n crannies. I need a mini urchin or something. lol

 

[SPS2020]

I've been considering some scarlet hermits.

 

[Lavey29]

I have six Tuxedos in my 100g and they are fantastic...at staying far, far away from any GHA.

Drop them right in the middle of the underwater forest and make them eat a trail to escape.

 

[SPS2020]

Drop them right in the middle of the underwater forest and make them eat a trail to escape.

I try, but the main problem areas are on the sides of the rockwork...and it is too large to remove. Grrrr.

Just ordered 20 scarlet hermits to add to the CUC (Yellow tang, Bristletooth tang, turbos, astreas, ceriths, tuxedos and now scarlets). Oh, GFO too. FWIW, I would not use GFO again as it is waaay too messy and I got the High Capacity version from BRS which supposedly has less fines in it than the standard. I'll try RowaPhos next.

 

[Jekyl]

No one mentioned live phyto dosing. Worked wonders on the algae and cyano I was dealing with. All natural and nothing but beneficial for the tank.

 

[Garf]

No one mentioned live phyto dosing. Worked wonders on the algae and cyano I was dealing with. All natural and nothing but beneficial for the tank.

Can you explain the mechanism by which this helps, cheers

 

[SPS2020]

Can you explain the mechanism by which this helps, cheers

It supposedly competes for the nutrients. I dose 40ml per day.

 

[Garf]

It supposedly competes for the nutrients. I dose 40ml per day.

Yeah, that’s what lots of folks think. Probably more to do with allelopathy.

 

[Jekyl]

I'm no scientist or biologist. I just know that after a few weeks my tank has never looked better. Without plankton our entire ocean ecosystem would collapse. Just makes sense to keep it in our tanks also.