GHA in new tank

[EnterName]

The tank is very young and probably going through the ugly phase fueled by the excessive phosphate bound to those rocks.

The transferred corals are an issue, otherwise I would just let it grow, harvest, and repeat until all those nasty nutrients are gone. Remember that algae growth requires more than just phosphate and a nitrogen source. I could imagine it would be much worse if you provided iron and other required trace elements regularly. This might actually be needed sooner or later or the growth will slow down even though phosphate levels are still through the roof. Your corals won't like their new home for quite some time... I can't promise you they will make it as phosphate swings can cause them real trouble and they might struggle to get the trace elements the algae is eating up.

If you can take out individual rocks I would give them a bath in acidified RO/DI (e.g..with HCl) after rinsing them. This brings bound phosphates back into solution by attacking the outer layer of those rocks. As these rocks are quite "old" I can't promise this will be enough but it will at least remove some phosphate and detritus.

The corals are coming from my big tank. That has been sitting at 75 nitrate and 1.1+ phos.


Truthfully not worried about the corals other than being smothered possibly.

Ah okay, if they are already adjusted to those nutrient levels it might be less of a problem. I assume you will get everything under control with a lot of patience and some maintenance. I wish you good luck!

 

[vetteguy53081]

So I recently threw together a 54G tank out of left over bits and pieces I have collected. Ended up being a cool tank.

Going to be a long read

The issue I have is the rock, phosphates and GHA.

About 65Lbs of " dry" rock were used, this rock came out of a 90G that was abandoned after only being up for 3 months. Livestock was sold and the pumps were just shut off. Tank sat stagnant for approx 9 months before I bought everything. by that time the tank was only half full of water etc.

I put the rock and set it on my basement floor, let it dry out with no plans to use it. Then I got an itch and an idea for a second tank and in reality i really should have bleached and dark cured for a number of months.

Added about 15lbs of rock and a couple media bricks from my big tank upon start up to help seed. My big tank has high phosphates. 1.0+

Dosed Dr.Tims ammonia and bacter7.

For the first 2 weeks all was well. Tank was processing the ammonia like it should. nitrates were at 6. Was testing only nitrates every 2 days. Then nitrates started going down.
decided to measure phosphates that time and the tank was at .6 Phos....first thought... the rocks do leach. Dang.....

When I saw the .6 on the test I did kick on the ATS in hopes to curbed any outbreak. That didn't work.
Also have lots of flow so dead spots should be minimal

Then rolled in the GHA but only on the dry rock. long nasty etc. Tank is now 4 weeks old. Just spent 2 hours last night sucking GHA out. Did about half the tank. Added a foxface temporarily from my big tank to "help" also have added 2 turbo snails and a small pincushion urchin. Stopping today to get about 8-10 turbo snails.

Laying in bed last night thinking about it.

What if I just let the GHA run wild for a bit?
Will it consume the Phosphates bound in the rock and sand?

After maybe 4 or 5 weeks spend a good weekend scrubbing and treat the tank. I actually don't mind the GHA look. Big green flowy. Kinda neat to watch.The problem then is i have already transferred corals from my big tank and don't want them to be suffocated.

first picture is before water was added.

Only been running the halide for pictures. Will ad more photos tonight of current condition

Is your tank at or near a window?
I would place rock in a container of tank water and pull off as much as you can by hand and scrub the rest with a firm toothbrush and some 3% hydrogen peroxide.
Return rock to tank, reduce white light intensity and number of hours of white lighting for a few days and add some snails such as :
Astrea
cerith
turbo grazer
trochus

A Pencil urchin

8-10 Caribbean blue leg hermits

Are you using RODI water or tap water from the faucet ?
What is your phosphate level?

 

[PPBlimpy]

I am out of town right now.

Tank is near a window but does not get direct light,

Phosphates were .6 - started with crappy dried rock. Should have bleached and dark cured but I rushed it. I have scrubbed the rock I can remove.

CUC is now 8 giant turbo snails, 4 bumble bee snails and a pincushion urchin.

I have been out of town since Saturday. I added most the CUC on Friday night and got my foxface transferred over Thursday evening.

Before I left I reduced the lights to only 4 hours a day and turn the ATS on 24/7

I have a Wyze camera in my parlor where I can monitor both my tanks. Camera is over 6 years old, kinda blurry and at a distance but I can tell a lot of the GHA is gone. I won’t be back till Wednesday and hoping this look pretty good.

First photo is from the camera earlier today. The other is before I left on Friday. Not apples to apples but you can see the Gha in the corner and in the sanded is gone

 

[DmitryB]

yes. This is exactly what I did. Not a smart move I know. This was a impulse tank setup. I always told myself the next tank would be ocean direct rock but I had everything here on the shelfs. I am figuring this will cause some issues in the short term.

With this tank I wanted to glue a lot of the rock to the walls since it is small and an od shape. Its a 54G corner tank and most tanks I have witnessed like this as a reef struggle with the aquascaping. Not that mine is great but I am happy with it and think it would grow in nicely.

If i went ocean rock i would not have been able to do this.

In that case a protein skimmer will help and/or increased water changes, activated carbon also binds docs.

though I gotta tell you that is a fantastic looking aquascape and I wouldn't change it either. good luck

Yeah I was gonna say that I mine that aquascape! Were the rocks glued to the glass? With what?

 

[PPBlimpy]

Yeah I was gonna say that I mine that aquascape! Were the rocks glued to the glass? With what?

Yes rocks glued to the glass using 100% silicone.

I used masonry cut off wheels and cut the rocks flat. Laid the tank on its side and glued it down, let dry for 24hours and did the other side.

Originally was thinking of going bare bottoms and glued 3 large flat base rocks to the bottom, I then hated the look and added sand so now I have 3 nice islands

 

[vetteguy53081]

I am out of town right now.

Tank is near a window but does not get direct light,

Phosphates were .6 - started with crappy dried rock. Should have bleached and dark cured but I rushed it. I have scrubbed the rock I can remove.

CUC is now 8 giant turbo snails, 4 bumble bee snails and a pincushion urchin.

I have been out of town since Saturday. I added most the CUC on Friday night and got my foxface transferred over Thursday evening.

Before I left I reduced the lights to only 4 hours a day and turn the ATS on 24/7

I have a Wyze camera in my parlor where I can monitor both my tanks. Camera is over 6 years old, kinda blurry and at a distance but I can tell a lot of the GHA is gone. I won’t be back till Wednesday and hoping this look pretty good.

First photo is from the camera earlier today. The other is before I left on Friday. Not apples to apples but you can see the Gha in the corner and in the sanded is gone

This is enough sunlight to cause this issue as UV from sun is strongest this time of the year and will even penetrate curtains , blinds and shades. I recommend black construction paper from walmart which will help greatly with this issue and placed at tank area which faces the window,

 

[DmitryB]

Yeah I was gonna say that I mine that aquascape! Were the rocks glued to the glass? With what?

Yes rocks glued to the glass using 100% silicone.

I used masonry cut off wheels and cut the rocks flat. Laid the tank on its side and glued it down, let dry for 24hours and did the other side.

Originally was thinking of going bare bottoms and glued 3 large flat base rocks to the bottom, I then hated the look and added sand so now I have 3 nice islands

That's brilliant! How heavy were those rocks?

 

[PPBlimpy]

That's brilliant! How heavy were those rocks?

There is probably 70 lbs in there.

I am hoping as the tank matures, coraline grows and corals placed on the wall everything will fill in nicely. We will see if it works

 

[PPBlimpy]

The plan is for heavy sps with LPS and at least 2 clams.

With the lighting I should be able to grow whatever I want. Will mostly be dosing kalk and doing 1g daily WC

 

[PPBlimpy]

Just got home after being gone 5 days.

Tank looks amazing! Foxface, added turbo snails, reduced light cycle and the ATS appears to have completely rid the DT of GHA.

Picture is just now taken under the halide only and video was last Friday night.

Will spend some time tomorrow or Friday, doing a 10g water change. Check parameter and hit up a coral guy this weekend for Father’s Day

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Glad things are looking up!

 

[PPBlimpy]

I am blown away right now. Just got home and had time to really look at it. Only place the GHA is visible is the nozzles and ATS.

Guessing the turbo snails did most the rocks and the long stuff had to be eaten by the foxface. He is the only thing that can reach the seaswirl nozzles