GHA with zero nitrates

[ZachariahBeanzz]

So I’ve had zero nitrates and low phosphate in my 20g AIO for about a month now, and I’ve been feeding more trying to bring it up, but nothings really happened. However over the course of this past month, I’ve noticed GHA on one of my rocks, and not really anywhere else, maybe a few small patches here and there.

What can I do to remove this?

 

[fishface NJ]

The gha is eating your nitrates.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I would stop overfeeding or it will get worse IMO

 

[CHSUB]

Feeding more is the new false motto of the inexperienced. Your nutrients are not low just below low resolution, inaccurate hobby testing. First rule of this hobby is don’t overfeed, somehow most don’t advise this anymore and now many can’t control algae growth.

 

[ZachariahBeanzz]

Feeding more is the new false motto of the inexperienced. Your nutrients are not low just below low resolution, inaccurate hobby testing. First rule of this hobby is don’t overfeed, somehow most don’t advise this anymore and now many can’t control algae growth.

I would stop overfeeding or it will get worse IMO

I didn’t think I was overfeeding. I only have once clownfish as my other died to some infection, and I feed pellets twice a day to where to clown finishes all of it in around a minute. My clownfish was also very skinny so I was trying to give it some weight, but is this feeding schedule too much?

 

[CHSUB]

I didn’t think I was overfeeding. I only have once clownfish as my other died to some infection, and I feed pellets twice a day to where to clown finishes all of it in around a minute. My clownfish was also very skinny so I was trying to give it some weight, but is this feeding schedule too much?

Well that doesn’t sound like a lot, however I’m reacting to this:

I’ve been feeding more trying to bring it up

feeding more so your test kit gives a “likable” reading is a mistake in all but the rarest of cases.
I would clean more with scrubbing, blowing, and WC. I’m wondering if your clown has a parasite or sickness?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I didn’t think I was overfeeding. I only have once clownfish as my other died to some infection, and I feed pellets twice a day to where to clown finishes all of it in around a minute. My clownfish was also very skinny so I was trying to give it some weight, but is this feeding schedule too much?

no its not too much, we are going off your comment that you are feeding more to increase nutrients

Low flow, bad bacteria, increased dissolved organics, young biomme, also all play a large role in algae. more details on your system, or even a full tank picture, will help us to help you

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

A lot of pest algae will reduce nutrients exactly like a lot of macroalgae in a refugium will.

I’d try to get the gha under control and then see where nutrients stand.

 

[Dan_P]

So I’ve had zero nitrates and low phosphate in my 20g AIO for about a month now, and I’ve been feeding more trying to bring it up, but nothings really happened. However over the course of this past month, I’ve noticed GHA on one of my rocks, and not really anywhere else, maybe a few small patches here and there.

What can I do to remove this?

No nitrates could mean that ammonia in your system is being consumed by photosynthetic organisms before it can be converted to nitrate. If you had looked at the rock surfaces under a microscope a month ago, I am guessing you would have seen the surfaces teeming with photosynthetic organisms. Considering how much rock surface area there is in your aquarium, there could easily be a population of photosynthetic organisms large enough to completely deplete your system of ammonia and phosphate. The green hair algae is just the latest organism of the periphyton to become discernible. By continuing to run nitrogen depleted, the periphyton will shift to dinoflagellates and other yellowish (carotenoid containing) organisms. Harvesting the periphyton rather than tweaking the water chemistry seems the way to deal with its appearance.

 

[ZachariahBeanzz]

No nitrates could mean that ammonia in your system is being consumed by photosynthetic organisms before it can be converted to nitrate. If you had looked at the rock surfaces under a microscope a month ago, I am guessing you would have seen the surfaces teeming with photosynthetic organisms. Considering how much rock surface area there is in your aquarium, there could easily be a population of photosynthetic organisms large enough to completely deplete your system of ammonia and phosphate. The green hair algae is just the latest organism of the periphyton to become discernible. By continuing to run nitrogen depleted, the periphyton will shift to dinoflagellates and other yellowish (carotenoid containing) organisms. Harvesting the periphyton rather than tweaking the water chemistry seems the way to deal with its appearance.

I’m so sorry, I’m in highschool and don’t really know what to do with this or understand it fully
How should I address my possible outbreak of photosynthetic organisms, and are they totally bad?

 

[ZachariahBeanzz]

A lot of pest algae will reduce nutrients exactly like a lot of macroalgae in a refugium will.

I’d try to get the gha under control and then see where nutrients stand.

How should I go about getting everything under control? Should I feed less, and start manually removing, and if so, manual removal seems quite difficult, how would I go about it best? I was wanting to get more CUC this weekend, what should I ask for and focus on? Also would getting another fish be a bad idea, I just wish I had more than a small clown.

 

[ZachariahBeanzz]

no its not too much, we are going off your comment that you are feeding more to increase nutrients

Low flow, bad bacteria, increased dissolved organics, young biomme, also all play a large role in algae. more details on your system, or even a full tank picture, will help us to help you

So I do a 10-15% water change every 2 weeks just because I noticed my nitrates dipping low, so I didn’t think I needed to do much, but should I go back to weekly? I’m also running an AI Nero 3 at about 3-7% and there aren’t any dead spots.

 

[Dan_P]

I’m so sorry, I’m in highschool and don’t really know what to do with this or understand it fully
How should I address my possible outbreak of photosynthetic organisms, and are they totally bad?

I used snails to bring algae under control.

 

[Boehmtown]

The snail tank , never has any algae just buy more inverts. Mexican turbos work well for hair algae. They aren't gonna eat it in a day. Suck at what you don't like during water changes and whenever you go to a fish store buy some crabs and snails