Green Hair Algae

[Dburr1014]

I don't know, I thought it was better not to do a water change until the GHA goes away and the Flux RX does his job, but at this point I'm risking to loose my corals due to high nutrients

Oh, I see.

I assume you did the full dose.
Then go ahead and do your water change.

Do not redose flux.

Wait until 22 days. You should see white tips on the algae soon, maybe 14ish days. Then you know it's working.
If it's not working(I do assume it will) then do a micro dose after the 3 weeks have past.

 

[Blueberry1988]

Oh, I see.

I assume you did the full dose.
Then go ahead and do your water change.

Do not redose flux.

Wait until 22 days. You should see white tips on the algae soon, maybe 14ish days. Then you know it's working.
If it's not working(I do assume it will) then do a micro dose after the 3 weeks have past.

I did the full dosage, I'm sorry if that was not clear

 

[Blueberry1988]

So you're saying just go head do a water changes and not redose. Do I put the carbon back in the tank after water change?

 

[Dburr1014]

So you're saying just go head do a water changes and not redose. Do I put the carbon back in the tank after water change?

Leave the carbon out.

 

[Dburr1014]

Yes, do your water change.
The stuff inhibits how it feeds. It's most likely starting to die now.

You will see some nutrient spikes when it dies. Your cleanup crew will start eating it as it gets wispy.

 

[Brian916]

I'm wandering if at this point I just have to go

I've 10 snails 2 Turbot and Margarita Snail Astrea Snail, 4 hermit and 1 urchin

As a seasoned warrior in the battle against GHA, I think a few things here are useful, and there are a few things to consider.

1. Yes, you need to get your nutrients balanced and especially get the phosphate down if it had crept up...but don't be surprised if these readings are low. It is a common phenomenon that tests read low because the GHA is consuming all of your nutrients. Once you get the GHA out, you may see a nutrient rebound and you need to keep your inputs (feeding) in check and stay on top of testing and water changes. A deep tank cleaning and a few agressive water changes can make a big difference in knocking GHA back and making sure your sand rocks and food don't feed the next outbreak.

2. Do increase your CUC. They will help....but I have never seen anyone clear a fully developed GHA outbreak with CUC alone. As much as we wish this were true, urchins, tangs, turbos or astreas...do not eat the long algae filaments. I am sure you are seeing this in your tank. These long filaments must be manually removed regardless of your approach.

3. If you take a chemical approach such as Flux, start with a manual cleaning to get the nutrient mass out of the tank. Watch your nitrate and phosphate closely and be ready to do do some water changes (this will help reduce the risk of other rebound outbreaks such as cyano). Even if you keep your nutrients in check, you may see an outbreak of another pest. Don't sleep on this and be ready to do another cleaning and water change.

4. Your corals should not mind a brief trip with their rocks out of the tank for an hydrogen peroxide spritz. People do this all the time. Avoid spraying the corals directly, but your can liberally spray the GHA with 3-percent H2O2 from a spray bottle and then return the rock to the tank. A few minutes in the air does not kill corals. The only worry could be shrimp. Some are very sensitive to peroxide.

If you really truly want to beat the GHA, my reccomendation - Add some CUC, but not too many (maybe 5-10 astrea and a couple of turbo). I personally don't think urchins help with GHA and they might actually hurt by eating coraline. Start with a manual removal of the long filaments in the tank combined with a deep clean and 30-percent water change. Do a topical hydrogen peroxide treatment of all your rocks. Wait ~ 3 days and test. If nutrients are climbing reduce feeds and do a water change. Repeat the peroxide spay for the areas where the GHA rebounds and stay on top of it until it is gone. Keep testing and doing WC when needed. You should be clear in ~4 weeks.

As a side thought...and no shade, but I don't see much coraline in your photos. Coraline encrustation is a good sign that your Alk, Ca, Mg and nutrients are in a good place. You might want to do a bit more testing and make sure you are in good shape all around. GHA struggles to get a foothold in areas that are already encrusted. I have personally found that when my urchin eats my coraline, it clears space for other algae to grow.