I Need Help. GHA battle

[CHSUB]

And away we go. Going to give each section a good brushing out of the tank, and spot treat in the tank as needed. Reinforcement CUC arrives on Thursday. White lights turned down. Running GFO and monitoring for now. LFS is open on Thursday so I’ll go look for some corals as well.

That is a great start…remember when the rocks are clean it doesn’t end. You must cover with corals and continue brushing and remove where bare rock is, until corals completely grow out. I also keep glass and flow pumps clean and remove snails from glass and place on rock. Don’t allow them to get their food from places that are easy to clean. After you get corals I don’t remove rock anymore as it’s to disturbing. Everyone goes through this, you are learning and it will become easy. In a year and half I just blow rock during wc and I’m done, no algae problems because corals took over….see picture, no where for algae anymore!

 

[RWReefer]

That is a great start…remember when the rocks are clean it doesn’t end. You must cover with corals and continue brushing and remove where bare rock is, until corals completely grow out. I also keep glass and flow pumps clean and remove snails from glass and place on rock. Don’t allow them to get their food from places that are easy to clean. After you get corals I don’t remove rock anymore as it’s to disturbing. Everyone goes through this, you are learning and it will become easy. In a year and half I just blow rock during wc and I’m done, no algae problems because corals took over….see picture, no where for algae anymore!

Appreciate the help. All available snails have been rehomed to the clean rock. Hoping that doing one good clean outing the tank will allow me to just clean as needed in tank. I don’t want to remove rock again if I start throwing corals on it.

 

[CHSUB]

Appreciate the help. All available snails have been rehomed to the clean rock. Hoping that doing one good clean outing the tank will allow me to just clean as needed in tank. I don’t want to remove rock again if I start throwing corals on it.

Yes, I actually never recommended removing rock, but your algae was bad and needed extra cleaning. Going forward don’t allow it to progress, consistent cleaning and maintenance. Here is another picture at a few months in, I would regularly brush and remove algae and this was the peak of my ulgy phase. You can see some algae but not bad….i started with dry rock too, that is just an excuse people use.

 

[mcarroll]

The jumps up and down are from when I test before and after running GFO, just to get a gauge of what’s happening in the tank.

Somehow I had imagined GFO keeping a better PO4 trend line...that doesn't look like stability.

Anyway...correlations between nutrient levels and algae control are very weak, so limit expectations and it'll be perfect. :) In some cases it appears to make a difference, but it makes literally no difference in many cases.

Wild reefs keep also algae under control with CUC, not nutrient control. (Nutrient control ≠

Appreciate the help. All available snails have been rehomed to the clean rock. Hoping that doing one good clean outing the tank will allow me to just clean as needed in tank. I don’t want to remove rock again if I start throwing corals on it.

I would still strongly consider adding UV and/or micron filtration (or both) to slow the spread of algae on your newly scrubbed rock.

Corals aren't going to take over your tank in the near future – that's a medium-to-long term plan.

In the short term, it will be periphyton – which is other algae, and hopefully a wide variety of other reef microorganisms, but your tank may not have much in that way.

The UV/micron will therefore make fewer snails necessary and a relapse that much less likely.

It's worth repeating just for background... Dead rock is a tough start for a reefer or a reef tank. (Live rock segragated in sump is not great, only things that will spread through the water can potentially spread to your display rock. As a result, your display might not see anything remotely reefy until the first coral goes in.

That means theres not a lot (almost nothing) to create that periphyton layer for you, and the layer that gets creataed won't be very robust or resistant. Mostly bacteria, and not a very robust mix....mostly (de)nitrifiers.

If you think about it, you're really starting a plain old fish tank and then turning it into a reef later when you add corals...not the easiest/best way to do it, really, all things considered.

And is it really even a reef tank when coral is maybe the only reef critter in the tank? Just coral is hardly enough diversity to call a tank a reef tank, is it? What else could we call it? Hm. FOWLR exists.

How about FCWLR for this situation? Fish+Coral Without Live Rock

Some folks these days have FCWLR tanks. ;)

I digress. Whew! It will be good to see your tank reset as it unfolds!

 

[Jungle Blue]

Listen. I had 2 new tanks in the past 7 years. And both had the same issue after a month or 2-3. I did black out and some some removal by pulling out a bunch and then netting it out. The point is green algae hair is a part of the cycle that some ppl avoid with more effort and patience. But the way it’s now. Just do a black out even for 48 hours (at least don’t put in the light ) and have a tang that eats em. Like a yellow tang/ purple tang and a bunch of other. A fox face would destroy it A emerald crap would help (more then help). It will pass after a while and the cycle will continue. Don’t sweat just wait

I agree, this GHA spook parallels Black Hair Algae (BHA) in FW. One of my FW tanks used to be infested by BHA but it mostly went away on its own and tbh I liked the parts that stayed on my larger wood structure; nature; mm grass.

Having a bit of a GHA bloom at the moment after turning up the Surf4x, but that's normal per instructions as phosphates are being pulled out of rocks. Will balance with macros/algae growth :)

 

[ReeferMo]

Listen. I had 2 new tanks in the past 7 years. And both had the same issue after a month or 2-3. I did black out and some some removal by pulling out a bunch and then netting it out. The point is green algae hair is a part of the cycle that some ppl avoid with more effort and patience. But the way it’s now. Just do a black out even for 48 hours (at least don’t put in the light ) and have a tang that eats em. Like a yellow tang/ purple tang and a bunch of other. A fox face would destroy it A emerald crap would help (more then help). It will pass after a while and the cycle will continue. Don’t sweat just wait

I agree, this GHA spook parallels Black Hair Algae (BHA) in FW. One of my FW tanks used to be infested by BHA but it mostly went away on its own and tbh I liked the parts that stayed on my larger wood structure; nature; mm grass.

Having a bit of a GHA bloom at the moment after turning up the Surf4x, but that's normal per instructions as phosphates are being pulled out of rocks. Will balance with macros/algae growth :)

Correct. I look at a fairly new tank having GHA the same as a small kid teething. It sucks but it is part of the cycle

 

[RWReefer]

Somehow I had imagined GFO keeping a better PO4 trend line...that doesn't look like stability.

Anyway...correlations between nutrient levels and algae control are very weak, so limit expectations and it'll be perfect. :) In some cases it appears to make a difference, but it makes literally no difference in many cases.

Wild reefs keep also algae under control with CUC, not nutrient control. (Nutrient control ≠


I would still strongly consider adding UV and/or micron filtration (or both) to slow the spread of algae on your newly scrubbed rock.

Corals aren't going to take over your tank in the near future – that's a medium-to-long term plan.

In the short term, it will be periphyton – which is other algae, and hopefully a wide variety of other reef microorganisms, but your tank may not have much in that way.

The UV/micron will therefore make fewer snails necessary and a relapse that much less likely.

It's worth repeating just for background... Dead rock is a tough start for a reefer or a reef tank. (Live rock segragated in sump is not great, only things that will spread through the water can potentially spread to your display rock. As a result, your display might not see anything remotely reefy until the first coral goes in.

That means theres not a lot (almost nothing) to create that periphyton layer for you, and the layer that gets creataed won't be very robust or resistant. Mostly bacteria, and not a very robust mix....mostly (de)nitrifiers.

If you think about it, you're really starting a plain old fish tank and then turning it into a reef later when you add corals...not the easiest/best way to do it, really, all things considered.

And is it really even a reef tank when coral is maybe the only reef critter in the tank? Just coral is hardly enough diversity to call a tank a reef tank, is it? What else could we call it? Hm. FOWLR exists.

How about FCWLR for this situation? Fish+Coral Without Live Rock

Some folks these days have FCWLR tanks. ;)

I digress. Whew! It will be good to see your tank reset as it unfolds!

Regarding GFO, I was turning it on and off to see if I could identify PO4 leaching. Looks like current PO4 is at 0.05 as of this morning. I will look into UV.

Thank you for your feedback. I thought I had a decent plan when I started this journey, but I was way off lol.

 

[mcarroll]

Thank you for your feedback. I thought I had a decent plan when I started this journey, but I was way off lol.

Plans are obligatory...I wouldn't start without one.

But plans are also a bit like toilet paper...their value rapidly approaches zero after being put into action.

:D

There'a a sorta famous quote by Mike Tyson which applies that I've always liked (makes me laugh every time):

"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face."

;)

The question, of course, is whether you go down for the count or shake it (your plan) off and begin thinking on your feet, right? "What did I miss!?? Get yer guard up and block that s***!!"



Better reefing through Tyson?

 

[CHSUB]

"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face."

Yes, that is a great quote, I use it often when playing pickleball….

 

[RWReefer]

Plans are obligatory...I wouldn't start without one.

But plans are also a bit like toilet paper...their value rapidly approaches zero after being put into action.

:D

There'a a sorta famous quote by Mike Tyson which applies that I've always liked (makes me laugh every time):

"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face."

;)

The question, of course, is whether you go down for the count or shake it (your plan) off and begin thinking on your feet, right? "What did I miss!?? Get yer guard up and block that s***!!"



Better reefing through Tyson?

Feels like I’ve been playing Punch Out for the past year.

 

[RWReefer]

Whooaaaaaaa, we’re halfway there…..

25 turbos, 3 emerald crabs, and a tuxedo urchin were also added today.

 

[Naekuh]

I cant not believe your doing it the hardcore way.

I have to give you much props.
After 1 hour of me scraping and picking, i gave up, and just nuked my tank with fluxRX.

Yes i had some things die off, and yes i had the ever so red carpet of holy reset growing on the sand bed and everything, but i have not had GHA, or anything green for that matter grow again without getting viciously pecked at by a foxface and 3 tuxedos, along with probably 100 trochus snails scouring the sand bed and everything else.

But yes if u can do it without the FluxRX, do it. But make sure you wear some form of PPE on your hands like a dish washing gloves. I have heard of many many many people sick by doing what you do, and somehow getting an injury on there hands where it gets infected BAD.

 

[RWReefer]

I cant not believe your doing it the hardcore way.

I have to give you much props.
After 1 hour of me scraping and picking, i gave up, and just nuked my tank with fluxRX.

Yes i had some things die off, and yes i had the ever so red carpet of holy reset growing on the sand bed and everything, but i have not had GHA, or anything green for that matter grow again without getting viciously pecked at by a foxface and 3 tuxedos, along with probably 100 trochus snails scouring the sand bed and everything else.

But yes if u can do it without the FluxRX, do it. But make sure you wear some form of PPE on your hands like a dish washing gloves. I have heard of many many many people sick by doing what you do, and somehow getting an injury on there hands where it gets infected BAD.

cant pull myself to go unnatural yet. I figure one good deep scrub and then spot treat daily will make me happier than going through the uglies again. Plus I have a bunch of corals and more snails on the way so I need available real estate.

 

[W31Olds]

Be prepared for some grow back. I would consider dosing Bacteria. It seems to be slowing my GHA down. I'm using MicroBacter-7. I didn't want to nuke my Tank because I have a Lawnmower Blenny that will only eat Algae and nothing else. You may want to consider one as I've never found snails all that effective. The urchin on the other hand, will make a dent in it. I would get at least one more.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

cant pull myself to go unnatural yet. I figure one good deep scrub and then spot treat daily will make me happier than going through the uglies again. Plus I have a bunch of corals and more snails on the way so I need available real estate.

i like this approach. I think you should get a badge if you beat that hair algae with patience and grit.

 

[RWReefer]

Be prepared for some grow back. I would consider dosing Bacteria. It seems to be slowing my GHA down. I'm using MicroBacter-7. I didn't want to nuke my Tank because I have a Lawnmower Blenny that will only eat Algae and nothing else. You may want to consider one as I've never found snails all that effective. The urchin on the other hand, will make a dent in it. I would get at least one more.

Ha. One day later and it’s already trying to make a return. Daily elbow grease it is.

 

[Louis Z]

Not every GHA is susceptible to flux RX . I dosed twice and no effect on my GHA . So always good to try multiple ways . I also did lights out in a FOWLR for 3 weeks at a time

 

[mcarroll]

cant pull myself to go unnatural yet.

Some folks are in such a hurry....this isn't that hobby. :D ;)

Ha. One day later and it’s already trying to make a return. Daily elbow grease it is.

Man I sympathize.

Even a cheapie UV unit from Petco or Petscmart (or LFS) like the Green Killing Machine will slow down that spread a lot....maybe even (with your snails) cancel it out *if* you can get a properly sized one.

As mentioned micron filtration (like what your RODI uses) is also effective if you can find/DIY one. For algae, use a small micron 10" cartridge in it and run it at least a couple times a day for an hour at at time. If you have a decent timer, have it run several times a day but not for more than 30-60 minutes per run and with at least that much down time in between runs IMO. Be mindful to clean it when flow drops so the pump doesn't overheat from lack of cooling.

 

[Marco_99]

Whooaaaaaaa, we’re halfway there…..

25 turbos, 3 emerald crabs, and a tuxedo urchin were also added today.

The Turbos and urchin being the top dogs, I’d also put about 20 Astrea snails in, they are also top workhorses on the heavier rock green. A good mix of red/scarlet or blue legged hermits (10 or so) are also good if you are one to tolerate crabs in your system with 4 or so Emeralds/Pithos. Some Nerites/Trochus /Ceriths for the lighter algae and rock work with a couple Conchs for the sanded combined with 15 or so small/med Nassarius snails. Keep your nitrate/phosphate in check with a good sound light schedule and a bit of time you should see results. Personally I am a big believer in a very heavy diverse invert crew, they all play their part and will chip away at it in time. Patience lol

 

[RWReefer]

The Turbos and urchin being the top dogs, I’d also put about 20 Astrea snails in, they are also top workhorses on the heavier rock green. A good mix of red/scarlet or blue legged hermits (10 or so) are also good if you are one to tolerate crabs in your system with 4 or so Emeralds/Pithos. Some Nerites/Trochus /Ceriths for the lighter algae and rock work with a couple Conchs for the sanded combined with 15 or so small/med Nassarius snails. Keep your nitrate/phosphate in check with a good sound light schedule and a bit of time you should see results. Personally I am a big believer in a very heavy diverse invert crew, they all play their part and will chip away at it in time. Patience lol

Thanks for the reply. Have nerites, two conchs, nassarius’, and ceriths already playing their part in the tank.