ID algae think it is GHA and help with control

[sumpreef]

Hi all,

This is a 40G breeder with corals that are finally thriving and spreading. However, algae is also spreading. Primarily one type of algae which I think is GHA. I got the initial cleanup crew from reef cleaners when I first started the tank 6mos ago. Since then some of the CUC may have perished and the algae might have gotten the upper hand. I feed the tank twice a day but nitrates are almost undetectable(may be bound in the algae).My phosphate is around 0.09. I feed the corals primarily benepets and some reefroids mixed in. Alk is stable around 8.0 with dosing, Ca around 420 and Mg around 1340. I also run a reefmat and a powerful oversized skimmer to help keep nutrients down.

See attached pictures

Thank you for your suggestions.

 

[kevgib67]

Hi all,

This is a 40G breeder with corals that are finally thriving and spreading. However, algae is also spreading. Primarily one type of algae which I think is GHA. I got the initial cleanup crew from reef cleaners when I first started the tank 6mos ago. Since then some of the CUC may have perished and the algae might have gotten the upper hand. I feed the tank twice a day but nitrates are almost undetectable(may be bound in the algae).My phosphate is around 0.09. I feed the corals primarily benepets and some reefroids mixed in. Alk is stable around 8.0 with dosing, Ca around 420 and Mg around 1340. I also run a reefmat and a powerful oversized skimmer to help keep nutrients down.

See attached pictures

Thank you for your suggestions.

It actually doesn’t look bad. A seahare would remove it all in less than a week in a 40g but you will need to rehome it. My oldest son’s 55g was infested and was gha free in 10 days. @kingranch2003 put one in his 40g that was pretty infested and it’s gha free. While the seahare is working figure out and fix the problem causing it. People swear by keeping magnesium above 1400 keeps algae at bay, worth a try, good luck.

 

[sumpreef]

Thank you we actually spent quite a bit of time yesterday scrubbing a lot of the rocks outside the tank if we could, and vacuuming the sand bed. Remove quite a bit manually with the water change.

 

[kevgib67]

Thank you we actually spent quite a bit of time yesterday scrubbing a lot of the rocks outside the tank if we could, and vacuuming the sand bed. Remove quite a bit manually with the water change.

It looks like a job well done.

 

[Shua71]

I love my tuxedo urchin. They’ll mow that down quick. The only downside is they like to collect things

 

[kingranch2003]

It actually doesn’t look bad. A seahare would remove it all in less than a week in a 40g but you will need to rehome it. My oldest son’s 55g was infested and was gha free in 10 days. @kingranch2003 put one in his 40g that was pretty infested and it’s gha free. While the seahare is working figure out and fix the problem causing it. People swear by keeping magnesium above 1400 keeps algae at bay, worth a try, good luck.

Agreed Kevin! Mag stays around 1400 to 1500. Also it's good advice to explore what the problem and cause is while the seahare mows it all down. Every since I got the seahare, I can barely stand my snails
It helped me realize how it should really be done.

 

[kingranch2003]

People swear by keeping magnesium above 1400 keeps algae at bay, worth a try, good luck.

How many posts do you think it'll take before the inevitable one happens? Care to guess the over/under?

 

[kevgib67]

How many posts do you think it'll take before the inevitable one happens? Care to guess the over/under?

One!