I'm Battling the GHA! Without Chemicals

[RCab]

Our first saltwater aquarium was over 30 years ago and let me tell you back then it was way way different. I now have a 32 gallon BioCube that I really really enjoy but the green hair algae is just something else. The only two parameters I have right now that are concerning are my phosphate and nitrates. PO4 is .09 and Nitrates 25, that's down from 36!! I want to get this garbage out and under control without any chemicals so any tips and tricks is highly appreciated. I'm doing 20% water changes and manual removal about every two weeks. I only feed once a day.

 

[exnisstech]

What's yours CUC like? I love herbivore fish but most need a larger tank so you'll have to use snails, crab or urchins.
Also curious if it's a dry rock start up? I've had terrible algae in my dry rock start up tho many have success.
I wouldn't fret your N and P levels . I have a tank running N 40-50 and P 0.4 -0.9 (not a typo) and I have zero nuisance algae. My previous tank also ran high levels and was algae free as well.

 

[RCab]

I have several blue legs I had three Mexican turbos, 5 Astrea snails, a blue tuxedo urchin, a pretty good clean up crew I thought about getting a lawn mower blenny but I don't know how it's going to interact with my scooter blenny or my coral beauty. I started with used live rock about 7 months ago and that live rock was literally covered in algae when we first got it. I thought I had all that killed back as I had it completely gone for several months.

 

[PJfish]

What corals do you currently have?
lighting schedule how many hours a day and intensity?
How many fish?
Something is contributing to your bio load causing algae blooms without enough natural export or consumption..
Keep doing manual removal there are lots of tools on the market like waterproof toothbrush size scrubbers etc..Try dimming the lighting or switching to blue spectrum for a while may help. After manual removal turn off lights for a few days then scrub again before turning on lights again. If you can take the rocks out scrubbing them in a bucket then rinse in a second bucket before putting back in tank... Also can toss in those small stick on glass small filters which help clearing tank after scrubbing and syphoning. UV sterilizers designed for killing algae and other pests work great they do make small ones for your sized tank. You get what you pay for on those! Feed a good quality food a couple times a day just in smaller quantities which all food should be gone within a minute or two. Also there are several types of algae hopefully its just gha other types can be a royal pain.. Good luck

Amazon product ASIN B0F1F98L5S

 

[RCab]

What's yours CUC like? I love herbivore fish but most need a larger tank so you'll have to use snails, crab or urchins.
Also curious if it's a dry rock start up? I've had terrible algae in my dry rock start up tho many have success.
I wouldn't fret your N and P levels . I have a tank running N 40-50 and P 0.4 -0.9 (not a typo) and I have zero nuisance algae. My previous tank also ran high levels and was algae free as well.

My CUC is made up of a couple of nassarius snails, several blue leg hermits, a sand sifting starfish, a Mexican turbo snail, about three astria snails and a tuxedo urchin.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

A bigger crew sounds in order. :)

 

[RCab]

What corals do you currently have?
lighting schedule how many hours a day and intensity?
How many fish?
Something is contributing to your bio load causing algae blooms without enough natural export or consumption..
Keep doing manual removal there are lots of tools on the market like waterproof toothbrush size scrubbers etc..Try dimming the lighting or switching to blue spectrum for a while may help. After manual removal turn off lights for a few days then scrub again before turning on lights again. If you can take the rocks out scrubbing them in a bucket then rinse in a second bucket before putting back in tank... Also can toss in those small stick on glass small filters which help clearing tank after scrubbing and syphoning. UV sterilizers designed for killing algae and other pests work great they do make small ones for your sized tank. You get what you pay for on those! Feed a good quality food a couple times a day just in smaller quantities which all food should be gone within a minute or two. Also there are several types of algae hopefully its just gha other types can be a royal pain.. Good luck

Amazon product ASIN B0F1F98L5S

Only 5 fish, good size CUC. I have a growing leather toads stool that's really pretty and albia pora that's in full bloom several zoanthids and a small set of about three Duncans.

 

[Gnop1950]

My tank is only 4 months old, but it does have some GHA. The cleanup crew does a good job of keeping it down, but the latest addition to the CUC, 4 Pitho crabs, are really tearing up the GHA. Its only been a few days, but if they keep it up I'll have to start feeding them in a couple of weeks. One or two might help out with the GHA.

 

[RCab]

A bigger crew sounds in order. :)

I'm headed to the LFS tomorrow to pick up some Trochus snails and I'm swapping out my 2 peppermint shrimp for a skunk cleaner.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

You still have an algae problem? How about a pic? Can you describe your filtration? What do you have for flow in the tank?

Only 5 fish and feeding once a day IMO should not nutrients that high. What type of food are you feeding? I have a 32 gallon and feed 3-4 times a day and have no algae and my nutrients are undetectable.