Next steps for gha eradication?

[cdemoss01]

Hello,
Some that have been following me know that I have had a battle with gha for around 2 years. Recently with new cuc, manual removal and multiple rock scrubs, I have gotten it into a very weak state. What now? Fluanzacole? New cuc? What are we thinking folks?
Thanks
Cam.

 

[edsbeaker]

If what you are doing is working why not just continue the same? I try to avoid chemicals when other methods are solving the problem. It seems like just a bit more time is all you need.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I would just keep doing what you are currently doing, especially if it is working for you

 

[cdemoss01]

I would just keep doing what you are currently doing, especially if it is working for you

Right but now its so small and hard to get off. Its also in hard to reach spots.

 

[edsbeaker]

Most tanks have a bit of algae. That’s nature. Just keep it under control like you’ve been doing and you’ll be fine! If you don’t have some, adding smaller snails like dwarf Ceriths to get into the little crevices may help.

 

[cdemoss01]

Most tanks have a bit of algae. That’s nature. Just keep it under control like you’ve been doing and you’ll be fine! If you don’t have some, adding smaller snails like dwarf Ceriths to get into the little crevices may help.

Yea its nature but its ugly lol. Ill probably pull the remaining rocks and see what I can do. I'm tempted to dose flua but I'll avoid for now.

 

[edsbeaker]

Yea its nature but its ugly lol. Ill probably pull the remaining rocks and see what I can do. I'm tempted to dose flua but I'll avoid for now.

I get it! We want our tanks pristine!

 

[cdemoss01]

I get it! We want our tanks pristine!

Should I put something in the water I am going to pull the rocks from?

 

[edsbeaker]

I’m not sure what you mean? Are you pulling out the rocks permanently or just to scrub?

Curious, Have you ever tried hydrogen peroxide?

 

[cdemoss01]

I’m not sure what you mean? Are you pulling out the rocks permanently or just to scrub?

Curious, Have you ever tried hydrogen peroxide?

I basically pull them into a separate bucket and use a soft bristlebrush. This gets it really good I then just put them back in like they were.. No never tried peroxide

 

[exnisstech]

If your pulling the rocks to scrub I would go ahead and spray the areas with peroxide after brushing.

I battled GHA for over a year and a half on one tank. I resorted to flux early on and ended up with cyano. In with the chemiclean back with the GHA rinse and repeat. I would use chems as a last resort.

 

[edsbeaker]

^ This.
A lot of people even spot treat with peroxide inside of their tanks using a pipette or syringe. Try searching and you will find tons of info and instructions.

 

[Tommy B]

Peroxide dip works well, I finally bought a tuxedo urchin for my nano and its a rockstar at eating hair algae

 

[cdemoss01]

Peroxide dip works well, I finally bought a tuxedo urchin for my nano and its a rockstar at eating hair algae

Mine isn't lol. Bought nearly every invert for gha except a sea hare and I had no luck.

 

[exnisstech]

Mine isn't lol. Bought nearly every invert for gha except a sea hare and I had no luck.

My results were similar with inverts. Have you added any real live rock? My problem tank was one I rescaped with dry rock and that seems to be when the problems began. My other tanks started with dry rock in the DT but as much live rock as would in the sump never much nuisance algae.

 

[cdemoss01]

My results were similar with inverts. Have you added any real live rock? My problem tank was one I rescaped with dry rock and that seems to be when the problems began. My other tanks started with dry rock in the DT but as much live rock as would in the sump never much nuisance algae.

About 65% of my tank is live rock. all the bases are all dry rock.

 

[slingfox]

How large is your tank and how much CUC do you have? I had a massive outbreak in GHA a few months ago after I did a tank reset. The GHA was as eradicated in less than two weeks after I increased my CUC population.

In my 110 gallon display my CUC was as follows: 2 urchins, 30 bumblebee snails (they help ensure vermitid don’t cause issues), 10-12 trochus (some are babies which spawned in tank), 25 asterina (best overall snail), 5 cerith, 4-5 hermit crabs, 2 nassarius, 4 conch for the sand bed, 1-2 emerald crab, 3-4 pithos crab. I also have two tangs, a bunch of wrasse, and an angelfish. There are also maybe half a dozen other miscellaneous snails I forgot about.

Now that my rockwork is clean half of the snails hang on the back glass which I only scrub once a week. I also put in a little bit of nori at night to feed the crabs.

 

[cdemoss01]

How large is your tank and how much CUC do you have? I had a massive outbreak in GHA a few months ago after I did a tank reset. The GHA was as eradicated in less than two weeks after I increased my CUC population.

In my 110 gallon display my CUC was as follows: 2 urchins, 30 bumblebee snails (they help ensure vermitid don’t cause issues), 10-12 trochus (some are babies which spawned in tank), 25 asterina (best overall snail), 5 cerith, 4-5 hermit crabs, 2 nassarius, 4 conch for the sand bed, 1-2 emerald crab, 3-4 pithos crab. I also have two tangs, a bunch of wrasse, and an angelfish. There are also maybe half a dozen other miscellaneous snails I forgot about.

Now that my rockwork is clean half of the snails hang on the back glass which I only scrub once a week. I also put in a little bit of nori at night to feed the crabs.

Current tank Is 65 gallon. one clown, one Gramma one checkerboard wrasse. CUC is one giant knobby one strawberry conch, 1 tux urchin, 66 dwarf ceriths, 3 Astrea, one turban, 3 top crowns, 6 Florida ceriths, 4 turbo snails, 4 nassarius, I had trochus but I'm not sure if they are still alive.

 

[slingfox]

Current tank Is 65 gallon. one clown, one Gramma one checkerboard wrasse. CUC is one giant knobby one strawberry conch, 1 tux urchin, 66 dwarf ceriths, 3 Astrea, one turban, 3 top crowns, 6 Florida ceriths, 4 turbo snails, 4 nassarius, I had trochus but I'm not sure if they are still alive.

Of the snails I have found that turbo, asterina and trochus do the most work. I have purchased dozens of dwarf cerith but never see them so I assume they died somehow. I used to have 6 turbos and they were absolute beasts at eating algae. The problem is they got very large and when my tank ran low an algae I was afraid they would starve so I gave them away. Going forward I am going to mostly keep smaller sized snails since they can squeeze into small places. I particularly like bumblebee snails since they are very active and help keep a lid on vermitids.

If you have snails hanging out on the glass or sand, move them to the rockwork.

 

[LPS Bum]

3X daily H2O2 dosing and manual removal. It’s a long process. I’ll never use dry rock and sand again.