Dealing with GHA in a macro display.

[Lorekeeper]

So, I've recently set up a macroalgae display tank. It's about 3 gallons and houses a yellow clown goby along with a ton of dwarf ceriths. I added in my first few macros yesterday (Codium, Carpet Halimeda, Blue Scroll, Flame Algae, and Fern Caulerpa) and a few shipped with some hair algae already growing on them. Plus, since I'm using almost all base rock in this tank, my phosphate readings are in the 0.15 PPM range, even with weekly water changes.

What can I do to deal with hair algae growing on macros? I can't use peroxide, obviously, and I'm not sure if my ceriths are going to help much. They're new to the tank (got them yesterday), so they haven't really moved much yet.

Here are some pics of the tank, and what I'm dealing with:

https://i.imgur.com/EOZ5qOa.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/eYxcUw0.jpg

In that last pic, you can sorta see a bit on the Codium, but the Blue Scroll is the biggest issue.

Thanks!

 

[vlangel]

I see what you mean. Codium is my biggest problem with GHA too. I do not have blue scroll anymore. Your snails should help some and maybe add another small fish to naturally up the nitrates. The ratio between nitrates and phosphates is important to favor macro algaes. Your phosphates are ok if you have some nitrate in the water, like around 5 ppm. However if your nitrates are zero then the nuisance algaes are going to have the edge because the macros are not being fed.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

You could clean your macros in a 20-1 bleach solution to start. Keep manually removing it too. This lowers its biomass in relation to your macros' biomass. Coddle the macros as best you can, while removing the hairy stuff. Eventually the balance will tip in favor of the macros. You might also try placing snails right on the GHA, after you prune it down to the nubs.

I just took another look at your pics. I'm not sure that is GHA. It looks more golden brown, like dinoflagellates. Does it get more bubbly later in the day?

Three gallons is challenging. Tough to keep conditions stable. The flip side is it's much easier to make big changes, if needed. Good luck!

 

[Subsea]

You could clean your macros in a 20-1 bleach solution to start. Keep manually removing it too. This lowers its biomass in relation to your macros' biomass. Coddle the macros as best you can, while removing the hairy stuff. Eventually the balance will tip in favor of the macros. You might also try placing snails right on the GHA, after you prune it down to the nubs.

I just took another look at your pics. I'm not sure that is GHA. It looks more golden brown, like dinoflagellates. Does it get more bubbly later in the day?

Three gallons is challenging. Tough to keep conditions stable. The flip side is it's much easier to make big changes, if needed. Good luck!

Michael,
When using 20:1 solution do you soak for a time period?

 

[Michael Hoaster]

I did not, but I know some do. I basically washed and scrubbed and got them out quickly. Then I rinsed them in tank water.