Last resort for GHA?

[NeilFox]

Looking at the picture it would appear that you don't have much in the way of a cleanup crew. I would have a good 50 astrea snails in there an a fish that eats algae like a lawnmower blenny of even a kole tang if it were me. I am not sure about RO, but I don't think it is known for removing phosphate from the water, a TDS meter wont pick it up. The DI resins should do that, it may be due for a change. GHA like derbresia sp. is very adaptive and can survive in very low nutrients, that is why you see algal turf scrubbers churning out GHA even though they are attached to pristine systems. Once it has taken root it needs to be physically removed and then kept in check. I would put a herbivorous fish and more snails in there, then export the nutrients with a lot of gravel vacuuming and water changes.

 

[firemountain]

While this isn't going to nail down the source of the problem...try throwing in a few emerald crabs. Some guys refuse to put them in their tank, and others have no problem. Crabs are opportunistic, so there is a chance they will eat attack some of your corals and/ or snatch up some of your other CUC. Just keep an eye on them..I personally have not had any issues, and they do a good job of keeping the GHA in check.

I have 2 in my 65g mixed reef, and they graze on gha all day long. What nice about the crabs is that can get into areas that you may not be able to reach.

 

[billdogg]

I would suggest either a Salifert PO4 test (my personal favorite for all tests) or a Hanna checker (I have no experience with them but by all reports they are very good).

Assuming you can confirm the high reading in the bucket with the rock, I would then go with either an acid dip or new rock, and with new, there's no promise that the problem won't be there as well.

To acid dip the rocks is really a pretty easy project, and at least IMO, kinda fun. You will need two containers, one for the acid mixture, the other to rinse the now clean rock. Fill the first about 1/2 with tap water from the hose (YOU WILL BE DOING THIS OUTSIDE WON'T YOU????!!!!!) and then (after putting on eye protection, rubber gloves, and clothes you really don't like anymore) dump in a good healthy dose of muriatic acid (available at any pool supply store or HD/Lowes) When in doubt, use a little more. Carefully add the first rock. It should bubble like crazy. If it doesn't, add more acid until it does. Now go ahead and put in as many more rocks as will fit. Give them a good 15 minutes or so, or until the bubbles/foaming stops. Transfer the rocks to the rinse container. I would just put the hose in there and let it run. You can test for the presence of acid by dropping in a bit of baking soda. If it fizzes, you are not done rinsing.

Dispose of the acid water by dumping in a box of baking soda to neutralize it and then pour it out someplace safe.

Rinse the rocks one more time if you want in RO/DI (I personally wouldn't bother) and they will be ready to use. You will be starting your cycle nearly from scratch, but you should also be rid of the PO4.

hth

 

[oakengineer]

Looking at the picture it would appear that you don't have much in the way of a cleanup crew. I would have a good 50 astrea snails in there an a fish that eats algae like a lawnmower blenny of even a kole tang if it were me. I am not sure about RO, but I don't think it is known for removing phosphate from the water, a TDS meter wont pick it up. The DI resins should do that, it may be due for a change. GHA like derbresia sp. is very adaptive and can survive in very low nutrients, that is why you see algal turf scrubbers churning out GHA even though they are attached to pristine systems. Once it has taken root it needs to be physically removed and then kept in check. I would put a herbivorous fish and more snails in there, then export the nutrients with a lot of gravel vacuuming and water changes.

You are correct. I have no CUC. I had a lawnmower blenny and a bunch of snails and they all died. I have no idea why. Emerald crabs are the only herbavores I can keep alive in that tank.

 

[Lsufan]

I would double check your test kit & if it is ok then Bent may have been spot on in his first post because u shouldn't have PO 4 in your freshly made saltwater. If u do then that is your problem but I suspect the test kit.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I could never get my sections of hair algae to go away completely even with all sorts of control methods until I got a couple Mexican turbo snails (2 in my 120 -- so 1 would work for you). They just bulldozed the hair algae and got it down to the roots, and once they got rid of the hair algae it never came back. It was actually quite amazing because before the Mexican Turbos I'd had every other type of snail and they were all worthless in comparison.

This doesn't solve the problem on its own, you still need effective ways to export the nutrients (which it sounds like you have), but in my experience the turbo snail actually clearing out the roots was the key in preventing the GHA from coming back as opposed to however thoroughly I was scrubbing it.

X2, these turbo snails eat 100x their weight in GHA. Don't get too many because they'll die once your GHA is gone. I've still got one of the original turbo's that I got a year and a half ago when I set up my 40b. Will be 2 years in Feb.

 

[lonbrat]

I'd get a good clean up crew, a few Mexican turbo snails, maybe a few small hermits, (though I prefer snails 100%) and in my experience the best hair algae remover was my lawnmower blenny, it's basically all they live off. (Though mine ate everything)

I won't recommend a blenny just to remove algae, (since its by far my favorite fish, and I care for the well-being of them) but you should look into them, they are fantastic, and super cute. The one I had kept all film algae and hair algae at bay. And about a week after I lost him it came back.

As for the rock, you could try to start over, adding new dry rock slowly, and removing the bad rock, but I never did this, so I wouldn't have any 100% info ^^;

 

[Frostyfishman]

Looking at the picture it would appear that you don't have much in the way of a cleanup crew. I would have a good 50 astrea snails in there an a fish that eats algae like a lawnmower blenny of even a kole tang if it were me. I am not sure about RO, but I don't think it is known for removing phosphate from the water, a TDS meter wont pick it up. The DI resins should do that, it may be due for a change. GHA like derbresia sp. is very adaptive and can survive in very low nutrients, that is why you see algal turf scrubbers churning out GHA even though they are attached to pristine systems. Once it has taken root it needs to be physically removed and then kept in check. I would put a herbivorous fish and more snails in there, then export the nutrients with a lot of gravel vacuuming and water changes.

My kole tang ignores GHA, I'm not sure I would suggest one of those.

 

[lonbrat]

You are correct. I have no CUC. I had a lawnmower blenny and a bunch of snails and they all died. I have no idea why. Emerald crabs are the only herbavores I can keep alive in that tank.

Emerald crab killed my blenny and six line wrasse, saw him take down the wrasse while it slept. That may be why you lost your CUC. If the crabs are very small I doubt they did it though. I have had emerald crabs that stayed tiny and ones that definitely large enough to kill a fish. also some blennies don't do well in captivity, it may have been the specific blenny ^^

Anyhow I hope whatever you do, removes your algae issue!~

 

[that Fish Guy]

My kole tang ignores GHA, I'm not sure I would suggest one of those.

You just got unlucky I guess.

Kole Tangs are Known as Great Algae Eaters.

But as with anything there is no Guarantee.

 

[that Fish Guy]

Lots of people are Dosing Hydrogen Peroxide (The 3 Percent that you get at the Drug Store).

They are having great success it seems.

Everyone says 1 ML Per 10 Gallons Once a Day is Safe to do.

I am trying it on a Tank now and it seems to be working.

It will take a while with a low dose like that though.

 

[jayball]

You just got unlucky I guess.

Kole Tangs are Known as Great Algae Eaters.

But as with anything there is no Guarantee.

My Kole tang also does not touch hair algae, he picks at the rocks and glass all day though.

Honestly, manual removal is my go to when I have outbreaks. I let it get long enough to easily pinch it off and either siphon it out during water changes or set up a siphon down to a sock in the sump. 2-3 sessions of 20 minutes over a week will get my 90 gallon picked clean.

 

[CarrieB]

My tuxedo urchin cleans the stuff off and it doesn't grow back.


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[hokejka]

any updates? I am having the same problem/lps corals are dying ...smh not sure what to do right now... I on the other hand have a fairly large CuC and 2 turbo snails in a 20