The battle with Green Hair Algae

[ezcompany]

-Get another phosphate test kit to test.
-suspect phosphates leaking from your live rock
-remove bio pellets from reactor and just focus on gfo

 

[Webmanny]

Update:
11/10/2014 - We are gaining some ground troops!!!

Yesterday I noticed that some of the rocks and starting to show their purple Coraline and the hair algae is starting to thin out. The one main rock that had most of the GHA is now showing two areas of bare rock and not just 100% algae like it was before.

My skimmer is doing a good job, but decreasing the amount of skimmate. For the first few days it was 1/2 of the cup every day. Now it makes that much in two days. This may be a good thing.

I keep my hopes up that everything you suggested is actually helping and I look forward to getting this 100% out of the tank.

Yesterday I also added some more bio pellets, since I started with 1/4 of the recommended dose and I think we are at the two month mark since I first installed it.

Pellets are tumbling well and things are looking healthy in the tank. Below are a few pics of the tank yesterday. I'll keep everyone updated as we move forward.

Here you can see some rock spots where before it was fully covered. I can also see a mushroom that was not visible before.

On this one, you can see two or three spots of Coraline that were not visible before and I can even see the algae getting thinner.

 

[wesleyforbes2]

That's great news! Depending on what you are keeping, please be careful with the bio pellets! At the three month time period they had stripped almost everything from my water. My zoanthids would not open, and lost a few LPS corals.

It took care of the algae but had to take them off line to save the tank from crashing. Just be careful!

 

[Webmanny]

Good point. I have heard that you need to start dosing good nutrients to your tank once the pellets and the skimmer are doing their job well. This helps keep all your corals healthy and growing, but keeps the algae away.

 

[Reefpilot11]

Alright here's where I am at, I just got home today from a 5 day trip. Sanford has been undisturbed during this time. Here's a pic of what grew over the long weekend. Should I do a water change tonight then 3 days of darkness? That's sbout the only thing I havent tried.

<a href="http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/mlongnecker11/media/E145973A-1354-42CF-AD34-8B0AE6DA76CE_zpseij60ysh.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b610/mlongnecker11/E145973A-1354-42CF-AD34-8B0AE6DA76CE_zpseij60ysh.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo E145973A-1354-42CF-AD34-8B0AE6DA76CE_zpseij60ysh.jpg"/></a>

 

[Reefpilot11]

Well, started vodka dosing and a couple days of darkness. 2.5ml to start with. The thing, I have no nitrates or phosphates, like I have said before I'm totally baffled why it continues to grow. Already my coral colors should brighten up from this.

 

[ichthyman]

I have no nitrates or phosphates

That is inaccurate. If there was no nitrogen or phosphorus compounds available for the algae to feed upon then it could not grow. Like all living things, algae must have a suitable nutrient source to acquire the raw materials needed for growth. Put simply, if you have an algae issue then you have an nutrient issue.

 

[janes_mw]

That is inaccurate. If there was no nitrogen or phosphorus compounds available for the algae to feed upon then it could not grow. Like all living things, algae must have a suitable nutrient source to acquire the raw materials needed for growth. Put simply, if you have an algae issue then you have an nutrient issue.

+1
If you have algae and have zero readings on nitrates and phosphates, something is wrong with test kit, or your getting readings after algae consumes, etc. Algae is the lowest lifeform feeder and will thrive with any source of nutrients. Remember - "Less is More" when feeding, adding nutrients, etc. The ocean is nutrient starved for the most part.

 

[Reefpilot11]

That is inaccurate. If there was no nitrogen or phosphorus compounds available for the algae to feed upon then it could not grow. Like all living things, algae must have a suitable nutrient source to acquire the raw materials needed for growth. Put simply, if you have an algae issue then you have an nutrient issue.

I understand the process totally I guess I just never second guessed my test kit. Could I bring a sample up to you guys tomorrow?

 

[Reefpilot11]

+1
If you have algae and have zero readings on nitrates and phosphates, something is wrong with test kit, or your getting readings after algae consumes, etc. Algae is the lowest lifeform feeder and will thrive with any source of nutrients. Remember - "Less is More" when feeding, adding nutrients, etc. The ocean is nutrient starved for the most part.

Agreed

 

[jrich]

I hope the battle is going your way. I know for a fact that the Reds on my led cause lots of alage looked exactly like yours. I also talked to some people at my local fish store they told me that the whites I had in my reef breeder leds are around a 56k spectrum not what is advertised. This I believe was the sole cause of my alage woes. Like I said once I added the t5s all the alage was gone within one month. My tank is rocking now. I hope the same goes for you

 

[Reefpilot11]

I hope the battle is going your way. I know for a fact that the Reds on my led cause lots of alage looked exactly like yours. I also talked to some people at my local fish store they told me that the whites I had in my reef breeder leds are around a 56k spectrum not what is advertised. This I believe was the sole cause of my alage woes. Like I said once I added the t5s all the alage was gone within one month. My tank is rocking now. I hope the same goes for you

Thanks bud, it's extremely frustrating. I've tried really all of the basic stuff to fix this with no luck. I don't have a phosphate test kit but I have had some lfs' test and it's always been zero. Also I have tested my nitrates and my girlfriends nitrates and mine always come up undetectable while there's some detectable in hers. So I am gonna run up to what most would say the most reputable lfs in the area and consult their help.

 

[ChadRaay86]

Thanks bud, it's extremely frustrating. I've tried really all of the basic stuff to fix this with no luck. I don't have a phosphate test kit but I have had some lfs' test and it's always been zero. Also I have tested my nitrates and my girlfriends nitrates and mine always come up undetectable while there's some detectable in hers. So I am gonna run up to what most would say the most reputable lfs in the area and consult their help.

Red LEDs do not cause or encourage algae growth like you guys think.

I can (and did) grow GHA by the pound in my sump with bright white LEDs because my nutrients were too high. If you took a reefbreeders fixture with all red LEDs and put it over a tank with low nutrients, you wouldn't see GHA. Likewise, if you took all of the reds out of said fixture and put it over a tank with high nutrients you would see an explosion in GHA growth.

That's why Icthyman and other more experienced hobbyists are saying to target your nutrients. Once you target your nutrients, your problem will go away.

To tackle my problem (high nutrients), I did this:

1. Cut feeding and used pellets and frozen vs flake
2. No coral food: Fish poop and leftover food is plenty for your tank. The only time you absolutely have to feed your corals is if you ran a ultra low nutrient system, and then you wouldn't have a problem with GHA in the first place.
3. Filter socks (for nutrient export)
4. a bigger skimmer (for nutrient export)
5. a small amount of biopellets (or another carbon source) for nitrates
6. GFO or ROWA for phosphates
7. Took out my phosphate loaded rock and acid washed it to take out built up nutrients

Trust the people telling you to target nutrients and you will be successful, I sure was.

Finally, I only do/did the three days of dark for a cyano outbreak, not GHA which can live in a trash can in summer for a few weeks without dying (seriously).

 

[Reefpilot11]

I appreciate the info chad. I'll let you guys know if my tests are bad after talking to John.

 

[likefish]

Red LEDs do not cause or encourage algae growth like you guys think.

I can (and did) grow GHA by the pound in my sump with bright white LEDs because my nutrients were too high. If you took a reefbreeders fixture with all red LEDs and put it over a tank with low nutrients, you wouldn't see GHA. Likewise, if you took all of the reds out of said fixture and put it over a tank with high nutrients you would see an explosion in GHA growth.

That's why Icthyman and other more experienced hobbyists are saying to target your nutrients. Once you target your nutrients, your problem will go away.

To tackle my problem (high nutrients), I did this:

1. Cut feeding and used pellets and frozen vs flake
2. No coral food: Fish poop and leftover food is plenty for your tank. The only time you absolutely have to feed your corals is if you ran a ultra low nutrient system, and then you wouldn't have a problem with GHA in the first place.
3. Filter socks (for nutrient export)
4. a bigger skimmer (for nutrient export)
5. a small amount of biopellets (or another carbon source) for nitrates
6. GFO or ROWA for phosphates
7. Took out my phosphate loaded rock and acid washed it to take out built up nutrients

Trust the people telling you to target nutrients and you will be successful, I sure was.

Finally, I only do/did the three days of dark for a cyano outbreak, not GHA which can live in a trash can in summer for a few weeks without dying (seriously).

PLEASE!!! PLEASE!!! listen to this guy!!!!

Its not new products or marketing or the latest greatest idea. Its simple science. I know its frustrating but it just takes persistence.

You can win the algae battle! many have before you. REMEMBER!!! nothing good happens fast in a reef tank. Be diligent with nutrient inport/export and you will win the war!

Hang in there!!

 

[snake1]

patience is key

 

[Reefpilot11]

Went up to FAOIS today talked with John for about an hour and boy do I have a better insight on nitrates and phosphates. So long story short he suggested I keep the sandbed agitated doing this 1-2 times per day. I also bought some of his 25 micron socks and will be changing them everyday. Here is the start to recovery! Btw it's green Cyanobacteria that's growing on my sand.

 

[Webmanny]

Awesome news. Best wishes on your journey. I have seen some slow but consistent improvement on my tank as well, but I will wait until Saturday to take some pics and provide my weekly update.

 

[Reefpilot11]

Well I'm sure a lot of us have encountered this but, John was totally right with his information(granted I never doubted it). Changing out the filter socks daily and disturbing the sand bed really have helped me finally get on the winning side of my green Cyanobacteria.

 

[janes_mw]

Well I'm sure a lot of us have encountered this but, John was totally right with his information(granted I never doubted it). Changing out the filter socks daily and disturbing the sand bed really have helped me finally get on the winning side of my green Cyanobacteria.

One thing I think is key is they sell only 25 micron socks. That is huge in my opinion and changing daily is also huge. Nutrient control is everything in this "sport". Sounds like your "winning". My fish "guilt me" into over feeding, I have usually resisted, but sometimes they get the best of me . I can even tell when I add an extra drop of amino acid as the next day the film on the glass is a little more. Less is more, crazy but true!!