Turf or GHA?
- Thread starter Fishmommy
- Start date
Is the Tds post DI always reading 0. The results from the Hanna checker are almost useless since that amount of algae will quickly bind up all available phosphate.
When I had my battle with gha, I removed rocks, one at a time, scrubbed them as best I could, and hit them with straight 3% hydrogen peroxide, let them sit a few minutes, dipped them in old tank water and put them back in. It took a long time, but that, along with changing gfo every week or so eventually beat it.
Long term, there have to be excess nutrients getting in there somehow. Try cutting back on feeding and running your lights for a few hours less each day.
When I had my battle with gha, I removed rocks, one at a time, scrubbed them as best I could, and hit them with straight 3% hydrogen peroxide, let them sit a few minutes, dipped them in old tank water and put them back in. It took a long time, but that, along with changing gfo every week or so eventually beat it.
Long term, there have to be excess nutrients getting in there somehow. Try cutting back on feeding and running your lights for a few hours less each day.
Fishmommy
Active member
I pull the algae weekly as much as I can and have em crabs, snails, and a kole tang. I could try more snails like turbos but am afraid of the bulldozer effect. I have a conch also and lots of detritus eaters like brittle stars and shrimps.
I have begun removing the sandbed. I suspect it is trapping bad stuff.
I do blow off the rocks but could do more there.
I have begun removing the sandbed. I suspect it is trapping bad stuff.
I do blow off the rocks but could do more there.
If your suspecting the sandbed then do it, it's prolly the problem. The rocks look to be saturated with nutrients too so I would stay barebottom for a couple months until the bacteria purge the rock of the nutrients. It would go quicker this way and you will get a lesson in just how much detritus the system actually makes. Just gonna have to stick it out for a couple of months..
While it's always possible the sandbed is to blame, I really doubt it (there are always folks who ascribe every problem to the sandbed; including, apparently global warming
) That your nutrient readings are good suggests that your husbandry practices are OK. Algae control is more than just nutrient control IME. Once algae takes hold, it can be tough to control. Key is to mechanically remove as much as you can and find something that will eat the rest. Bristletooth tangs are awesome tank members, but not particularly good at eating filamentous algae. Unfortunately Tangs often have to be 'taught' to eat hair algae. Some do, some do not. My current band eat every thread that has the audacity to try to grow in my tank. The only places I have any GHA is where they cannot reach. I'd at least try a Zebrasoma and an Acanthurus.That your tank went its first 10 months without algae problems also suggests that your rocks are not leaching nitrates or phosphates, so it's unlikely they're magically leaching it now. Easy enough to determine though; just re-cure a piece in a separate vat and measure (remove all the hair large first otherwise it will contaminate the experiment).
Last edited:
This is a good approach, a bit extreme
, but a good approach. Clearly you have to remove any encrusted SPS (if there is any).
