Been dealing with gha for several months now. This weekend I think I’m going to remove most of the rock, give it a good scrub, spot treat with peroxide then rinse with saltwater and place back in tank. After all complete I’m going to start once a month dose with Vibrant to try and keep it from coming back. Only problem I have is that I have a couple of rocks with a rock flower nem attached to each. I may have to leave those be and clean with toothbrush as much as possible in the tank. Is this too harsh of a plan and just asking for trouble? Thanks for any advice.
Fighting that GHA
- Thread starter Webbinator
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motortrendz
2500 Club Member
Vibrant never worked on gha for me, but did manage to bleach a bunch of sps. Fluconazole helped but only short term as once the carbon was reintroduced it slowly came back. Recently I bumped my mag to 1500, and have been using my "julian's thing" to spot treat thw gha with h2o2..
So far the patches are turning white and dying back, so I think I finally got a handle on it...
My po4 is about .08-.10
Nitrates are less than 4
Hope this helped you..
So far the patches are turning white and dying back, so I think I finally got a handle on it...
My po4 is about .08-.10
Nitrates are less than 4
Hope this helped you..
Thanks for the reply. My nitrates and phosphates both test out at 0. I've tested with Salifert and API and get same result. I'm sure there has to be some of each in there and the gha is consuming it as fast as it's produced. Tank has been running just over a year now. Other params are Alk 9, Cal 450, mag 1350. I've read that raising magnesium up to 1500 might help some too.
SPR1968
No, it wasn’t expensive dear....
Reef Squad
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You will probably find the GHA is using phosphate as a food source which is why your getting a zero reading.
Check and make sure your using 0 TDS RODI water for water changes as this is a potential source.
Basically you need to remove the food source and there are several ways, I prefer GFO and run it 24/7 in my system.
I run rhowaphos in a reactor and lock phosphate down very low at around 0.03ppm which is a good target.
If you start using a GFO start slowly so you don’t shock the corals, but you will need to change is regularly to start as it becomes spent or it won’t work.
I don’t think changing your foundation element levels (Calcium etc) will make any difference
Check and make sure your using 0 TDS RODI water for water changes as this is a potential source.
Basically you need to remove the food source and there are several ways, I prefer GFO and run it 24/7 in my system.
I run rhowaphos in a reactor and lock phosphate down very low at around 0.03ppm which is a good target.
If you start using a GFO start slowly so you don’t shock the corals, but you will need to change is regularly to start as it becomes spent or it won’t work.
I don’t think changing your foundation element levels (Calcium etc) will make any difference
mta_morrow
Of course I have room for 1 more fish!
Manual removal and scrubbing is the best place to start so you’re starting off right.
Second is identifying the source and controlling it.
Vibrant has worked very well with no ill effects for MANY people when instructions are followed along with good husbandry.
Agree totally that foundation elements have no impact on algae and raising Alk totry and make a difference can lead to other problems that aren’t as easily fixed as GHA.
Second is identifying the source and controlling it.
Vibrant has worked very well with no ill effects for MANY people when instructions are followed along with good husbandry.
Agree totally that foundation elements have no impact on algae and raising Alk totry and make a difference can lead to other problems that aren’t as easily fixed as GHA.
Goodair
Valuable Member
What issues can come from raising it? Reefcleaners is the source saying high alk and mg may discourage its growth.
Sierra_Bravo
Valuable Member
I'm knocking on wood as I write this, but I just about have it licked. I suffered a break out of GHA back in June that coincided with a lighting change and my PO4 peaking to .10. My chaeto was shriveling up in my fuge at the same time.
Here's everything I tried more or less in order. I can't pinpoint exactly what worked because I tried to correct a lot of things quickly and did not feel I had the time to try one at a time and wait and see. I've asterisked those that I think had the most impact, but again. . . it's hard to say with so much at once.
Good luck in your battle. It's a pain in the rear end to get back on top of.
Here's everything I tried more or less in order. I can't pinpoint exactly what worked because I tried to correct a lot of things quickly and did not feel I had the time to try one at a time and wait and see. I've asterisked those that I think had the most impact, but again. . . it's hard to say with so much at once.
- Started to ramp my lighting back up in the DT (I had tried a new lighting program/schedule and didn't check PAR - it went WAY down and I didn't realize it)
- Started a GFO reactor**
- Reduced feeding fish by 1/3
- Stopped feeding Reef Roids
- Added algae specific CUC (snails, money cowries, lawnmower blenny)
- Vacuumed out the settled detritus in my refugium**
- Started using filter socks again
- Began blowing off rocks twice a day**
- Replaced my refugium light bulb**
- Cleaned out my overflow of detritus
- Added a Dolabella sea hare
- Started intense manual removal weekly (in-tank using a toothbrush and a siphon hose rigged to a filter sock)**
- Added more CUC (fuzzy chitons, emerald and hermit crabs, nerite, trochus, and Astrea snails)**
- Replaced my UV sterilizer light bulb**
- Stopped turning off my pumps to feed the fish
- Began dosing iron using Fergon per @Randy Holmes-Farley post on the subject**
Good luck in your battle. It's a pain in the rear end to get back on top of.
mta_morrow
Of course I have room for 1 more fish!
The issue would be with your corals. If they are happy now, things may change.
I have yet to see anyone prove that raising Alk or mag for algae control works.
On the other hand, there are many steadfast ways to control and eliminate it without affecting anything else.
ZoWhat
10K Club member
Not always a true indication of what's going on....
Your NO3/PO4 might be '0' only after your GHA has feasted on your fish food.
Take a hard look at what fish food you are using that might be high in PO4.
Take a harder look at HOW MUCH food you are feeding that is directly connected to NO3
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