GHA and Corals

[pippol01]

I have a 32 gal tank over a year old with three fish so far. I wanted to know if I should wait to get rid of my green hair algae before I get Corals?

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

YES! You can try different methods to get rid of the algae that having coral in there with it might make it more difficult. Also hair algae will overrun and kill coral.

 

[pippol01]

YES! You can try different methods to get rid of the algae that having coral in there with it might make it more difficult. Also hair algae will overrun and kill coral.

Thanks!

 

[Suohhen]

Over a year is a long time to be still fighting algae. Not distypical at all, and not a criticism, and forums are a difficult place to help with algae issues but by chance did you happen to start with dry rock and dry sand?

 

[RobertTheNurse]

Can still keep coral with a little GHA LOL...I think it's impossible to NEVER have any algae present in a tank. Any algae can take over and kill corals not just GHA. If GHA has taken over then I wouldn't add. But if there is only some, I'd say find the source...control the source and move ahead slowly. You're going to get many perspectives on this site. It's not a one all fix all.

Pics would help determine the plan moving ahead, as well as current testing parameters.

Kinda hard to diagnose ANYTHING without data.

 

[Suohhen]

Can still keep coral with a little GHA LOL...I think it's impossible to NEVER have any algae present in a tank. Any algae can take over and kill corals not just GHA. If GHA has taken over then I wouldn't add. But if there is only some, I'd say find the source...control the source and move ahead slowly. You're going to get many perspectives on this site. It's not a one all fix all.

Pics would help determine the plan moving ahead, as well as current testing parameters.

Kinda hard to diagnose ANYTHING without data.

Good point, algae isn't guaranteed to overtake coral. A lot of the time when it does it is more due to the coral dying on its own and the dead flesh fueling algae growth. GHA is more of a risk than say cyano, diatoms, or turf algae but as Robert said if it isn't an outbreak and you have it under control then you'll be fine.

 

[pippol01]

Over a year is a long time to be still fighting algae. Not distypical at all, and not a criticism, and forums are a difficult place to help with algae issues but by chance did you happen to start with dry rock and dry sand?

Yes, I started with dry rock and sand

 

[Uncle99]

You can softies.
You can add stoneys when all 8 parameters are both on point and not fluctuating for at least 90 days.
By then, the GHA should have reduced (because your water chemistry is butt on) and the waters stable which makes everyone happy.

 

[pippol01]

You can softies.
You can add stoneys when all 8 parameters are both on point and not fluctuating for at least 90 days.
By then, the GHA should have reduced (because your water chemistry is butt on) and the waters stable which makes everyone happy.

Thanks! I appreciate the feedback

 

[Suohhen]

Apparently it is very typical for new tanks to struggle with algae for more than the first year when starting with dry rock/sand. Ryan at brs has a tank in his home that is over 1.5 years and he solved his problems by simply dumping live sand over everything. Now that is as subjective as it gets but the thinking is clear that establishing the proper biodiversity is critical to a reef tank and it is actually something they are testing rn. They have systems with dry rock/sand, Live rock/dry sand, dry rock/live sand and they are going to send out samples from each to test for biodiversity.

 

[LRT]

Be careful with some shrooms they will melt just thinking about algae growing near them.

 

[jgirardnrg]

 

[pippol01]

Apparently it is very typical for new tanks to struggle with algae for more than the first year when starting with dry rock/sand. Ryan at brs has a tank in his home that is over 1.5 years and he solved his problems by simply dumping live sand over everything. Now that is as subjective as it gets but the thinking is clear that establishing the proper biodiversity is critical to a reef tank and it is actually something they are testing rn. They have systems with dry rock/sand, Live rock/dry sand, dry rock/live sand and they are going to send out samples from each to test for biodiversity.

Thanks. I didn’t know I could put live sand on top of sand.

 

[Suohhen]

Thanks. I didn’t know I could put live sand on top of sand.

Ryan poured it all over his rocks, corals, fish...lol. I guess when you're rich and have access to everything there is no reason to hold back but I personally wouldn't advocate dumping sand on coral. And individual experience may vary but I've been a big advocate for biodiversity for a long time but it is nice to see it's getting some traction in this hobby so now I can just point to the big boys instead of having to describe the whole theory.