GHA Issue? Maybe just cycling?

hockeyhead019 · Nov 21, 2017

Hey everybody,

My system is almost 4 months old now and some GHA has started to grow on the rocks and substrate in the DT. I'm wondering if this is just part of the cycle and if so how long I should expect it to last before it should be taken as a sign of an issue.

Tank params:
0ppm ammonia
0ppm trites
5ppm trates

The tank is very lightly stocked and I'm running reverse lighting in my sump which has a cheato ball and LR with all kinds of algae growing on it lol

Reefing Madness · Nov 21, 2017

Running GFO? What is your Phosphate number?? Using RO/DI Water?

hockeyhead019 · Nov 22, 2017

Not running anything, not testing for Phosphate because I don't have a kit.

Yes I'm running RO/DI which is registering 0 TDS

brandon429 · Nov 22, 2017

GHA is associated with all ages of tanks, its never a cycling issue. We either choose to farm it or not. We either choose natural methods or we choose unnatural methods that opt out of a GHA challenge long before one manifests. Its not that your tank is at a crossroads, its that your approach to reefing is

now that the esoteric rant is over, see this thread:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/my-fight-with-green-hair-algae-you-can-win.334892/page-2

there's a very specific reason no reef tank I own can be invaded by any organism and I have no idea what my nutrient profiles are. not needed since our system is nutrient independent. there are many ways to skin a cat, this isn't the only way. My way is best for people who've lost systems to algae before and feel reef jaded.

JAMSOURY · Nov 22, 2017

Same with me, I felt like its part of the cycle but a lot of people are saying no. I’m showing 0 phosphate on a Hanna checker, which possibly it’s all stored within the hair algae. Would it be bad to run gfo if I’m already showing 0 phostphates?

brandon429 · Nov 22, 2017

whether we run gfo or not wont matter, that's all about growback. I know how weird that sounds but we're up to like 150 pages and never asking for a nutrient reading in our peroxide threads just to show alternate ways vs nutrient detailing.

If one can see GHA in a system, we're at the removal phase.

Growback prevention (CUC, GFO, ATS, carbon dosing, no pox et al) is only for totally algae free systems, ones we've refused algae in already and are tired of forcing it clean.

*we do opposite of what the masses do to get such huge correction threads w after pics. The vast majority aren't at that frustration stage yet, so they'll take water only actions until that day comes. Others refuse the very first tiny spot of GHA when its pencil eraser size, and truly work at nothing.