GHA or Worse?

[Alex C]

Hello! I am facing some type of algae that I’m having a hard time eradicating and properly identifying. But first some tank back ground.

My tank is a Red Sea reefer 425xl. It has been running for 148 days. Up until last week my nitrates and phosphates had bottomed out to 0. As such I have started dosing nitrates and phosphates. My current levels tested using Hanna checkers are:

Salinity: 1.026
Temperature: 77 degrees Fahrenheit
Nitrates: 5.2
Phosphates: 0.08
Alkalinity: 8.4 dkh
Calcium: 449
PH: 7.8 to 8.1
ORP: 400 - 421

All levels are maintained via automatic dosing via Neptune DoS units.

The algae outbreak seems to be getting worse despite recently adding an additional 15 Astoria snails and 2 turbo snails. I can’t seem to manually remove the algae even with a tooth brush and syphon hose.

Please advise.

 

[PeterB113]

Looks like GHA and turf algea to me. I'm also dealing with the same issue in one of my new tanks. Following to see if anyone has an answer as to getting rid of it.

 

[Wick3d_1]

I'm guessing Byopsis since it's difficult to manually remove which is a b- to get rid of. It's killed with an antibiotic treatment.

 

[Alex C]

Honestly it doesn’t look like bryopsis, at least compared to photos I’ve seen.

 

[Alex C]

A few more pics.

 

[DHill6]

Hello! I am facing some type of algae that I’m having a hard time eradicating and properly identifying. But first some tank back ground.

My tank is a Red Sea reefer 425xl. It has been running for 148 days. Up until last week my nitrates and phosphates had bottomed out to 0. As such I have started dosing nitrates and phosphates. My current levels tested using Hanna checkers are:

Salinity: 1.026
Temperature: 77 degrees Fahrenheit
Nitrates: 5.2
Phosphates: 0.08
Alkalinity: 8.4 dkh
Calcium: 449
PH: 7.8 to 8.1
ORP: 400 - 421

All levels are maintained via automatic dosing via Neptune DoS units.

The algae outbreak seems to be getting worse despite recently adding an additional 15 Astoria snails and 2 turbo snails. I can’t seem to manually remove the algae even with a tooth brush and syphon hose.

Please advise.

I used KZ cyano clean, a drop a day for a few weeks, loosens the stuff up where you can take clumps out with tweezers. If it’s turf and gha.

 

[DHill6]

I’ve also combined it with KZ coral snow, let it do it’s thing.

 

[PeterB113]

Honestly it doesn’t look like bryopsis, at least compared to photos I’ve seen.

That's what I was thinking looks like turf or GHA bryopsis looks like mini ferns

 

[Alex C]

Yeah looking at turf algae I can see some resemblance.

 

[MichaelReefer]

Have you tried H202 dosing?

 

[Alex C]

Have you tried H202 dosing?

I have not yet.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

So Alex, annoy the heck out of it and you will win. 2 Turbos and 15 other snails is really being kind to this nuisance.
You need to be constantly on it ! While your at work or sleeping etc.”other” things need to be annoying it. The snails are a good start. You should at least double that number in what? A 90 gallon tank? GFO in a nylon sock in a medium flow area of your tank. Change it weekly until it’s gone. Rohaphos or a Phos Pad are affective as well. Vacuuming your sandbed “deep” is important. All of it. At least monthly. Too many nutrients in the gravel is why clumps of it are on the gravel bed. Pull it off rocks! Toothbrush it off rocks. Turkey baster your rocks. Pristine is the new word of the day. Lol GHA hates pristine!!! Day and night “things” need to be annoying it! Good luck bud.

 

[MichaelReefer]

I have not yet.

Read up on @brandon429 He has lots of posts about how h202 dosing can help. 1ml per 10 gallons and slowly increase. Dose twice a day, preferably when lights are off. Or you can target apply to the algae with pumps and powerheads off.

 

[DrZoidburg]

I agree with both strategies. Used a lot more than 1:10gal though.

 

[MichaelReefer]

I agree with both strategies. Used a lot more than 1:10gal though.

It is recommended to start at 1:10 and slowly increase. I do 3:10. You do have to be careful if you have shrimp, it can hurt them.

 

[DrZoidburg]

Yea it can off snails and aptasia too.

 

[DrZoidburg]

@MichaelReefer I had to check my math. I did it using liters not gallons. Did you mean liters? Started out with 5ml/246L liters 7%, worked up to 80 ml/246L no problems. 1x every 24 hours. I see pros and cons to anyway one would do it.

 

[MichaelReefer]

@MichaelReefer I had to check my math. I did it using liters not gallons. Did you mean liters? Started out with 5ml/246L liters 7%, worked up to 80 ml/246L no problems. 1x every 24 hours. I see pros and cons to anyway one would do it.

I believe Brandon had said 1ml per 10 Gallons.

 

[DrZoidburg]

I don't do what he says. LOL

 

[Alex C]

Anybody tried FluxRx? Supposed to work well for GHA turf and bryopsis. The active ingredient being fluconazole.