GHA problem...so many answers don't know which one to go with

[OffRoad322]

Hi All,
I have a 80gal with chaeto refugium running GFO and Carbon dual reactor, and filter socks. 2 Hydra 26 HD's Been up and running for about 9months.

I see so many solutions out there where should I start...Hydrogen Peroxide or Vibrant or ???

My tank isn't big enough for tangs so I don't think I use that as a solution.

Sorry I know there are a lot of GHA topics and I read them all. Now I am more confused than ever what to go with.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Hi All,
I have a 80gal with chaeto refugium running GFO and Carbon dual reactor, and filter socks. 2 Hydra 26 HD's Been up and running for about 9months.

I see so many solutions out there where should I start...Hydrogen Peroxide or Vibrant or ???

My tank isn't big enough for tangs so I don't think I use that as a solution.

Sorry I know there are a lot of GHA topics and I read them all. Now I am more confused than ever what to go with.

Let's get to the basics first.

What's your source water?

What's your current water pramameters?

What photo period are you running?

What are you feeding and how much in a day?

Started with live rock or dry? Was it cured before use?

 

[OffRoad322]

Let's get to the basics first.

What's your source water?

What's your current water pramameters?

What photo period are you running?

What are you feeding and how much in a day?

Source water: 4 stage BRS RODI with low TDS in and 0 TDS out

Current water parameters: normal levels with 0 Nitrates and PO4 0.02

Lighting: AI Hydra 26 HDs x 2 running for 8 hour photo period

Feeding: frozen mysis and hand feeding krill for eel. Both once a day.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Source water: 4 stage BRS RODI with low TDS in and 0 TDS out

Current water parameters: normal levels with 0 Nitrates and PO4 0.02

Lighting: AI Hydra 26 HDs x 2 running for 8 hour photo period

Feeding: frozen mysis and hand feeding krill for eel. Both once a day.

It is common that when a system shows exhibits P04 above that of N03, the likelihood of nuisance algaes increases. Having N03 at 5 -10 ppm is ideal, with P04 at trace 0.02.

It is common that newly established rock can leach out DOC's and phosphates into the water column up to a year or more, depending on what and where the rock came from. Could be a long battle, but can be over come.

What rock did you start with? Dry or live and was it cured when introduced?

 

[OffRoad322]

It is common that when a system shows exhibits P04 above that of N03, the likelihood of nuisance algaes increases. Having N03 at 5 -10 ppm is ideal, with P04 at trace 0.02.

It is common that newly established rock can leach out DOC's and phosphates into the water column up to a year or more, depending on what and where the rock came from. Could be a long battle, but can be over come.

What rock did you start with? Dry or live and was it cured when introduced?

Started with dry rock from reefcleaners...
https://www.reefcleaners.org/aquarium-store/rock

Didn't know about curing until after I started so this could be what's happening.

 

[OffRoad322]

Should I try one of the solutions like Vibrant or spot treat with hydrogen peroxide?

 

[Justfebreezeit]

how bad is it? lets see a picture

 

[Flippers4pups]

Started with dry rock from reefcleaners...
https://www.reefcleaners.org/aquarium-store/rock

Didn't know about curing until after I started so this could be what's happening.

Could be, bit it's live now.

Should I try one of the solutions like Vibrant or spot treat with hydrogen peroxide?

You can on both, but with caution. Depending on corals you keep.

This sounds counter intuitive, but increasing N03 will actually drive down P04. Will help take away some fuel for it.

I run 20ppm N03 and P04 at 0.02 in my system and have no nuisance algaes.

I would reduce your lighting photo period, again depends on what your keeping coral wise, to total of 6 hours a day.

Try algae fx Marine or vibrant. After treatment run some GAC. Keep up on water changes and it will subside.

Also a decent CUC will help. Turbo snails.......

 

[OffRoad322]

Sorry about the pictures I turned up the white all the way.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Sorry about the pictures I turned up the white all the way.

Definitely "new tank nasties". It will subside in time. Typical dry rock nasties.

 

[OffRoad322]

Definitely "new tank nasties". It will subside in time. Typical dry rock nasties.

Well that's good to know. So basically be patient and wait it out?

 

[Flippers4pups]

Well that's good to know. So basically be patient and wait it out?

Yep, raise your N03 to 5-10ppm by turning off your skimmer for a few days or dosing some potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate. Add some snails. Reduce your photo period.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

That’s the beginning of corraline in there.

I disagree on ratios and trying to chase those numbers. You just need to have some available.

As fish create ammoina and food decays , algaes can both absorb the ammoina directly and the no3.
Bacteria and alge both uptake no3 more than Po4 yes.
So even though it’s not detected there is still some in there as it’s being quickly used. (You May have heard the common nutrients are locked up in the algae thing)

IMO. Toothbrush, more snails.
Last resort fluconazole (or reefflux hd ) rather than the others.
Vibrant will mess with your nutrients.
Fluco will kill the algae and put the nutrients back in the tank.(raining no3 first o course )
Funny side effect too, the snails become more interested in the alage as it dies off. Must be stinky goodness.

 

[OffRoad322]

That’s the beginning of corraline in there.

I disagree on ratios and trying to chase those numbers. You just need to have some available.

As fish create ammoina and food decays , algaes can both absorb the ammoina directly and the no3.
Bacteria and alge both uptake no3 more than Po4 yes.
So even though it’s not detected there is still some in there as it’s being quickly used. (You May have heard the common nutrients are locked up in the algae thing)

IMO. Toothbrush, more snails.
Last resort fluconazole (or reefflux hd ) rather than the others.
Vibrant will mess with your nutrients.
Fluco will kill the algae and put the nutrients back in the tank.(raining no3 first o course )
Funny side effect too, the snails become more interested in the alage as it dies off. Must be stinky goodness.

BRS says that the reef flux "Note: Not effective against hair or other turf style algae."

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

BRS says that the reef flux "Note: Not effective against hair or other turf style algae."

https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/r...fluconazole-bryopsis-green-hair-algae-reefhd/


https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/s...bryopsis-and-gha-a-daily-report.292290/page-9
https://www.corals.direct/products/fluconazole-200mg

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2622044

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/b...yopsis-using-fluconazole.285096/#post-3464057

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/gha-and-fluconazole-success-stories.445253/

And it killed gha in my tank.

 

[Toomnymods]

Ive been using reefflux in my tank for 3+ months straight.. it hasnt done anything in mine..