GHA removal

[Trever]

Two questions here, I'd like to limit focus on these and not my general battle with GHA, not on identification nor underlying causes, etc. That's too big of a discussion and will just involve the usual advice and answers. I'm trying to focus on specific issues less commonly addressed that I don't have information about.

1. I remove the thick GHA with my fingers to keep it from overwhelming my corals, keep it somewhat at bay, and to get the nutrients bound up in it out of my closed system (i.e. aquarium!). After such removal, it's considered OK to toothbrush off the surfaces it was on?

2. Is there any solid evidence that sending GHA into the water column spreads it? I presume that it spreads by its own means no matter what a person does- that's how life works! I would think sending it into the water column at worst hastens it's (inevitable) spread. I have excellent filtration and the stuff that gets into the water column is soon in my filter sock. I also find that the sparse GHA is not really harvestable. It's too thin, I can barely see it on my fingers. It seems better to pick that sparse stuff off the rocks and just let go of it, so I can get it without it taking 5 hours. As long as it gets exported out of the system (i.e. filter sock), I figure job well done... but thought I'd ask.

Thanks in advance

 

[ApoIsland]

Two questions here, I'd like to limit focus on these and not my general battle with GHA, not on identification nor underlying causes, etc. That's too big of a discussion and will just involve the usual advice and answers. I'm trying to focus on specific issues less commonly addressed that I don't have information about.

1. I remove the thick GHA with my fingers to keep it from overwhelming my corals, keep it somewhat at bay, and to get the nutrients bound up in it out of my closed system (i.e. aquarium!). After such removal, it's considered OK to toothbrush off the surfaces it was on?

2. Is there any solid evidence that sending GHA into the water column spreads it? I presume that it spreads by its own means no matter what a person does- that's how life works! I would think sending it into the water column at worst hastens it's (inevitable) spread. I have excellent filtration and the stuff that gets into the water column is soon in my filter sock. I also find that the sparse GHA is not really harvestable. It's too thin, I can barely see it on my fingers. It seems better to pick that sparse stuff off the rocks and just let go of it, so I can get it without it taking 5 hours. As long as it gets exported out of the system (i.e. filter sock), I figure job well done... but thought I'd ask.

Thanks in advance

1. No problem at all tooth brushing the surface to get the last remaining scraps.

2. I have no scientific proof or expert articles to reference whether or not a plucked spore can land and grow. I think common sense would tell us that it will land and continue to grow just like every piece of coral in the hobby. Therefore the more you put in the water column the more you hasten the spread as you originally suggested.

 

[Pistondog]

Two questions here, I'd like to limit focus on these and not my general battle with GHA, not on identification nor underlying causes, etc. That's too big of a discussion and will just involve the usual advice and answers. I'm trying to focus on specific issues less commonly addressed that I don't have information about.

1. I remove the thick GHA with my fingers to keep it from overwhelming my corals, keep it somewhat at bay, and to get the nutrients bound up in it out of my closed system (i.e. aquarium!). After such removal, it's considered OK to toothbrush off the surfaces it was on?

2. Is there any solid evidence that sending GHA into the water column spreads it? I presume that it spreads by its own means no matter what a person does- that's how life works! I would think sending it into the water column at worst hastens it's (inevitable) spread. I have excellent filtration and the stuff that gets into the water column is soon in my filter sock. I also find that the sparse GHA is not really harvestable. It's too thin, I can barely see it on my fingers. It seems better to pick that sparse stuff off the rocks and just let go of it, so I can get it without it taking 5 hours. As long as it gets exported out of the system (i.e. filter sock), I figure job well done... but thought I'd ask.

Thanks in advance

We had success with vibrant and manual removal.

 

[Hermie]

For me, anecdotally, if I DONT toothbrush it off rocks, it never stops growing. I have to do that in order to get it to managable levels for snails and urchins to eat it.

 

[Greg P]

I had a bad HA battle years ago with dry rock. It was the same fine stuff you describe. Yes, it's a good idea to scrub the rock with a brush to get right down to the cracks/crevices. I used a nylon fingernail brush and a stainless steel brush (similar to a toothbrush). I turned off flow and ran a canister filter. You can do the same with your socks.
I turkey basted the rocks to keep the floaties moving until all went through the filter and the water column was clear.
I was lucky and only had to do this once. And I never again started a system with dry rock!!
This was then;

 

[Greg P]

This was after;

 

[Hermie]

This was after;

I've done that probably 5 times in the past 2 months. It takes so long but the end result is worth it. I Just wish it would stop coming back.

 

[dhnguyen]

For me it was a combination of taking the rocks out of the tank and scrubbing them with a steel brush then rinse in fresh SW and nutrient control via water changes, GFO, and feeding less.

Even at that it still took several times before I finally won that battle.

 

[Hermie]

I've been using a "firm/hard" toothbrush which is hard to find but I got a cheap 3 pack at Walmart; most toothbrushes are medium/soft. The problem is I need a smaller size to get into cracks and crevices better.

 

[Mical]

Use Kents TechM. It's a magnesium additive. Boost your mag to 1600 - 1800 and your GHA will dissolve within weeks.

 

[Trever]

Awesome, thanks all! This really helps. It's taken me a bit to respond because weirdly, not getting emails today from r2r.

I think I can lick this... I think I can I think I can I think Ican I think acan.....