Green Hair Algae Probelm....very confused...Need HELP!

[Sweet7]

Hi Everyone,

So I could use some help! I have been battling a Green Hair Algae problem for about 3 months now. I have gone through tons of the threads on here and have tried a bunch of stuff with what seems like no results. The problem has gotten worse over the 3 month period but only marginally. I have been able to slow the spread considerably but definitely not stop it. So here is what I have tried and what my current parameters are along with anything else I use and put in my tank:

I have a 29g Bio Cube which I run an Aquaticlife 115 skimmer in chamber 1 for 8 hrs a day (on the same timer as lights), chamber 2 InTank Media Basket, polishing pad on first level (changed weekly), Purigen second level (changed monthly), Matrix Carbon and Kent GFO on the third level (GFO changed weekly, carbon monthly). A bag of matrix media is also in chamber 2. Sponge in between chambers 2-3 (rinsed weekly). I use the stock lights with 3 added 4-LED strips of half and half Antic and Daylight. I also dose Instant Ocean Nitrate reducer weekly and one drop of lougls solution weekly. I dose Kent Nano Reef Part A+B Daily and do 25% water changes with Natures Ocean Nutri-seawater bi-weekly. I also have a Deep Sand Bed with 40 lbs of Natures Ocean live sand. Along with 35 lbs of cured LR. Current water parameters are as follows: (API Test Kit)

PH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
KH: 9
Calcium: 480
Phosphate: 0

SG: 1.026

Water temp is 78 degrees.

I have heard bad things about the API test kits so I ordered new Salifert kits that I'm waiting for in the mail to see I there is a difference.

When I do my water changes I scrub and siphon out as much of the GHA as I can but it grows back in a few days. My corals are all doing fine and growing well and fast with the exception of two that are being choked out by the GHA. I have been trying to scrub away and starve out the GHA with 0 success.

I have 3 fish, clown, damsel and wrasse in the tank. About 25 assorted inverts (Scarlet reef hermits, Dwarf Zebra Hermits, Astrea snails, Turbo Snails, Cerith Snails, Nasarius Snails and mini brittle stars) and one Skunk Cleaner Shrimp. I feed the fish once a day with marine flakes and I feed the whole tank once a week with a small cube of Mysis shrimp (this includes corals...I have a Duncan that will eat most of the cube so there is no waste that sits around)

The last drastic measure I took was a 3 day black out and all that did was stress one of my favorite Zoa's into melting away. That's when I reduced my photo-period from 10 hrs to 8 about 3 weeks ago. I am stumped with this GHA problem and thought I would post everything I have and everything I'm doing to see if someone may have any ideas or knowledge they can pass my way relating to my specific situation. Anything and everything will be greatly appreciated!! I hope I can get this under control!

THANKS!!!!

 

[Ryans85]

I had same issue what I did was took live rock out scrubbed as much GHA off as possible in a seprate 5 gal bucket did this on every rock . did this every water change wich was once a week and in bout month it was under control also highly suggest not scrubbing any GHA in your tank this just helps spread it. Hope this helps I know the frustration I delt with GHA for over year untill I did this oh I also bought 20lbs new live rock to help with beneficial bacteria good luck don't give up ull be happy once its gone.

 

[brandon429]

we need full tank shot to check for undisclosed details

Nutrients are not the cause of the majority of gha problems. sure we may read it that way, but its just not the case. we read it that way because its easier for that to work as a one off lucky combo than it is to be able to correct a lot of problem tanks by telling them to further reduce phosphates, in your case beyond the first attempt. your corals are acclimated to the current rates, my threads show posters who went for more, bleached some corals, then showed up anyway for algae treatment w bleached corals, you can still head that part off.

the natural ocean can have algae encroachment to the point of reef devastation with no elevations in nutrients, merely removal of grazers

you may have alot, they just dont eat what you want them to.


Most, not some, of our problem GHA tanks were remedied without touching nutrients or even measuring for them.

The only reason Id ever consider doing something against the grain of nutrient control is the sole number of tanks we collected as after pics for five years in the reference thread el grande
http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/268706-peroxide-saves-my-tank-with-pics-to-prove-it/page-58

dont start at page 58 go to like middle 30's for some good gha before and afters.

we aren't breaking big rules, we are doing what nonspecific grazers wont do, and to great effect.



most assuredly you can starve this algae if you keep stripping phosphates assertively enough, thats just not the way Id ever run a reef tank, opinions differ. my way is insane to many. try and find a similar thread where just phosphate restriction worked in exact predicted time frames on 500 different tanks.

you do not have to use peroxide for this effect. all we are doing is manually killing algae vs letting it sit there, thats it.

i have many people who make a paste out of baking soda and kent tech m for example and just apply that when the water is drained or the rock removed.

there are people who simply make a kalk paste and apply it to an emersed zone of algae for a kill
some bought a sea slug or some margarita snails and it truly ate everything and kept it at bay. You have to choose how much time and how much experimentation you'll endure to be all natural.

you do not have to spot treat ever if you want all natural at all costs, either increase po4 stripping to try and starve it, install an ATS system to try and starve it, or experiment with more grazers.