Green Hair Algae TAKEOVER

[jackalexander]

I have not posted on here in months or even really given my tank much attention because of this issue. I have tried loads of different things such as vibrant, tooth brush siphon, emerald crabs, lettuce nudibranch, mexican turbos, and many more but I can’t get this GHA to go away. Any suggestions would help.. it feels like i’m running out of options but I don’t want to quit the hobby.

 

[Sboling]

What are your nitrate and phosphate testing at? It’s likely a result of high phosphate.

 

[Fish man]

First get your nitrate and phosphate down. I had some hair algae issues when I first started out, not as bad as yours though. I did a 3 day tank black out that got rid of it. Completely covered it in several blankets so no light could get to it. When I removed it the algae was gone. Keep an eye on your filter during this procedure if you do it. Filter socks, or whatever you use will clog quickly. There's threads on here about it. Search "tank blackout"

 

[Beau_B]

Black out. 3-5 days. Your corals are going to suffer, but they will anyway if covered by that algae for long. If you have the ability to remove them, hydrogen peroxide treatment on rocks will help a lot. Massive water changes, but consider the rock is likely leaching nutrients.

I’m guessing if you test nitrate and phosphate they will be low; gha uptakes quickly.

 

[saltnut]

I would manually pull out as much as possible before trying the black out or any thing else.

 

[fish farmer]

Have you tried growing macroalgae in a refugium?

 

[brandon429]

What an easy rip clean this nano would be.

do this move here to fix it:

Algae Identification

Any opinions on what type of algae this is growing on my rocks and sand bed?

www.reef2reef.com

 

[dmy535]

+1 On top of what others have stated. But what is your lighting schedule? Do you run a lot of whites or is that just for photo?

 

[jackalexander]

What are your nitrate and phosphate testing at? It’s likely a result of high phosphate.

I’ll be honest, I haven’t tested either in a few weeks but my guess is high or ultra low because of the GHA soaking up nutrients.

 

[jackalexander]

First get your nitrate and phosphate down. I had some hair algae issues when I first started out, not as bad as yours though. I did a 3 day tank black out that got rid of it. Completely covered it in several blankets so no light could get to it. When I removed it the algae was gone. Keep an eye on your filter during this procedure if you do it. Filter socks, or whatever you use will clog quickly. There's threads on here about it. Search "tank blackout"

I have some quite expensive corals, will this damage them too much? How should I reintroduce them to light, should I go right back to the schedule or gradually increase the time?

 

[jackalexander]

Black out. 3-5 days. Your corals are going to suffer, but they will anyway if covered by that algae for long. If you have the ability to remove them, hydrogen peroxide treatment on rocks will help a lot. Massive water changes, but consider the rock is likely leaching nutrients.

I’m guessing if you test nitrate and phosphate they will be low; gha uptakes quickly.

that’s my guess as well. thank you

 

[jackalexander]

I would manually pull out as much as possible before trying the black out or any thing else.

I’ve got buckets full of this crap lol, i’ve pulled and pulled and pulled. I guess eventually something else will be able to take hold.

 

[jackalexander]

Have you tried growing macroalgae in a refugium?

I’m currently growing clean chaeto. I keep my fuge light on 24/7 but it doesn’t seem to be helping..

 

[brmreefer]

What is your source water too? RODI or tap?

If RODI, what is the TDS at?

 

[jackalexander]

What is your source water too? RODI or tap?

If RODI, what is the TDS at?

RODI, TDS 0. The GHA took hold because of my own ignorance. It came in on a frag plug and the coral was encrusted on the plug so I decided to leave it in the sand to suffocate it & now it’s been a GHA safe haven for months…

 

[schuby]

If I were you, I'd block the sunlight from that window. Sunlight is a super algae grower as you are experiencing.

Do you have any snails or CUC ( Ckesn Up Crew)? They can't eat tall GHA, but they can keep it down with enough of them. Pulling out by hand gives them a fighting chance.

 

[jackalexander]

If I were you, I'd block the sunlight from that window. Sunlight is a super algae grower as you are experiencing.

Do you have any snails or CUC ( Ckesn Up Crew)? They can't eat tall GHA, but they can keep it down with enough of them. Pulling out by hand gives them a fighting chance.

That’s the plan, the CUC is small because of my longnose but I’ll get larger inverts and hopefully they won’t get murdered lol

 

[AvoidTheNoid]

If I were you, I'd block the sunlight from that window. Sunlight is a super algae grower as you are experiencing.

Do you have any snails or CUC ( Ckesn Up Crew)? They can't eat tall GHA, but they can keep it down with enough of them. Pulling out by hand gives them a fighting chance.

The first thing I noticed was the tank next to a window. That will likely result in nuisance algae issues

 

[DrZoidburg]

Anyone mention an urchin, a turbo snail, and some smaller snail infantry. They will knock that out.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

Cut it down to as close to the rock you possibly can, remove it from the tank, put a sock in your sump. Water change 40%. Add 2 Halloween urchin, 3 emerald crabs and a boat load of copepods.