Is this a good plan?

[SwimFriend]

I'm about 15 months in, surviving, but want to get to thriving. Nitrates don't show on a dip strip, but I've never been able to get my phosphates below .18 (Hanna checker). I was faithfully using NoPox, but then my fancy torch started declining fast, not long after having added Vibrant and Microbacter Clean to combat hair algae (I keep pulling, it keeps coming back). The local store recommended a Lugol's dip for the torch, which seemed to have halted the decline. In discussion I was explaining my struggles with dark slime (probably cyano), and bought Chemiclean. Reading on the forums, I hear that it's erythromycin. So now I'm thinking that my NoPox was probably feeding not just the probiotics that I had recently added but also the cyano and whatever was hurting my torch.

My plan? I've stopped the NoPox, added some GFO to my media pouch, and I plan to manually turkey-baster as much cyano as I can on Thursday and start the Chemiclean process (skimmer overflowing, per instructions). After a water change on Saturday, I should have really cut down all the bacteria, and it would be a good time to try to give the good bacteria a head start with the Vibrant and Microbacter Clean, right? And re-start the NoPox. I worry that it's a bit too much change all at once, so maybe the experts here could chime in? Thanks in advance!

 

[Ludders]

Two observations;
1.Your slime is probably linked and feeding off the no-pox dosing.
2. You won't have cut down your bacteria by doing water changes, it lives in the substrate and rocks.

Before dosing other things, let's try and understand what exactly is going on here.

Post a picture of what's frustrating you the most at the moment and we'll go from there. Also what level of nitrate were you aiming to achieve?

 

[SwimFriend]

You can see it on the sand, of course. But it's also at the base of some of my critters, like my little cloves here. For nitrates, I haven't had any trouble keeping them under 20, but that's likely because of the hair algae.

 

[Ludders]

So if you tested for nitrate now, what would it be?
I can see that dark slime under the nems and your algae problem.
You don't have a microscope yet by any chance?

 

[SwimFriend]

I only have dip strips for nitrates, and it never registers, so under 20. I actually might be able to use the microscope at work after hours. I suppose I could take some slime and put it on a slide.

 

[Ludders]

It was the algae I was interested in, otherwise it's a bit of guessing.

I am thinking it could be bryopsis and am wondering how you have had it for and whether it started shortly after the introduction of something to the tank.

 

[SwimFriend]

The algae is very fine and wispy.

 

[laverda]

Your changing and doing to many things at once. What are your other parameters?
GFO will drop your ALK so watch it while using GFO. Personally I have had much better results wit lantham chloride for removing phosphates. Blue life is one company that sells it at your LFS as phosphate Control. Use at half the recommended dose. You can also rinse rocks with hydrogen peroxide to instantly kill GHA and most other algae’s. Pulling GHA typically spreads is as your releasing lots of little bit all around the tank to settle and grow there. If your going to bull the alga doss a small bit of hydrogen peroxide to your tank to kill the little bits floating around. You can also dose small amounts daily to eliminate the GHA. Very effective, just takes a little time this way. I find the easiest way to eliminate algae’s from the display is to grow them in an ATS where they can easily be harvested. You can easily make an ATS for less than $30.00 including the light. I have a thread here in the diy forum on it. DIY ATS for under $30.00