Is this GHA again or something else? Best CUC options?

sanzz18 · Jan 26, 2023

I beat GHA (or so I think) months back with Reef Flux. I let my nutrients get out of control again and I think I am right back to the start of GHA again or some other nuisance algae. I am currently working on lowering my nutrients (lowered PO4 from 0.76 to 0.19 over the coarse of a few weeks as well as NO3 from 38 to 18). Still working on getting the PO4 closer to 0.1 and NO3 around 10. I don't want to go much lower than this for the sake of trying SPS frags again in the near future and reading a lot more that people have good results with a big of nutrients vs bottomed out.

Anyway the video is listed below. My question is what CUC would you recommend to help this nuisance algae and how many should I get? My tank is a 6 ft x2 ft tank. I really do not want to resort to chemicals again and manual removal is difficult in my tank. I also start skimming a little more wet.

Big G · Jan 26, 2023

Reef safe urchins (black rock, and pincushion) and snails: Astreas, Ninjas, Ceriths (both dwarf & regular), Trochus, avoid Turbos most are from Pacific coast of Mexico and are suited to colder waters.

sanzz18 · Jan 27, 2023

Okay cool. Does this look like the start of hair algae again? Also I have two tuxedo urchins I got, I feel like all they do is eat the coraline and that is it lol.

Big G · Jan 27, 2023

Sure looks like hair algae. Pull out a bit of it, place into a bowl with a bit of tank water. Add Hydrogen peroxide a bit at a time. If it dissolves readily, it's algae.