stubborn display algae, try GFO?

turbo2oh · Nov 4, 2017

So I'm trying to get my 60g cube tank back on track and get rid of all the algae in my display. Having to look at it every day sucks. I rip out everything I can by hand every few days but I'm really just trimming it down to be short. It doesn't come off with a toothbrush.

Things I've done:
- I recently got all my parameters back in line (below)
- Expanded my refugium size running chaeto and a Kessil H80
- Added a few cerith snails and scarlet hermits

I have GFO reactor I could start up but I've grown a rather substantial chaeto ball in my fuge and I'm worried it might get starved off.

Should I try running some GFO? Be more patient in hopes of starving the display? Run another Phosphate reduction product? Suggestions are welcome.

Current tested parameters:
Sg : 1.026
Mg: 1470
Ca: 450
Alk: 8.2
Nitrate: 0
Phosphate: .05

The attached pic is basically how all my rocks look.

Lonely reefer's · Nov 4, 2017

Get a small yellow tang will clean out that rocks in two weeks

saltyhog · Nov 4, 2017

I would run the GFO. My PO4 was even lower than yours and running GFO helped get rid of my algae issues. My chaeto did fine. I have not had much success with tangs actually controlling algae for me....maybe I feed them too well?!

jda · Nov 4, 2017

Where is it coming from? If it is PO4 release from dead/dry rock, then GFO will not help much (some, but not much) since the PO4 is local to the algae which will grab it up before it hits the open water column.

Zebra or Mexican turbos will make quick work of it in good numbers.

turbo2oh · Nov 13, 2017

I've started GFO, going to run that for a week or so and see how it goes. A little hesitant to add a tang to deal with it but maybe I'll get more desperate if the GFO doesn't work. I haven't had great success with getting turbo snails to live longer than a few months previously.

JDA - quick answer is neglecting the tank for a period of time, skimmer not running optimally, etc.

BlueCursor · Nov 13, 2017

Your PO4 is higher than your NO3. Perfect for growing algae. Just raise nitrate or lower phosphate to reverse this.

rkpetersen · Nov 13, 2017

BlueCursor said:
Your PO4 is higher than your NO3. Perfect for growing algae. Just raise nitrate or lower phosphate to reverse this.

Also good conditions for a dinoflagellate bloom.

In this case, I would definitely want some detectable nitrate in my system at all times, around 1-2 ppm. Phosphate is fine where it is, imo. If it rises above .06, though, I would put a tiny amount (<20 ml) of a high quality powerful GFO like RowaPhos in a fine mesh bag, rinse it, put it in a slow flow reactor overnight, and then take it out the next day. This should cut your phosphorus/phosphate about in half, which is where you want it. Leaving GFO to sit in a reactor for an extended period can easily drive your phosphorus to 0.000 in just a few days, and ime some corals respond really badly to this, closing up, bleaching, death.

Oh, and I second the idea - Get a small tang. My big hippo would eat this stuff, if I had any. Or blennies like the Bicolor Blenny perhaps. Or even some gobies like Rainford's.

turbo2oh · Nov 27, 2017

I've been running some GFO, it hasn't really made a difference. I have to re-order some of the Hanna Phosphate test reagents so I'll re-test once I get those. I did start to see a little bleaching and dialed the flow through the GFO reactor down some. Starting to think about adding a fish. Ideally it'd be one that I don't have to trade out as it grows. Do bicolor blennys reliably eat algae? Yellow tang was suggested several times, I'd just have to watch its growth.

tankstudy · Nov 27, 2017

What I would do is run a biopellet reactor and dose nitrogen to really drop those phosphate levels to kill off the algae.

mtraylor · Nov 27, 2017

YOur phosphates are low at .05. I think one thing allot of people neglect is a clean up crew. If you get a proper cleanup crew they will get rid of that stuff for you in a couple days. A couple snails and crabs is not enough. JMO

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 27, 2017

mtraylor said:
YOur phosphates are low at .05. I think one thing allot of people neglect is a clean up crew. If you get a proper cleanup crew they will get rid of that stuff for you in a couple days. A couple snails and crabs is not enough. JMO

This^^^

And a toothbrush.

My n/p have been off the charts from time to time. And my algal blooms are few.

turbo2oh · Nov 29, 2017

Hm ok I need to decide between a yellow tang and a larger clean up crew then. I've tried the toothbrush this stuff doesn't scrub off easily. I have to rip it off manually and even then I'm really just trimming it.

Still waiting on the phosphate test kit reagent.

Cory · Nov 29, 2017

In nature algae is controlled not so much by low nutrients but mostly by sea urchins and parrot fish.

Obviously parrot fish get too huge, so sea urchins are the best bet. Also snail' help but not so much with hairy algae.

If it were me I'd dose vinegar because i dont got money for cleanup crew. That vinegar gets rid of any algae. It will lower no3 and po4 to undetectable. But beware it might also get rid of coral by starvation.

If I had money I'd buy 4 small sea urchins. And like 20 snail' and 20 crabs. Id even try a lettuce nudibrach.

Cory · Nov 29, 2017

My other method is called cover it with coral. Basically cover your entire rock with sps frags so that there is no space for any algae. Works every time. But cyano may grow on coral.

cperry7467 · Nov 29, 2017

I've had success recently running my fuge light 24/7 while dosing api marine algaefix. My chaeto is growing like mad and the display tank algae is dying away. My hope is the display tank algae dies out and my chaeto will start out competing it.

Lonely reefer's · Nov 29, 2017

Tang for a quick result,clean up crews not going to clean those hair algae i can guarantee you that
If you look at all the successful reefers tank,all of them owned tangs
Here picture of my tank while the tang in qt
Within 2 weeks after put 3 tangs back
The algae all gone
I will post another picture on Friday night

DSC reef · Nov 29, 2017

Never had a tang clean up hair algae. I'd seriously look into a good clean up crew of turbos and astrea snails. Less bioload than a tang as well.

turbo2oh · Dec 2, 2017

Got my new phosphate reagent today and did a full set of tests (still running the GFO with the reactor slowly):

Alk: 7 (dosed some after measuring to take it up to ~8)
Ca: 440
Mg: 1400
Phosphate: 0
Nitrate: 0

I think the Chaeto in my fuge is taking a hit from the low phosphate, and my monti caps look faded. The in-tank algae is about the same, not growing as fast, but its not receding. I was still able to do a decent amount of manual removal again this week so its definitely still growing some.

I'm reading mixed results on yellow tangs, but thats pretty impressive @zoasaholic! I'm interested to see your follow-up picture! Was your algae slimy/easy to wipe off? I have some of that but most if it is pretty well rooted and hard to rip out.

I think I'm going to start by increasing my clean-up crew.

Currently I have (my 60g cube):
~12 small cerith snails
~4 scarlet hermits
1 emerald crab (haven't seen him in awhile, might be gone)
~2 astrea snails

Planning to add:
2 mexican turbos
2 scarlet hermits
4 banded trochus
1 emerald crab

Does that sound good? If they don't make any progress I'll consider the tang.