Tons of Green Hair Algae

[cmcimino]

I have a 28 gallon nanocube that has been running for almost a year now. Up until about a month ago I was using filtered sea water, but have switch to making my own with RODI, and Red Sea Pro Coral salt. About 4 months ago I noticed some GHA starting to grow, so I removed as much as I could during water changes and hoped for the best. I finally measured my filtered sea water and noticed it had phosphate levels anywhere from .1 to .15 ppm so I made the switch to RODI.

I have done about 4, 5 gallon water changes since switching water, and have not noticed any difference in the algae growth. I am running chaeto in the back with the light running from 8pm to 2 pm. It has been growing nicely but does not have a noticeable effect on the GHA. I am also running a Gnome glass skimmer, and Purigen. I have also switched to feeding the fish every other day (frozen mysis) to cut down on any waste.

During my water changes I have been removing as much GHA as possible, but it just grows back to the same amount every week. I am thinking about doing weekly water changes, but not removing the GHA hoping that it outcompetes itself and dies off, I am just worried about it taking over some of my corals. Obviously as the GHA dies off nutrients will be leached back into the water, but I am hoping the skimmer and chaeto can remove most of it. Is this a terrible idea, or should I give it a try?

 

[swensos]

It could be that the lights on your display are so much more efficient than the light on the fuge that the gha is out-competing your chaeto. I would continue to remove it, so it doesn't feed new growth as it decomposes.

Also, maybe invest in some snails or crabs to eat the new gha growth so your chaeto can out-compete it. I have one stomatella snail that hitchhiked on a frag. It has cleared a one foot diameter spot in the tank all by itself after I physically removed a majority of my gha. I wish I had more of them, because it keeps its rock spotless.

 

[cmcimino]

Will turning my whites down possibly slow the algae growth? I have an AI prime running at about 25% whites at full light. Lights run from 4-10pm at peak, which blues around 75% and whites at 25%. Red and greens are at 5% or less.