GHA Problem Continues

OffRoad322 · 11/26/2018, 06:33 PM

Hi All,
I am having an issue with Green Hair Algae over the past several months. It's on every rock, but not overtaking anything yet. Tank is 8 months old. My light schedule is photo period is really 6 hours with small ramps on each end. I run a refugium with chaeto and filter socks, good sized skimmer and a BRS GFO/Carbon dual reactor.

I only feed frozen food (mysis) and krill for my puffer and eel.

Readings...
- Phosphate: 0.018ppm
- Nitrate: 5-10ppm
- Ammonia: 0

I started dosing Vibrant 3 weeks ago / 1 time per week and it doesn't seem to be making anything better. I know it isn't a miracle cure, but I expected to see some progress.

Should I stop the Vibrant and order some fluconazole?

Thank you!

OffRoad322 · 11/26/2018, 06:36 PM

A couple pics with the white lights on so you can see it better.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

outssider · 11/26/2018, 06:56 PM

you need a lot of snails and hermits..they will mow it down

bertoni · 11/27/2018, 10:04 PM

I don't know whether the Vibrant will help with algal growth. It's mostly a bacterial blend, and I don't know how successful it might be. Fluconazole might be a reasonable approach to try, or you could consider carbon dosing of some sort.

Uncle99 · 11/28/2018, 09:35 AM

I might think your phosphate number is incorrect and that the GHA is utilizing the phosphate in your water so it does not show high on the test. That's a really low number you post and your algae is real green.....does not make sense

Assume phosphates and introduce GFO and mop up that organic...

OffRoad322 · 11/28/2018, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle99

I might think your phosphate number is incorrect and that the GHA is utilizing the phosphate in your water so it does not show high on the test. That's a really low number you post and your algae is real green.....does not make sense

Assume phosphates and introduce GFO and mop up that organic...

I agree that's why I am trying to figure it out. I've been using BRS High Capacity GFO in a dual reactor with carbon for the last two weeks so hopefully that is helping.

Yesterday I vacuumed up as much of the GHA as possible. It seems like it has white specs behind the spots I got out. Is that the GHA dying off?

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Uncle99 · 11/28/2018, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OffRoad322

I agree that's why I am trying to figure it out. I've been using BRS High Capacity GFO in a dual reactor with carbon for the last two weeks so hopefully that is helping.

Yesterday I vacuumed up as much of the GHA as possible. It seems like it has white specs behind the spots I got out. Is that the GHA dying off?

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

When GHA dies, it will turn from strong and green to thin, weak and a bit translucent, almost beige or light brown.

Keep up exactly what you are doing, I'm not quite sure what those white spots are they look baby snails....hopefully another member will identify.

kevin21 · 11/28/2018, 12:34 PM

Keep doing what you are doing. Weekly water changes to suck out as much as you can helps. I have also noticed mexican turbo snails will eat it.

bertoni · 11/28/2018, 06:21 PM

Some of those white spots look a bit like sponges, maybe Scypha, but it's hard to tell.

Scrubber_steve · 11/28/2018, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OffRoad322

Hi All,
I am having an issue with Green Hair Algae over the past several months. It's on every rock, but not overtaking anything yet. Tank is 8 months old. My light schedule is photo period is really 6 hours with small ramps on each end. I run a refugium with chaeto and filter socks, good sized skimmer and a BRS GFO/Carbon dual reactor.

How is your chaeto going? Is it growing? If it is illuminated with the correct spectrum & intensity it should outcompete the hair algae.

An experiment worth trying is placing a piece of rock, with a good bit of the hair algae on it, from your display into your fuge & see how well the hair algae fares.

OffRoad322 · 11/28/2018, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twinfallz

How is your chaeto going? Is it growing? If it is illuminated with the correct spectrum & intensity it should outcompete the hair algae.

An experiment worth trying is placing a piece of rock, with a good bit of the hair algae on it, from your display into your fuge & see how well the hair algae fares.

Chaeto is growing well.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Scrubber_steve · 11/28/2018, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OffRoad322

Chaeto is growing well.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Can I ask what type of light you are using on your fuge - watts, spectrum, LED ?
How many hours do you illuminate the chaeto?
any photos of your fuge set up with light on?

OffRoad322 · 11/28/2018, 10:49 PM

Kessil H80 running for 15 hours...basically as my lights ramp down to the start of our ramp up in the morning. Opposite schedule to my DT lights.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Scrubber_steve · 11/28/2018, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OffRoad322

Kessil H80 running for 15 hours...basically as my lights ramp down to the start of our ramp up in the morning. Opposite schedule to my DT lights.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

I would suggest setting the spectrum to utilize the RED 100%.
To increase intensity perhaps you could lower the kessil closer to the chaeto, an inch at a time over a week.
Importantly, increase illumination time. You could run it 24/7 with no problem, but increase by 1 hour only every few days & keep a check on its condition.
The above will force it to take up more nutrients - grow quicker, & out compete the hair algae.

laverda · 11/29/2018, 01:13 AM

What size is your tank? It does not look like much cheeto? I would increase the light to 24/7 and full red, but I would not waist time ramping it up slowly. I have found an ATS to be a much better way to control nuisance algae. An inexpensive red & blue LED and some roughed up plastic needle point cloth is all you really need to build one. Eve my DYI thread on inexpensive ATS.

bertoni · 11/29/2018, 09:39 PM

How much Chaetomorpha is being harvested, and how often?

OffRoad322 · 11/29/2018, 09:52 PM

80 gal tank / 20 gal sump chaeto is tough to see in picture but it's about the size of a softball and a half.

Harvesting a baseball size once per month.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

bertoni · 11/29/2018, 10:35 PM

Hmm, that's not all that much growth. I don't think it's competing well with the hair algae. It might need more light or the nutrient mix might suit the hair algae better. Hard to say.

laverda · 11/30/2018, 12:53 AM

That is not close to enough cheeto to compete with the gha.

Scrubber_steve · 11/30/2018, 01:06 AM

The green hair algae is a faster metabolizing algae than the chaeto. So to give the chaeto a fighting chance to out compete the hair it needs an optimal environment created via spectrum, intensity & increased illumination duration, as I previously pointed out.
Physical removal of the hair algae will also help greatly.

nereefpat · 11/30/2018, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertoni

Fluconazole might be a reasonable approach to try,

OP, have you tried this yet?

OffRoad322 · 11/30/2018, 05:23 PM

No I haven't tried flucanazole yet. I have some ready if I want to try but not sure yet if I'm going to use it. Waiting to see if water changes, chaeto light 24/7, manual removal and some Vibrant are the answer first.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Dobbs1101 · 12/06/2018, 03:22 PM

I had the same thing. I finally used ReefHD Algae Buster. it wiped out every last bit and I haven't seen any in months

https://premiumaquatics.com/products...ae-buster.html

clevername · 12/11/2018, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle99

I might think your phosphate number is incorrect and that the GHA is utilizing the phosphate in your water so it does not show high on the test. That's a really low number you post and your algae is real green.....does not make sense

Assume phosphates and introduce GFO and mop up that organic...

100% this. Was just about to type how that PHOS number is not correct

OffRoad322 · 12/11/2018, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clevername2000

100% this. Was just about to type how that PHOS number is not correct

Okay so the phosphate number is falsely low because of the green hair algae. I've been running gfo like crazy, and have been trying vibrant. Green hair algae doesn't look like it's getting worse but it looks no better.

Dosing fluconazole for the next two to three weeks. If that doesn't help should I try nopox?

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

11/26/2018, 06:33 PM	#1
OffRoad322 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 105	GHA Problem Continues Hi All, I am having an issue with Green Hair Algae over the past several months. It's on every rock, but not overtaking anything yet. Tank is 8 months old. My light schedule is photo period is really 6 hours with small ramps on each end. I run a refugium with chaeto and filter socks, good sized skimmer and a BRS GFO/Carbon dual reactor. I only feed frozen food (mysis) and krill for my puffer and eel. Readings... - Phosphate: 0.018ppm - Nitrate: 5-10ppm - Ammonia: 0 I started dosing Vibrant 3 weeks ago / 1 time per week and it doesn't seem to be making anything better. I know it isn't a miracle cure, but I expected to see some progress. Should I stop the Vibrant and order some fluconazole? Thank you!

11/26/2018, 06:56 PM	#3
outssider Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Reseda, Ca. Posts: 1,717	you need a lot of snails and hermits..they will mow it down __________________ Please don't feed the bears because the bears will become dependent on free handouts and forget how to take care of themselves …... Current Tank Info: 75 Gal. Mixed reef mostly sps

11/27/2018, 10:04 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I don't know whether the Vibrant will help with algal growth. It's mostly a bacterial blend, and I don't know how successful it might be. Fluconazole might be a reasonable approach to try, or you could consider carbon dosing of some sort. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/28/2018, 12:34 PM	#8
kevin21 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 2,208	Keep doing what you are doing. Weekly water changes to suck out as much as you can helps. I have also noticed mexican turbo snails will eat it. __________________ Kevin Current Tank Info: Waterbox 50g, Tunze 9004 dc skimmer, Vortech mp10, Kessil ap700

11/28/2018, 06:21 PM	#9
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Some of those white spots look a bit like sponges, maybe Scypha, but it's hard to tell. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/26/2018, 06:36 PM	#2
OffRoad322 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 105	A couple pics with the white lights on so you can see it better. Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

11/28/2018, 09:35 AM	#5
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	I might think your phosphate number is incorrect and that the GHA is utilizing the phosphate in your water so it does not show high on the test. That's a really low number you post and your algae is real green.....does not make sense Assume phosphates and introduce GFO and mop up that organic...

11/28/2018, 10:49 PM	#13
OffRoad322 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 105	Kessil H80 running for 15 hours...basically as my lights ramp down to the start of our ramp up in the morning. Opposite schedule to my DT lights. Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

11/29/2018, 01:13 AM	#15
laverda Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 6,902	What size is your tank? It does not look like much cheeto? I would increase the light to 24/7 and full red, but I would not waist time ramping it up slowly. I have found an ATS to be a much better way to control nuisance algae. An inexpensive red & blue LED and some roughed up plastic needle point cloth is all you really need to build one. Eve my DYI thread on inexpensive ATS. __________________ 240G mixed reef, 29G SPS/LPS clam tank, 50G mixed reef Current Tank Info: 300g mixed reef, 50g cube

11/29/2018, 09:39 PM	#16
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	How much Chaetomorpha is being harvested, and how often? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/29/2018, 09:52 PM	#17
OffRoad322 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 105	80 gal tank / 20 gal sump chaeto is tough to see in picture but it's about the size of a softball and a half. Harvesting a baseball size once per month. Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

11/29/2018, 10:35 PM	#18
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Hmm, that's not all that much growth. I don't think it's competing well with the hair algae. It might need more light or the nutrient mix might suit the hair algae better. Hard to say. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/30/2018, 12:53 AM	#19
laverda Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 6,902	That is not close to enough cheeto to compete with the gha. __________________ 240G mixed reef, 29G SPS/LPS clam tank, 50G mixed reef Current Tank Info: 300g mixed reef, 50g cube

11/30/2018, 01:06 AM	#20
Scrubber_steve I'm really very likeable Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Down Under Posts: 676	The green hair algae is a faster metabolizing algae than the chaeto. So to give the chaeto a fighting chance to out compete the hair it needs an optimal environment created via spectrum, intensity & increased illumination duration, as I previously pointed out. Physical removal of the hair algae will also help greatly.

11/30/2018, 05:23 PM	#22
OffRoad322 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 105	No I haven't tried flucanazole yet. I have some ready if I want to try but not sure yet if I'm going to use it. Waiting to see if water changes, chaeto light 24/7, manual removal and some Vibrant are the answer first. Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

12/06/2018, 03:22 PM	#23
Dobbs1101 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lincoln Park, NJ Posts: 95	I had the same thing. I finally used ReefHD Algae Buster. it wiped out every last bit and I haven't seen any in months https://premiumaquatics.com/products...ae-buster.html __________________ "Guess what?! I've got a fever, and the only prescription... is more cowbell!" "really explore the studio space this time." Current Tank Info: 120g RR SPS Tank, 40g sump, Reef Breaders Photon Led Light, Vortech M40's, Vertex i180 Skimmer, MRC Dual Calcium Reactor with Carbon Doser CO2 regulator, Mag 9 Return