GHA Removal..

[rhodan]

I have been physcially removing the Green Hair Algae from my 180 gal tank for weeks....I'm about to go all dark no lights....not even the blue moon lights...I just can't figure it out why it keeps returning...Right now it is a Fish Only and I only feed the fish 2 or 3 times a week. My Nitrates are good and my pH is good... Been doing water changes every sunday. I may get a Sea Hare to help with the problem if GHA returns after going all dark....

But I need to know...How long to go all dark? 2 weeks? a month? 2 months?

Also, ping me if you know where I can get a sea hare...If I can get one this weekend I may try that instead....There is plenty for that joker to eat...

Thanks...

Matt

 

[cbj25]

try mexican turbos, depending on your fish mix. I would think a two week blackout would do the trick, you could even cover the tank with a blanket so no natural light gets in

Do you know what the TDS is on the water youre using?

How long were you running your lights?

When was the last time you changed your bulbs?

What percent of water change are you doing?

Does the tank receive natural light?

 

[jimmystephens]

What kind of cuc do u have. Have u checked phos?

 

[ralph atl]

Phosphate is a bigger concern than nitrates, albeit both feed algae.

Your phates are likely bound up in your rock, sand, etc...

Get a media reactor like this:

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-gfo-carbon-reactor-dual.html">http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-gfo-carbon-reactor-dual.html</a>

a decent pump and GFO like this:

[IMG]http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-bulk-gfo-granular-ferric-oxide-high-capacity.html">http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-bulk-gfo-granular-ferric-oxide-high-capacity.html</a>

some rox .8 carbon for the other side and change both weekly or more...

large weekly water changes!

Change our some of your sand & rock, clean your sump & overflow.

read the links here:

[IMG]http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=75890&highlight=h2o2">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=75890&highlight=h2o2</a>

 

[kirkplunkett]

Optimum Aquarium in Kennesaw had two a couple of weeks ago.

Fish only... I believe you could leave the lights out as long as it takes. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

My $0.02... This may be some work on a 180 Gallon display, but I started getting some GHA in my 30 Gallon display. I started doing a lot of research and discovered a few articles with people using H2O2... Hydrogen Peroxide.

I treated my tank in this fashion and after two weeks, all of the GHA is completely gone!

Remove a couple of rocks and locate the sections with GHA. Drip H2O2 on them. Let the rocks set for 2-3 minutes. Rinse with RO/DI. Place back in the display.

I guarantee it will be gone in 3-5 days.

I know it sounds like a lot of work, but it's also a guaranteed fix!

 

[glxtrix]

Since you have no corals, go to the store and buy some hydrogen peroxide...it's cheap, so get a few bottles. Put the peroxide in a bucket and put your rocks in there...1 by 1 if you have to. Let them sit in the peroxide (covered by peroxide) for 3 minutes. Take out and rise with some tank water in a different bucket and put back into your tank. With in 3 days, you'll be HA free. This will kill off the coraline algae too, but that should grow back quick if your levels are correct. The no lights method doesn't work.

 

[jimmystephens]

I have done that also. Does work. I would get phosguard or phosband whatever the name is put it in a bag in sump. Remove some rock and pour hp on it. Not in the tank. Rinse and put back. Then get a reactor if u have the funds.

 

[sewer urchin]

If you do the lights out technique ( hech or even the H2O2 trick) do some large water changes to remove the nutrients that are freed up. Once the GHA dies it will break down in the system water changes and nutrient adsorption (GFO and Carbon) will help remove it.

 

[glxtrix]

Sewer Urchin;818660 wrote: If you do the lights out technique ( hech or even the H2O2 trick) do some large water changes to remove the nutrients that are freed up. Once the GHA dies it will break down in the system water changes and nutrient adsorption (GFO and Carbon) will help remove it.

Water changes are fine, but there is no release of phosphate or ammonia from the dying HA.

 

[rhodan]

Great posts.....

Here are some of the answers to your questions:
400 watt MH Lights and they are at End Of Life...Little over year old.
Need to check the Phos level and the TDS on the RO/DI system...I completely forgot about the RO/DI....It's tucked in the back of a closet...
Already have a phosreactor running....But changing the media out couldn't hurt.
No Sand in the Tank...running BB.
Changing about 40 gallons every week...Total system with Sump is around 300 gal.
The tank does receive natural light....And maybe I do need to tape black trash bags over the front glass...
CUC is made up of several blue leg and red leg hermits...Turbo Snails and Cerith snails..no crabs


The Hydrogen Peroxide trick....Yea I need to try that..

Thanks everyone for all the advice....And in worst case I will give Optimum Aquarium in Kennesaw a call...

Matt.

 

[snowmansnow]

GHA..
phosphates..

make sure you're running RODI water

use a predator
yellow tang works for me (not everyone)

 

[frantz]

Plenty of ways to physically remove it, but follow the methods to prevent it first or you'll be paddling up a strong river. Once your phosphates and nitrates are where they should be, then you can look to remove the growth that's already there.

 

[glxtrix]

You need to remove it first.,,it sounds like you have a good bit, so you could be pulling tests that show very little phos due to the algae consuming it....a typical occurrence.

 

[kirkplunkett]

glxtrix;818691 wrote: you need to remove it first.,,it sounds like you have a good bit, so you could be pulling tests that show very little phos due to the algae consuming it....a typical occurrence.

+1

 

[kilralpine]

I believe 2-3 days of darkness is only going to tell you one thing... Your algae is because of your lights. Get a new bulb

 

[kilralpine]

+1 on large water change after darkness as well

Phosphates in the rocks would be my 2nd guess.