Still have GHA

[Kristy]

Found it!
http://www.melevsreef.com/gha.html

[Ping]

Adding bacteria...Your kidding, right? $21.51? These kinds of products are bottled skimmate or semi-processsed blackwater.


If you cant test for it, we probably should not dose it.

[Europhyllia]

I just wanted to add a few things that did and didn't work for me in reducing algae.

Didn't work (well):
* using a phosphate absorbing pad (HBH brand) - not sure what it did to the phosphate level but it did release (like most of these products) some aluminum oxide into the water. Some leather corals are really sensitive to this and my colt is still in bad shape. I know it's just a colt but I bought it the day my daughter was born. The midwives said to keep busy as long as possible so while in labor I told my husband to take me to the fish store and buy me a coral. My poor labor day coral... :(
If you don't have leather corals and want to try these pads I have a couple left over you can have for free.

Did work:
* For bryopsis raising the magnesium level really did work. I am always scared to add something to my tank as well but felt okay about it because the goal was just to raise the magnesium levels a little over normal. No other additives. It worked. Of course with the bryopsis declining the hair algae started sprouting! Higher magnesium levels don't bother GHA at all! LOL

* raising the alkalinity. I got this tip from Julian Sprung's Book 'The Algae Problem Solver'. My alkalinity was low so it's not like I raised it way high. I just brought it to normal seawater level. I think I have it now at around 10.5 dkh. But I think his recommendation was just anything above 8 dkh.

* Adding Mexican Red Tip/Leg Hermits and small chestnut turbos. Those worked really well for me and especially the hermits do a great job cleaning up around polyps where I couldn't reach in between myself

* using a PolyFilter to filter out excess nutrients (this product is much safer for use in tanks with leather corals)

I also upgraded light bulbs during this time and my light is actually now brighter than before. Same light cycle and feeding as much as ever.

I'd actually start attacking this problem with regular maintenance and water tests. If you alk is low that might worth adjusting and seeing if it makes a difference.

[Dee]

The best thing I've had that cleared up the GHA are turbo snails. I had a small patch in a small tank...on a clam. I kept putting the snail on there and he'd eat a little and then leave. Put him on again and after a few times it caught on and cleaned it up completely and it hasn't come back. Someone also told me dwarf ceriths work well...and reefcleaners sells another small one that is suppose to eat it up.

I did notice if it was too long they wouldn't touch it so I had to "trim" it. I've never put chemicals in my tanks either. I didn't have GHA or any algae for that matter, until I put rocks from other reefers in my tank. I was worried it would get out of control, but luckily it hasn't.

Dee

[Paul28]

Run Carbon and Ferrous oxide hydroxide(PhosBan), in a upflow and do alot of water changes will starve the stuff out NEVER run Aluminum base Phosphate removers that can turn bad fast :( open a window everynow and then get fresh air in the tank. CO2 that crap loves it bring Oxygen in the house. lot of people have ph and alk drop and start adding crap to the tank when realy the tank just needs alittle fresh air

[mabel_photo6]

Well, I plan on buying more to add to my clean up crew.
I'm cutting the lights and today is the second day without light.
Light still gets in though since it's in my room.
I'll be reducing the light to about 6 hours probably Sunday.

I have seen a change from changing from tap water to filtered water these few weeks.
I won't be adding anything to the tank as far as chemicals because I can't get a hold of them locally any way.
I only feed once a day which I sort of don't like but I guess it must be done to keep the extra nutrients to a minimal.
I've actually almost always have been feeding once a day because I did research before and I didn't want to end up with this algae.
Buuuuut I guess my clean up crew isn't big enough.

[Europhyllia]

What is your alkalinity???

[mabel_photo6]

Normal ... I have the red sea test kit so it's in the "ideal" place.

[Europhyllia]

LOL. So what is the ideal place as a number?