GHA turning white a good sign?

Drae · 11/02/2013, 04:58 PM

The gha in my tank has stopped spreading now for a month or so and now it is turning white. Does this mean it is dying off?

vitz · 11/02/2013, 05:06 PM

yup

Duvallj · 11/02/2013, 05:55 PM

In my experience yes. You should also start noticing that it is getting looser/ easier to pull off rocks/ect. A great time for manual removal and prevent it from decaying in the tank.

Drae · 11/02/2013, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duvallj

In my experience yes. You should also start noticing that it is getting looser/ easier to pull off rocks/ect. A great time for manual removal and prevent it from decaying in the tank.

I had no idea that algae decaying in the tank would cause a problem. I'm going to purchase an algae mower vac for easier removal.

vitz · 11/02/2013, 06:42 PM

everything that was inside the algae is now decomposing and getting released back into the water column

Fragtastic Reef · 11/02/2013, 06:46 PM

Good to hear were you dosing Tech M to get rid of it with high Mg?

Drae · 11/02/2013, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fragtastic Reef

Good to hear were you dosing Tech M to get rid of it with high Mg?

Nope. I think that when I added sand to the tank about 2 months ago I might have had a phosphate spike from not rinsing the sand enough. I think I read on a thread somewhere that someone soaked dry sand in a tub with ro/di water and tested the water and there was a significant ammount of po4 in the water. My tank seemed to go through a mini cycle and my clam kicked the bucket and my lps faded but things are coloring up now and my torch has split and is growing a new head. All of this from adding dry sand I think. I just did bigger water changes and skimmed wet for a month. Now I'm back to skimming dry and it's dark and stinky again.

Fragtastic Reef · 11/02/2013, 06:57 PM

Well that is good to hear. What kind of sand are you using?

Drae · 11/02/2013, 07:01 PM

carribsea special grade. Reef flakes never gave me a problem like this. The tropic edin is very clean from the jump.

ca1ore · 11/02/2013, 09:49 PM

I recently moved to a bigger tank and used mostly the Caribsea special grade. It is REALLY dirty and has a ton of fines. Got to wash it very well. I did not see a phosphate spike in my tank fortunately.

BTW, not so sure that by the time the GHA goes white it hasn't already released a bunch of crap back into the water. Good skimming ought to take care of that though.

11/02/2013, 04:58 PM	#1
Drae RAIDER NATION! Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: City of sin... Posts: 3,476	GHA turning white a good sign? The gha in my tank has stopped spreading now for a month or so and now it is turning white. Does this mean it is dying off?

11/02/2013, 05:06 PM	#2
vitz Moved On Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 987	yup

11/02/2013, 05:55 PM	#3
Duvallj Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 379	In my experience yes. You should also start noticing that it is getting looser/ easier to pull off rocks/ect. A great time for manual removal and prevent it from decaying in the tank.

11/02/2013, 06:42 PM	#5
vitz Moved On Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 987	everything that was inside the algae is now decomposing and getting released back into the water column

11/02/2013, 06:46 PM	#6
Fragtastic Reef Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Mankato, MN Posts: 45	Good to hear were you dosing Tech M to get rid of it with high Mg?

11/02/2013, 06:57 PM	#8
Fragtastic Reef Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Mankato, MN Posts: 45	Well that is good to hear. What kind of sand are you using?

11/02/2013, 07:01 PM	#9
Drae RAIDER NATION! Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: City of sin... Posts: 3,476	carribsea special grade. Reef flakes never gave me a problem like this. The tropic edin is very clean from the jump.

11/02/2013, 09:49 PM	#10
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	I recently moved to a bigger tank and used mostly the Caribsea special grade. It is REALLY dirty and has a ton of fines. Got to wash it very well. I did not see a phosphate spike in my tank fortunately. BTW, not so sure that by the time the GHA goes white it hasn't already released a bunch of crap back into the water. Good skimming ought to take care of that though.