|
|
|
10/08/2014, 05:06 PM
|
#1 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Bel Air Maryland
Posts: 402
|
GHA problem.
I have this green hair algae growing and cannot figure out why its growing so quickly. My tank is approximately 6 months old and all the parameters are spot on but the algae still purists. My nitrate test shows 0 and my phosphate test showed like .8. The nitrate test was API and the phosphate was hanna. I know sometimes you can get a false reading as the algae uses up the phosphate and nitrates. I'm running a biopellet reactor but its only been running for a couple weeks. Should I start running GFO till the reactor starts working?
Here is a couple pictures of what I'm messing with. |
|
|
|
10/08/2014, 05:59 PM
|
#2 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Belgrade
Posts: 1,086
|
Phosphate at .8 is actually very high. You need to run some GFO or find another way of lowering phosphate.
|
|
|
|
|
10/08/2014, 06:08 PM
|
#3 |
|
ReefKeeping Mag staff
  
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: West Seneca NY
Posts: 27,691
|
.8 PO4 will grow copious green algae unless there is a defficiency in another nutrient like iron for example .It needs some nitrogen too but 0 NO3 doesn't mean it's not getting enough nitrogen obviously.
__________________
Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals. |
|
|
|
|
10/08/2014, 06:21 PM
|
#4 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Bel Air Maryland
Posts: 402
|
I meant .08 not .8.
|
|
|
|
|
10/08/2014, 07:16 PM
|
#5 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: queens NY
Posts: 113
|
Your phosphates are going to read low cause the Gha is obsorbing it..try raising you magnesium,manually remove it and lower the light period
|
|
|
|
|
10/08/2014, 08:30 PM
|
#6 |
|
ReefKeeping Mag staff
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: West Seneca NY
Posts: 27,691
|
.o8ppm is not a big deal. Could be a tad lower for my taste.
__________________
Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals. |
|
|
|
|
10/08/2014, 08:58 PM
|
#7 |
|
Reef gardener
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: DeLand, Florida
Posts: 1,205
|
The GFO will solve this. Raising magnesium levels can eliminate nuisance algae but you definitely need to know what you're doing.
|
|
|
|
|
10/09/2014, 04:10 AM
|
#8 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Bel Air Maryland
Posts: 402
|
Raising magnesium level how high? Anything else be effected by doing that?
|
|
|
|
|
10/09/2014, 06:50 AM
|
#9 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Bel Air Maryland
Posts: 402
|
Also once treating with GFO and water changes will the algae start to disappear on its own? Reason I ask is its in some hard to reach areas and would be difficult to get to.
|
|
|
|
|
10/09/2014, 07:02 AM
|
#10 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Bel Air Maryland
Posts: 402
|
I bought some High Capacity GFO from bulk reef supply. Had great reviews so I will start running that and also try and do some larger water changes.
|
|
|
|
|
10/09/2014, 07:51 AM
|
#11 |
|
I'm an Addict.
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Yorkville, IL
Posts: 3,036
|
Tooth brush, siphon as much as you can... If you have some tangs and don't feed them for a couple days they may act on the hair algae remains.
Good luck on removal!  GFO is definitely going to help you out!
__________________
93 Reef | 220 Reef | Basement Fish Life Support Room | Empty Savings Account |
|
|
|
|
10/09/2014, 09:25 AM
|
#12 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Bel Air Maryland
Posts: 402
|
I'm gonna try and remove as much by hand as I can with water changes and hopefully between the water changes, manual removal and GFO I will see a improvement.
|
|
|
|
|
10/09/2014, 09:27 AM
|
#13 |
|
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Bel Air Maryland
Posts: 402
|
Figuring the biopellet reactor will help as well but I know those take time to get the bacteria built up enough to start working. By the time the biopellets are working I could probably mow the algae with a mower lol.
|
|
|
|
 |
| Thread Tools | |
|
|
