My GSP w/ Green Alge (pics)

Omie · 09/03/2010, 07:45 AM

I have a GSP and start groing lots of alge (only in the GSP), so I took it out and take some of the alge... now I put my snail to make eat it (is working good I think), but what else can I do to get rid of that alge?

Palting · 09/03/2010, 07:54 AM

GHA means that they have food, usually nitrates. Key treatment then is to export the nitrate. Scrubbing the rock was a good first step, as well as snail.

More frequent water changes, less feeding are simple steps to cut down the nitrate. Cleaning the substrate and any prefilters of dertitus are other likelwise simple steps.

Shorter light period will slow GHA growth down, but won't get rid of the nitrates. It will, however, slow the growth down as you do the other things.

You can also throw macros or add a refugium to compete with the GHA for any nitrate. More snails and algae eating fish are other options. With my 3 tangs, no algae, macro or GSP, can grow in my tank.

Omie · 09/03/2010, 08:05 AM

Thanks and very helpfull info!
My nitrates are right now 10ppm, but I'm looking foward to make my sump a refugium...
But also, the alge is only on that coral, the rest of my tank is free of GHA

Palting · 09/03/2010, 08:13 AM

Got it. Get that 'trate down. You current and future coral, or most of them anyway, will like you for it.

ice2fire11 · 09/03/2010, 08:37 AM

take a baster and gently blow off all the junk in between the polyps when you do a water change.

Omie · 09/03/2010, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ice2fire11

take a baster and gently blow off all the junk in between the polyps when you do a water change.

Never think about that!! GOOD IDEA, I will try it the next water change!

ice2fire11 · 09/03/2010, 08:44 AM

ive seen too much stuff build up on them and cause them not to open. thats why i try to clean them off when i think about it.

cdeboard · 09/03/2010, 08:53 AM

Also check your phosphates... that is the big algae food. Po4 and nitrates.

Omie · 09/03/2010, 09:27 AM

Yup, I found out that my Po4 is in 1.78ppm... Thats a lot, but like I said, thaks God is only on the GSP

Floowid · 09/03/2010, 11:30 AM

WOW that is a lot of PO4... Are you reading that right?

As for the GSP, it often gets algae in it because your snails can't get in there because the polyps are always out. I find it doesn't hurt them if you take a soft bristle toothbrush and clean the GSP of all algae and debris. Do it in conjunction with a water change. Take a few really gentle passes with the toothbrush first to encourage the polyps to retract before actually brushing.

Omie · 09/03/2010, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floowid

WOW that is a lot of PO4... Are you reading that right?

As for the GSP, it often gets algae in it because your snails can't get in there because the polyps are always out. I find it doesn't hurt them if you take a soft bristle toothbrush and clean the GSP of all algae and debris. Do it in conjunction with a water change. Take a few really gentle passes with the toothbrush first to encourage the polyps to retract before actually brushing.

Thank U... I will try all... I really apreciate all the help!

09/03/2010, 07:45 AM	#1
Omie Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 686	My GSP w/ Green Alge (pics) I have a GSP and start groing lots of alge (only in the GSP), so I took it out and take some of the alge... now I put my snail to make eat it (is working good I think), but what else can I do to get rid of that alge?

09/03/2010, 07:54 AM	#2
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	GHA means that they have food, usually nitrates. Key treatment then is to export the nitrate. Scrubbing the rock was a good first step, as well as snail. More frequent water changes, less feeding are simple steps to cut down the nitrate. Cleaning the substrate and any prefilters of dertitus are other likelwise simple steps. Shorter light period will slow GHA growth down, but won't get rid of the nitrates. It will, however, slow the growth down as you do the other things. You can also throw macros or add a refugium to compete with the GHA for any nitrate. More snails and algae eating fish are other options. With my 3 tangs, no algae, macro or GSP, can grow in my tank. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

09/03/2010, 08:13 AM	#4
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	Got it. Get that 'trate down. You current and future coral, or most of them anyway, will like you for it. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

09/03/2010, 08:53 AM	#8
cdeboard Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Grayson, KY Posts: 520	Also check your phosphates... that is the big algae food. Po4 and nitrates. __________________ CVRC Current Tank Info: 90g

09/03/2010, 11:30 AM	#10
Floowid Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Centerville, UT Posts: 712	WOW that is a lot of PO4... Are you reading that right? As for the GSP, it often gets algae in it because your snails can't get in there because the polyps are always out. I find it doesn't hurt them if you take a soft bristle toothbrush and clean the GSP of all algae and debris. Do it in conjunction with a water change. Take a few really gentle passes with the toothbrush first to encourage the polyps to retract before actually brushing. __________________ 75 gallon mixed reef

09/03/2010, 08:05 AM	#3
Omie Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 686	Thanks and very helpfull info! My nitrates are right now 10ppm, but I'm looking foward to make my sump a refugium... But also, the alge is only on that coral, the rest of my tank is free of GHA

09/03/2010, 08:37 AM	#5
ice2fire11 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: North carolina Posts: 74	take a baster and gently blow off all the junk in between the polyps when you do a water change.

09/03/2010, 08:44 AM	#7
ice2fire11 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: North carolina Posts: 74	ive seen too much stuff build up on them and cause them not to open. thats why i try to clean them off when i think about it.

09/03/2010, 09:27 AM	#9
Omie Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 686	Yup, I found out that my Po4 is in 1.78ppm... Thats a lot, but like I said, thaks God is only on the GSP

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