Green Hair Algae is Beatable!

55mixreef8236 · 12/21/2015, 08:26 PM

After battling GHA for the past 4 months, and having it for many months before that, I've decided to make a post about how I terminated one of the most hated enemy's of our reef tanks.

About 4 months ago I almost tore down my 55 gallon reef of 18 months because it was 95% covered in GHA. Being 16 and having worked all summer, my tank had been basically left for dead. I'm surprised anything lived at all. I didn't think I would have the time to take care of it during school but knew it would break my heart to take it down. I looked into every way possible of removing the algae. Everything from shooting it with boiling water to taking out the rock and "cooking" the phosphates out of them. But in reality it was way simpler than that. It all basically came down to this:

10% Weekly water changes
More Flow
Less Feeding
Manual Removal
GFO Reactor

Once a week I would suck as much algae that I could get off the rocks with a siphon hose. Then replace the water with fresh made saltwater (which was about 5 gallons

I was running a 250gph power head and a 850gph one when i started my tank. The return pump was set to around 300gph. I took out the smaller powerhead and replaced it with another 850 one. I also opened up the return pump that is rated to 550 all the way.

I feed my 5 fish each around 6-8 small pellets a day. This is plenty for them sense the algae harbors pods and the have all stayed healthy and not at all thin.

I made sure to remove all the algae from the power heads every few days to keep the flow high and to keep them from chopping the algae and blowing it back into the tank where it would be harder to remove.

About a month ago I bought a BRS media reactor and plumbed it in my sump. This addition has made the biggest impact on my tank. As the algae was dying, the reactor pulled out the phosphates being released back into the water and prevented new algae from growing. The reactor was half the price of the ones I had seen before and it works exactly like an RODI filter canister, making it much easier to use.

In the past 4 months, my reef has turned from a 95% green carpet into a crystal clear display. The only remnants of the GHA are little patches of brown in a few low flow crevices, and is now being eradicated by my Lawnmower Blenny and Sailfin Tang.(I have found that these fish love to eat GHA, but only when it is dying and more brown than green. They wont touch big hairy globs of it.) Also, something to add to this is that me, being 16, put me on a very limited budget, so what i did was the absolute cheapest way possible that I could have.

I hope this post is helpful to anyone struggling with GHA, and maybe it will keep some of you from tearing down your tanks completely because of it.

Bogue Chitto · 12/21/2015, 08:42 PM

I am glad you got rid of that stuff, it really can wear you down trying to combat it. I also have used the reactor to pull my phosphates down. I hope you get to finally enjoy your tank.

Newstead · 12/21/2015, 10:08 PM

Great info, thanks for sharing.

Reef Frog · 12/21/2015, 11:39 PM

That's great! You see so many posts on algae problems but not so many accounts of success stories. Sometimes sticking to a simple plan is all it takes!

fishy boy · 12/21/2015, 11:41 PM

I know I hate that stuff! I had it bad too

wildman926 · 12/22/2015, 08:53 AM

Deploy an Algae Turf Scrubber and never look back. I have not seen HA in my DT since I deployed mine, and that is almost 2 years now. I also run a chaeto reactor to assist it after cleanings.

12/21/2015, 08:26 PM	#1
55mixreef8236 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: md Posts: 46	Green Hair Algae is Beatable! After battling GHA for the past 4 months, and having it for many months before that, I've decided to make a post about how I terminated one of the most hated enemy's of our reef tanks. About 4 months ago I almost tore down my 55 gallon reef of 18 months because it was 95% covered in GHA. Being 16 and having worked all summer, my tank had been basically left for dead. I'm surprised anything lived at all. I didn't think I would have the time to take care of it during school but knew it would break my heart to take it down. I looked into every way possible of removing the algae. Everything from shooting it with boiling water to taking out the rock and "cooking" the phosphates out of them. But in reality it was way simpler than that. It all basically came down to this: 10% Weekly water changes More Flow Less Feeding Manual Removal GFO Reactor Once a week I would suck as much algae that I could get off the rocks with a siphon hose. Then replace the water with fresh made saltwater (which was about 5 gallons I was running a 250gph power head and a 850gph one when i started my tank. The return pump was set to around 300gph. I took out the smaller powerhead and replaced it with another 850 one. I also opened up the return pump that is rated to 550 all the way. I feed my 5 fish each around 6-8 small pellets a day. This is plenty for them sense the algae harbors pods and the have all stayed healthy and not at all thin. I made sure to remove all the algae from the power heads every few days to keep the flow high and to keep them from chopping the algae and blowing it back into the tank where it would be harder to remove. About a month ago I bought a BRS media reactor and plumbed it in my sump. This addition has made the biggest impact on my tank. As the algae was dying, the reactor pulled out the phosphates being released back into the water and prevented new algae from growing. The reactor was half the price of the ones I had seen before and it works exactly like an RODI filter canister, making it much easier to use. In the past 4 months, my reef has turned from a 95% green carpet into a crystal clear display. The only remnants of the GHA are little patches of brown in a few low flow crevices, and is now being eradicated by my Lawnmower Blenny and Sailfin Tang.(I have found that these fish love to eat GHA, but only when it is dying and more brown than green. They wont touch big hairy globs of it.) Also, something to add to this is that me, being 16, put me on a very limited budget, so what i did was the absolute cheapest way possible that I could have. I hope this post is helpful to anyone struggling with GHA, and maybe it will keep some of you from tearing down your tanks completely because of it.

12/22/2015, 08:53 AM	#6
wildman926 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: CTX Posts: 2,904	Deploy an Algae Turf Scrubber and never look back. I have not seen HA in my DT since I deployed mine, and that is almost 2 years now. I also run a chaeto reactor to assist it after cleanings. __________________ Beware of recommendations by those who don't actually use their recommendation!! The search function actually works quite well!! Tanks:Planet Aquarium 150g LPS, Planet Aquarium 90g Softie

12/21/2015, 08:42 PM	#2
Bogue Chitto Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 960	I am glad you got rid of that stuff, it really can wear you down trying to combat it. I also have used the reactor to pull my phosphates down. I hope you get to finally enjoy your tank.

12/21/2015, 10:08 PM	#3
Newstead Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 80	Great info, thanks for sharing.

12/21/2015, 11:39 PM	#4
Reef Frog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,121	That's great! You see so many posts on algae problems but not so many accounts of success stories. Sometimes sticking to a simple plan is all it takes!

12/21/2015, 11:41 PM	#5
fishy boy Moved On Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 98	I know I hate that stuff! I had it bad too