2 year old tank showing first signs of GHA. Should I worry?

hotelbravo · 03/14/2016, 10:33 AM

Ive had my setup for a while now but I have been using an led strip t5 combo but recently switched to two OR T247s to acclimate my anemones to the light they will be under in my 180. So since the new lights the algae has gone crazy I see it in damn near every crack and crevice but in tiny amounts and very short so its in the beginning stages. Ive been growing macro in the sump for a while and there is alot of GHA in there but ive never seen it in the display before.

Another thing I think is contributing is that about a week ago I brough home a large piece of grape caulerpa to out in my sump but I didnt read that they cant handle to much light and I run my sump on 24 hours so the other day I went looking in the sump and saw it had completely disappeared so I did research and found that if it does it will decompose quickly and release phosphates into the water.

Cheebs · 03/14/2016, 10:45 AM

I'd say definitely nip it in the butt while you can.. Anything from reducing the light cycle then slowly ramping it up, 20% water changes and running GFO. Cleanup that would pick at it (hermits, etC) wouldn't be a bad idea either if you don't have many.

A friend of mine just had is 110 overtake by hair algae and has been battling it for months. Get it while you can!

hotelbravo · 03/14/2016, 11:44 AM

i have plenty of hermits, and i have stopped feeding my foxface the algae sheets in hopes he resorts to picking at the gha.

wildman926 · 03/14/2016, 12:38 PM

You have an excess nutrient problem. If you were not exporting phosphates and nitrates, they have been absorbed by your rocks and sand. Lookup API's Algaefix Marine here, and consider deploying an ATS. Otherwise, you will be battling hair algae forever....

Reef noob_ · 03/14/2016, 05:54 PM

I'm not sure if it's entirely true, but I've heard that at around 2 years the tank can be deemed "mature" and a new set of problems usually pop up. I would get some GFO running andtry to stop the algae before it starts getting out of hand.

hotelbravo · 03/14/2016, 09:22 PM

I'll pick up a gfo reactor tomorrow and try that

wildman926 · 03/15/2016, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reef noob_

I'm not sure if it's entirely true, but I've heard that at around 2 years the tank can be deemed "mature" and a new set of problems usually pop up. I would get some GFO running andtry to stop the algae before it starts getting out of hand.

Usually, no one runs any type of nutrient export initially, so the rocks and sand absorb it all. It is then around the 2 year mark that it starts leaching it back out into the tank. Take a look at all the "Algae" threads, and you will see.

CStrickland · 03/15/2016, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildman926

Usually, no one runs any type of nutrient export initially, so the rocks and sand absorb it all. It is then around the 2 year mark that it starts leaching it back out into the tank. Take a look at all the "Algae" threads, and you will see.

+1
The rocks get "full"

Some parameters would help too. What are your nitrate and phosphate levels?

Crush Coral · 03/15/2016, 09:34 AM

Yes!!! Fear it!!! After trying most of the methods to rid my tank of this devil spawn I believe that the ats as recommended would be your best shot along with gfo. That is what I am finally doing and the gha in my tank is slowing down growth. I have not set up the ats yet but I have a large mat of chatoe and gha growing under a par38 54 watt led bulb. Good luck and do not wait another day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

slgcmg · 03/15/2016, 10:03 AM

I have to run pellets in a reactor, dose Nopox, and BRS phosphate remover in a carbon bag sitting in my sump. I have a heavy bio load though.

hotelbravo · 03/15/2016, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CStrickland

+1
The rocks get "full"

Some parameters would help too. What are your nitrate and phosphate levels?

i will test the parameters today when i pick up the gfo.

also do you guys think its necessary to run an ats if i am running a large refugium with a ton of macro?

wildman926 · 03/15/2016, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotelbravo

i will test the parameters today when i pick up the gfo.

also do you guys think its necessary to run an ats if i am running a large refugium with a ton of macro?

IMO and experience, the hair algae out competes the macro algae. I run both an ATS and chaeto reactor. The chaeto grew like gangbusters at first, helping the ATS out in removing the initial load. Now, it grows very slowly. I have not harvested since October. But, like clockwork, I HAVE to clean my ATS's every two weeks.

hotelbravo · 03/17/2016, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildman926

IMO and experience, the hair algae out competes the macro algae. I run both an ATS and chaeto reactor. The chaeto grew like gangbusters at first, helping the ATS out in removing the initial load. Now, it grows very slowly. I have not harvested since October. But, like clockwork, I HAVE to clean my ATS's every two weeks.

Ive tried growing chaeto but it gets out competed by my caulerpa brachypus. Ive tried many other macros but nothing has been able to compete with the brachy. I do let hair algae grow freely in the sump and have been doing that for a long time

hotelbravo · 03/17/2016, 06:25 PM

UPDATE: I had my water tested and my nitrates had went way down since the last test. It has been steady at around 40 for over a year but this test barely showed pink on multiple samples. My phosphates were pretty high at 0.22 and I went to purchase a gfo reactor but have not set it up yet because now something strange is happening. Almost all of the GHA has disapeared. There is maybe 10% left and I have changed nothing. Not quite sure what happened.

K.C. · 03/17/2016, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildman926

Usually, no one runs any type of nutrient export initially, so the rocks and sand absorb it all. It is then around the 2 year mark that it starts leaching it back out into the tank. Take a look at all the "Algae" threads, and you will see.

I have used the same rock in several reef tanks for over 30 years and nothing happened at 2 years. I've run tanks for a few years, dried the rock when I had to move or take a system down. Re-used the rock time and time again.

There's nothing special about 2 years, IMO.

03/14/2016, 10:33 AM	#1
hotelbravo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 2,175	2 year old tank showing first signs of GHA. Should I worry? Ive had my setup for a while now but I have been using an led strip t5 combo but recently switched to two OR T247s to acclimate my anemones to the light they will be under in my 180. So since the new lights the algae has gone crazy I see it in damn near every crack and crevice but in tiny amounts and very short so its in the beginning stages. Ive been growing macro in the sump for a while and there is alot of GHA in there but ive never seen it in the display before. Another thing I think is contributing is that about a week ago I brough home a large piece of grape caulerpa to out in my sump but I didnt read that they cant handle to much light and I run my sump on 24 hours so the other day I went looking in the sump and saw it had completely disappeared so I did research and found that if it does it will decompose quickly and release phosphates into the water. __________________ -Hodge Current Tank Info: 180 gallon, 40b sump. 3x OR T247 lighting, Reef Octopus protein skimmer, phosban 550 reactor, tunze ato, gyre xf 150, 2x mag 9.5 returns.

03/14/2016, 10:45 AM	#2
Cheebs Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ottawa Posts: 412	I'd say definitely nip it in the butt while you can.. Anything from reducing the light cycle then slowly ramping it up, 20% water changes and running GFO. Cleanup that would pick at it (hermits, etC) wouldn't be a bad idea either if you don't have many. A friend of mine just had is 110 overtake by hair algae and has been battling it for months. Get it while you can! __________________ Phil. Current Tank Info: 50 Gallon CADlights rimless

03/14/2016, 11:44 AM	#3
hotelbravo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 2,175	i have plenty of hermits, and i have stopped feeding my foxface the algae sheets in hopes he resorts to picking at the gha. __________________ -Hodge Current Tank Info: 180 gallon, 40b sump. 3x OR T247 lighting, Reef Octopus protein skimmer, phosban 550 reactor, tunze ato, gyre xf 150, 2x mag 9.5 returns.

03/14/2016, 12:38 PM	#4
wildman926 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: CTX Posts: 2,904	You have an excess nutrient problem. If you were not exporting phosphates and nitrates, they have been absorbed by your rocks and sand. Lookup API's Algaefix Marine here, and consider deploying an ATS. Otherwise, you will be battling hair algae forever.... __________________ 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

03/14/2016, 05:54 PM	#5
Reef noob_ Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: holmdel, NJ Posts: 555	I'm not sure if it's entirely true, but I've heard that at around 2 years the tank can be deemed "mature" and a new set of problems usually pop up. I would get some GFO running andtry to stop the algae before it starts getting out of hand. __________________ ________________________ New Build in progress http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2528685 90 gallon DT, 65 Gallon Fuge, Chinese LEDs, LPS and Soft coral reef

03/14/2016, 09:22 PM	#6
hotelbravo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 2,175	I'll pick up a gfo reactor tomorrow and try that __________________ -Hodge Current Tank Info: 180 gallon, 40b sump. 3x OR T247 lighting, Reef Octopus protein skimmer, phosban 550 reactor, tunze ato, gyre xf 150, 2x mag 9.5 returns.

03/15/2016, 09:34 AM	#9
Crush Coral Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central Wisconsin Posts: 1,233	Yes!!! Fear it!!! After trying most of the methods to rid my tank of this devil spawn I believe that the ats as recommended would be your best shot along with gfo. That is what I am finally doing and the gha in my tank is slowing down growth. I have not set up the ats yet but I have a large mat of chatoe and gha growing under a par38 54 watt led bulb. Good luck and do not wait another day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

03/15/2016, 10:03 AM	#10
slgcmg Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 521	I have to run pellets in a reactor, dose Nopox, and BRS phosphate remover in a carbon bag sitting in my sump. I have a heavy bio load though. __________________ 180g reef 40g sump 250# LR 10 54w T5. 2 Nasos, sailfin, regal tang, coral beauty, powder blue, yellow tang, melanarus wrasse, 2 chromis, foxface, clownfish, LPS, various shrimps

03/17/2016, 06:25 PM	#14
hotelbravo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 2,175	UPDATE: I had my water tested and my nitrates had went way down since the last test. It has been steady at around 40 for over a year but this test barely showed pink on multiple samples. My phosphates were pretty high at 0.22 and I went to purchase a gfo reactor but have not set it up yet because now something strange is happening. Almost all of the GHA has disapeared. There is maybe 10% left and I have changed nothing. Not quite sure what happened. __________________ -Hodge Current Tank Info: 180 gallon, 40b sump. 3x OR T247 lighting, Reef Octopus protein skimmer, phosban 550 reactor, tunze ato, gyre xf 150, 2x mag 9.5 returns.