Irritating GHA needs to be dealt with...

[CCXGT]

It's been slowly growing in the exact same places for about 3 months now.



Some of it also seems to resemble Bryopsis a tad... Is this bad? It's been there for months but it doesn't spread whatsoever.

The tank params:

10 Gallons.

Amm - 0ppm
Trite - 0ppm
Trate - very near 0pmm
Phos - 0ppm maybe 0.03ppm in the right light
PH - 8.0
Calc - 500ppm
Alk - 7.9 dKH
Mag - no test kit

I use LFS RO water for WC's and top offs.

Up until a month ago, I used 25tds water.
I've now switched to 2tds water.

I've thought that maybe it's the original 'crappy' water which caused the growth and it'll just die off eventually by itself.

I run GFO, Carbon and Purigen in a HoB.

I yank out the thickest GHA every week during a w/c.

I'd say the growth in that picture is average weekly growth.

It's not spreading anywhere, just re-growing in the same place. Mainly on some Putty I used for the rockwork.

The tank is stocked with 1 juvenile Perc Clown, 1 Cleaner Shrimp, 2 Scarlet Hermits, 2 Banded Trochus Snails and 1 Turbo Snail which is smaller than both the Trochus'.

My college course finishes in a few weeks and I'll have time to focus on tackling this issue.

Any of you guy's sage advice would be appreciated.


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[keegster803]

Id think that the hermits would have taken care of it. But I'd say you could spot treat it with hydrogen peroxide.


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[Reefing Madness]

If it resembles Bryopsis, then you need a Mag test kit.
Get Kent Tech M Magnesium, raise your level to 1600. Leave it there until you see the stuff turn yellow and die off. Then your all set.

 

[CCXGT]

If it resembles Bryopsis, then you need a Mag test kit.
Get Kent Tech M Magnesium, raise your level to 1600. Leave it there until you see the stuff turn yellow and die off. Then your all set.

It really doesn't look much like Bryopsis.

Not like any of the images I search, just one or two feather-looking strands within the forest.

I'm really trying to avoid dosing anything in a tank so small.. But I'll see what happens in a couple of weeks time.

Actually.. Now that I've said that, it is looking a lot more like Bryopsis..

I'm now worried.

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[CCXGT]

After doing a bit of research, H2O2 is looking extremely appealing to me..

I might pick up some and figure out a battle plan.


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[CCXGT]

Id think that the hermits would have taken care of it. But I'd say you could spot treat it with hydrogen peroxide.


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Might you recommend a certain strength Hydrogen Peroxide?

I'm seeing stuff from 3% to 12%.


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[coralbandit]

I have killed "nasties" with H2O2.
Here's a good link since you are across the pond and have different % peroxide(in US we have 3% only with out special order(you may have 9-13% as you mentioned.)
Hydrogen peroxide - The Free Freshwater and Saltwater Aquarium Encyclopedia Anyone Can Edit - The Aquarium Wiki
I killed a particulary invasive species of calurpea with H2O2 over a 3 week period of daily or every other day spot applications.
It has never returned since !
It turns to O2 and water in aprox. 12 hours so dosing is up to your observations.

 

[CCXGT]

I have killed "nasties" with H2O2.
Here's a good link since you are across the pond and have different % peroxide(in US we have 3% only with out special order(you may have 9-13% as you mentioned.)
Hydrogen peroxide - The Free Freshwater and Saltwater Aquarium Encyclopedia Anyone Can Edit - The Aquarium Wiki
I killed a particulary invasive species of calurpea with H2O2 over a 3 week period of daily or every other day spot applications.
It has never returned since !
It turns to O2 and water in aprox. 12 hours so dosing is up to your observations.

Thanks, that's a very handy read.

According to their own test, 60ml of the 3% stuff for 66G.

That means that 9ml is appropriate for my 10G.

I'll definitely have to give it a go soon.


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[coralbandit]

Mind this stuff around any corals or shut off circulation for 5 minutes or so
just to be safe IMO.
Some corals are sensitive to this.
My urchins run TO it when I dose?
Still have all of them !
Seeing bubbles from application is a good thing!
I would pull as much as possible manually to help the peroxide work quicker.

 

[melosu58]

After doing a bit of research, H2O2 is looking extremely appealing to me..

I might pick up some and figure out a battle plan.


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Here is a battle plan

FantasyReef Databases-Viewing item "10 Step Plan for Nuisance Algae Control"

 

[CCXGT]

Mind this stuff around any corals or shut off circulation for 5 minutes or so
just to be safe IMO.
Some corals are sensitive to this.
My urchins run TO it when I dose?
Still have all of them !
Seeing bubbles from application is a good thing!
I would pull as much as possible manually to help the peroxide work quicker.

Well I only have Zoa's, Shrooms and a Torch in there at the mo.

I will definitely keep everything off during application.

I can pull out as much of the actual GHA then all I have left is Bryopsis strands.

I'm assuming to dose the H2O2 around the base of the algae?


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[coralbandit]

Well I only have Zoa's, Shrooms and a Torch in there at the mo.

I will definitely keep everything off during application.

I can pull out as much of the actual GHA then all I have left is Bryopsis strands.

I'm assuming to dose the H2O2 around the base of the algae?


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Get the peroxide right at the base yes.
If you do have bryopsis then RM shot you straight on the Kent MG

Kent Tech M vs Bryopsis - Reef Central Online Community

 

[CCXGT]

Update: so the H2O2 arrived today, I'll be trying it out soon.

Couple questions, should I turn off any pumps or powerheads before dosing?
And do I need to remove any chemical media such as GFO or Carbon?


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[Reefing Madness]

Might want to remove your carbon while dosing, other than that, run everything normally.

 

[CCXGT]

Right then.

Day 1.

I've done a sizeable W/C today of 2G and let things settle down a bit before the first dose.
I've also ripped out a LOT of GHA/Bryopsis.

I'm currently focusing on the main clump of Algae in the tank.

I've squirted 8ml of the 3% H2O2 solution (which REALLY didn't seem like much), and there is quite a bit of bubbling going in in the injected area.

I'll be following a schedule in the next week to see what I can get out of this stuff and I'll see what's what.

The schedule:

Day 1: Do W/C, dose 8ml.

Day 2: Dose 8ml.

Day 3: Dose 8ml.

Day 4: Dose 8ml.

Day 5: Blackout.

Day 6: Blackout.

Day 7: Blackout, W/C.

Repeat.


So far the Zoa's have closed up (expected) and the Shrooms have shrivelled (expected).

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