Hey all, about to throw in the towel and jump to fluconazole to treat (if you have some you can spare around Princeton area please let me know). But I have done everything to reduce phosphates over the past month - feeding less, running GFO to keep phosphates below 0.1ppm (Hannah checker around 0.05-0.1 range) and nitrates around 25ppm (salifert), more frequent water changes for 20% a week total, and physically removing as much as I can (until my arm felt it was going to fall off a couple times a week). I have herbivores - 3 blue legs, pincushion urchin, emerald crab, 2 astrea, and a Mexican turbo. I’ve done a 3 day blackout - totally blacked out with cardboard, vinyl, and black gorilla tape earlier before it got really out of hand to knock it back to no avail. I feel the efforts have stopped the spread and slowed the growth, but I just can’t finish it off. Hope I can get some suggestions or some fluconazole from a fellow member who has been through the ringer too!
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Hair Algae Escapades
- Thread starter Sprinter70
- Start date
reefsandrotts
NJRC Member
What type of rock and sand are you using?
Rock is 3D printed plastic and sand is coarse aragonite and crushed coral mix but only enough to barely cover the bottom (aesthetic only).
This is where it currently stands
reefsandrotts
NJRC Member
That looks awesome aside from the algae,I wonder if theres something in the plastic its feeding on.
I do not think so, the algae is going on snail shells and a couple coral skeletons that it has choked out too. Seeing as the plastic is PETG (mostly carbon oxygen and hydrogen with one sulfur in the center of the molecule) I doubt it is a food source.
Ordered reef flux, any recommendations on how to maximize use efficiency? Cautions?
GHA is def frustrating but don’t give up. I can say I tried beating with Fluconazole and it did nothing for my GHA. What worked for me and I would use again if it came back was Vibrant. It was amazing how fast my GHA disappeared after treatment. If the Fluconazole doesn’t work that is another option, but I would give the tank a break first so you’re not just dumping all different medications in. Maybe do a large water change if the Fluconazole doesn’t work for you. I hope it does and good luck!
3 blue legs, pincushion urchin, emerald crab, 2 astrea, and a Mexican turbo.
Already got it, next day prime is kinda scary fast!
Treatment is officially in flight, mixed up half a capsule in some tank water (2x treatment as allowed per the label) for treating the 2.5 gallon tank volume. Did a decent 30% water change prior and removed GFO. From what I have read, GFO can be reintroduced after 3-4 days to keep phosphates from spiking too high as the gha dies off. I’ll keep y’all posted!
Good luck. Curious to hear the outcome
So the pre-treatment
Phosphate: 0.08
Nitrate: 15
Today
Phosphate: 0.17
Nitrate: 25
Will probably put GFO in today or tomorrow when I have time, but looks like nutrients are climbing so I’ll probably retest tonight and tomorrow to see where they head.
Visually, it looks like the algae in lower light areas is starting to go white, not sure if this is from the treatment, but I am happy to see it suffer either way!
Phosphate: 0.08
Nitrate: 15
Today
Phosphate: 0.17
Nitrate: 25
Will probably put GFO in today or tomorrow when I have time, but looks like nutrients are climbing so I’ll probably retest tonight and tomorrow to see where they head.
Visually, it looks like the algae in lower light areas is starting to go white, not sure if this is from the treatment, but I am happy to see it suffer either way!
Today
Phosphate: 0.21
Nitrate: approx 40
No noticeable progression in the recession of the gha. Will start GFO this morning.
Phosphate: 0.21
Nitrate: approx 40
No noticeable progression in the recession of the gha. Will start GFO this morning.