Help Needed with GHA...yet another victim

So I need to get back to my original quest. I have GHA and need some assistance.

In my opinion, I have eliminated all nutrient sources except:
lighting fixtures - LED 88W x2 combination blue and white - Could the have changed frequency?
room lighting - not dark but no direct sunlight on tank
refugium (mud bed) - could it be a nitrate factory?
LR - could the source be inside the rocks?

I am attaching another pic...this was taken 5 DAYS after I took the rocks out and scrubbed them. Which could also mean that I added another potential source; I scrubbed each rock with a toothbrush in tank water and then rinsed it in RO but I didnt "'spray" it I just dunked it in RO, shook it off and placed it back in the tank. There could have been GHA possibly still on or in the rock I guess.

Could the lack of initial good husbrandry have caused issues inside the rocks? Should I cook the rocks?

 

Left Overs

Hey,

In short it's a part of the leftovers from all kinds of things. Microalgae uses nitrogen compounds, phosphates, and carbon compounds. Ways to remove it are - prefilter(change twice a week for awhile) protein skimming(is your's size right + 1min.) activated carbon (change a little early as needed) products - filter/resins to remove (D.O.C.) AND ozone. UV wouldn't help you now but will once algae is low and under control.

Did you start your system with dry rock?
I told you about a good book earlier in this thread, i believe you would enjoy reading and should cover what you need and will upgrade your system +. That's alway's cool too

 

Ok I have ordered the book (thanks for the suggestion). in the mean time...would you suggest I get new filter socks for the prefilter aspect? In my refugium, I have holes for two filter socks which I removed a few weeks ago. My protein skimmer is rated at 150g. I am going to get on board with activated carbon (just need to go to LFS). I will start my research into ozone and filters. I at least have a glimmer of hope now...thanks!

 

change every 4 days

It will work for you and the best part is you will have a better understanding of your system. I would change every 4 days for awhile bleaching to clean, so two sets. Carbon has always worked well for me i am a fan. when you have the extra funds a bio pellet reactor will help. Not trying to give you things that cost alot just ideas, i have to buy piece by piece on my build. Reading helps me because i can read it over and over until it clicks, i understand that part and then move on to the next. This process is not talked about alot but has been around for a long time.

I know you will do great keep us updated,it will help others

 

one more thing

Almost forget if it was me i would start to remove the mud from the refugium. Maybe a cup or so a week until gone and replace with sand, shut your pumps off when doing this and give a little time to settle.
U know the two cent thing/

 

What is the reasoning behind removing the mud? I have no problem doing it; I just want to understand better.

 

Yes, a lot of those threads got ugly and I have not tried a ATS, but I plan to soon. For me, I don't plan to use an ATS to replace a skimmer (the discussion of which seemed to be the heart of many of the ugly posts). I just think it is a pretty inexpensive thing to try. Plus i enjoy the DIY project part of it. Anyway, just something to think about. Good luck, I'm sure with all the great help here you'll get it whipped.

 

Ats

Yes ATS may be something to look into also as another option. They may be better before it gets to this stage like UV. There is a member Santa Monica who has alot of writing in this field. He sales them but also works to help members with low cost DIYs which i take my hat off to him for that Not sure you can get GHA outbreak to move from one place to another within the same system. More reading
I have two reasons for thinking the mud should come out: one - you have a build up somewhere most likely started from the early days. Removing it will let you check it off your list as the problem. two - I believe this is one of those products put on the market just to make money off hobbiest with refugiums. Lot's of members may use and think its great and i wouldn't say different. Just what i think trying to help you on this thread.
It didn't get this way overnight and will take time to turn around giving you time to review your options and to set a path to happy reef keeping again.

 

ATS, bio pellets, refugium, are all good and work in their own special ways. Like someone said earlier out didn't happen over night. If you know our find the source, you can beat this. Then if you want to use the other methods then by all means do so. Just remember out will only aid and not fix. I know people who use those items and some stol end up with some form of algae or worse. I'm just saying.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

I would suggest discovering why you are unable to keep snails alive. Your clean up crew is really none existent. A Lot of the snails available are not actually suited for "tropical" temperatures of our reef tanks so they tend to not live very long. But with proper slow drip acclimation it should be possible to increase your clean up crew.
IMO the addition of fish to resolve a algae problem is never a good idea.

Cooking your rock is basically pulling your tank apart and starting over. I don't think you need to go so extreme. What I would do

1) Get you snail and hermit levels up
2) manually pick the long hair algae off the rock by hand
3) allow our new clean up crew to do their job

Hope this helps

J