GHE on my LPS

[advanwoerden]

Hi,

With thanks to the help of several MR members, I've completely revamped my system to hopefully revive my tank which has fallen off over the past 6 months. I'm getting a new RO/DI system from BRS, replaced my filters, done water changes, basically everything I could think of. I have some GHA on some of my corals which I'm hoping to revive. Any tips on how to best remove the algae, or are they too far gone? The hammer coral is worse off than the acan...

 

[fishman1069]

I think you mean GHA (green hair algae ) lol
The best way I found to get rid of it quick was a hydrogen peroxide dip. Don't dip the whole coral, just the base where the algae is. Do it for a couple of minutes and put it back in The tank. It shouldn't come back as long as you took care of the problem that originally caused the Algae.

 

[advanwoerden]

haha yeah, oops...

The algae is around the polyps though, I don't see how I could dip the algae but not the polyps... Do I dip it in 100% hydrogen peroxide or diluted? Will it damage the polyps if they touch it?

 

[reefman]

looking at the corals, i dont think he can dip just the the base.

 

[fishman1069]

I've dipped whole zoa frags and they did fine but I never tried it on LPS, so I don't want to say they wont be harmed. I would do some searches on hydrogen peroxide before even attempting it tho. There are many people that dose their DTs with it and there's alot of info out there about it.

 

[basiab]

On wider areas you can use a tooth brush otherwise you need a thin brush like you might find in a shaver kit or in an eye liner (womens makeup) kit. Brush from the bottom up. You will end up brushing against the flesh of the polyps but they should be able to recover. I have done it with acans and candy canes. You don't have to get every strand of algae so don't over do it. With frogspawn just brush the branch and if there is a dead head you can brush in there as well.

 

[advanwoerden]

a brush is going to be tough especially on the acan, where the algae is growing in between all the polyps. I've read around and I've seen some people dipping hydrogen peroxide on LPS, but haven't seen a very detailed discussion at all. Anyone here have any experience with it?

 

[basiab]

Brushing is a bit tough but they can handle it. You don't have to get it all. It seems that by roughing the algae up it tends to weaken what is left and it will recede on its own. You can also try hermits and hope they pick it clean. I have no experience with
hydrogen peroxide so I can't help you there. Try it first with some rock and see if it dies off.

 

[howze01]

Are you sure those are Acans? They look an awful lot like Blastos.

 

[advanwoerden]

That's because they're so shriveled up... very sad. I'm gonna try brushing tonight, and a possible H202 dip for like 30 seconds this weekend if I don't see any improvement.