What’s the longest lights out with Acropora for GHA

[Bouncingsoul393]

I’m still struggling with GHA. Been running phosguard and manually removing it. I’ve done two full rock scrubs and it keeps coming back. Did a three day lights out and it didn’t help. I’ve added an pincushion urchin and it’s not making a dent. Large Turbos as well. My Scopas Tang doesn’t eat it.
Getting very frustrated and ready to call it quits. I don’t have extra money to spend on Flux RX atm. Any suggestions? Should I try a longer lights out period?

 

[joseserrano]

Patience and stay the course

 

[drexel]

Don't shut your lights off. It took a long time for the GHA to develop, so it's going to take a long time for it go away. Weekly water changes, a little rowa (not too much, 1/2 of the recommended amount) manual removal and the right clean up crew. Don't go crazy with adding too much CUC or you'll keep feeding the PO4. Also, don't stop feeding the fish, but use mainly frozen foods and greens for the herbivores. You can also use zeolite rocks in your sump in a reactor to help pull PO4 out as well. It's not lighting that's fueling the algae, it's PO4 leaching from your rocks and sand after saturation or from poor maintenance. Dry uncured rocks are a big source for PO4. A remote DSB can also help pull PO4 out as well.
I would do a weekly bacteria regime as well. PNS Probio and Biodigest Prodibio are great at controlling nutrients (PNS Probio being my favorite). Alternating between the two every week goes a long way with keeping your tank clean and healthy.

 

[five.five-six]

Patience and stay the course

That’s really what it takes. I would do water changes and connect a small hose to my siphon hose and spend hours plucking algae. Also use FluxRX from blue life but until you get your chemistry balanced, the GHA will return. I fought with it for about 5 months and then one day I noticed I had won.