Sudden Spike in Algae Growth. What's the Cause?

[euphoria]

Hi guys,
The last 2 weeks my tank has had a big spike in algae growth on the walls of the tank. The sandbed is good, but the tank walls get covered in algae after just one day of cleaning them.
The only latest changes have been that I replaced my bulbs. Although I replaced them, they are still the same exact type and wattage and rating as before (2x65w actinics and 2x65w daylights).
The other change has been that I used to always keep the window closed in the room that the tank is in and cover the top of the tank w/ acrylic so water doesn't splash on the lights. For the past month I leave my window open and don't put the coverings on. I did this because I noticed that my pH and nitrate levels were a lot lower when I had fresh air in the room throughout the whole day and the surface of the water was better exposed to fresh air. I don't know if this would cause algae growh.
These are pretty much the only changes i've done lately. The only other thing is that I had 5 turbo snails in the tank and there's only one remaining alive. But I doubt that it's the missing of the turbo snails that's causing extra algae to show up on the walls.
Please help,
Thanks

 

[ivanfj]

Switching to new lights can definitely be the cause of algae boom. Old bulbs had lost their spectrum and new bulbs would have a higher spectrum, in your case, causing an algae boom.

 

[murph145]

im kinda goin threw the same deal.... got new lights like 2 weeks ago 400W now and i have more algae
i thought it might be the lights.... possibly... but i checked my phospahtes and they are a lil high which i guess can cause an algae outbreak in a tank.... today i added more snails and a phos sponge to try and soak up the extra phosphate...
whats your water parameters.... what kind of water do u use to change with?

 

[zoocrazy]

do you test for phosphate? that could be it.

 

[golfish]

I just had a huge out break too...all test were great but I've always felt the Salifert phosphate kits were not very good. I took some RODI water to a freinds place early this week to be tested on his PO4 color meter. The test showed I had a high PO4 level even tho my two Salifert test kits showed zero.

 

[xnikki118x]

Test your phosphates, get a few more turbos, and cut down on the time your lights are on for now. That's what I'd do, anyway.

 

[euphoria]

I measured the phosphate level and it was 0.01, which is pretty good. I doubt its the phos that's causing the algae outbreak.
So if it's actually the change of lighting that's doing this, will it stabilize and will the algae growth come to a stop again?
All other water params are great and I use RO water for topoffs and natural seawater from the LFS for water changes.

 

[golfish]

Originally posted by EUPHORIA
I measured the phosphate level and it was 0.01, which is pretty good. .
I wouldn't trust any of the cheaper test kit to measure PO4's...I have an old Salifert and a brand new one, they both read zero, tank and off the RODI but the true reading in the tank is 0.05 and off the DI is 0.09..