Yet another algae question....

boosted306

boosted306

Member
To all of you that answer me, I apologize in advance for another algae question. I have been in the hobby for years now and have never had an algae problem this bad. I currently have some algae that is growing on the rocks that is disgusting looking. I bought a sea hare for a temporary fix. I have always understood that algae feeds on nitrates and bad lights. Well nitrates are 0 and the lights are new. I am at a loss. Any help is appreciated or ideas.
Also, I have recently added new LR but post-algae. I am trying to get this under control so it doesn't take over my corals.
 
nigerbang

nigerbang

Active Member
Is it Hair Algae?
If so and the seahare does eat it all... You more or less will be on damage control for a while... Try and beef up the CUC and if possible a fish that will eat hair algae.. Once it gets long not much will eat it... Throw a lawnmower in there.. He will keep it down and under control so it doesnt get outta hand again... Check the TDS in the RO water and possibly cut down on the light cycle
 
t316

t316

Active Member
I believe that this is the number 1 topic of all hobbyist. Let's see what response(s) you get, verses what has already been regurgitated out there 100 times. I am interested myself.
Btw....turn off the "bold" type.....
 
boosted306

boosted306

Member

Originally Posted by boosted306
http:///forum/post/2938203
To all of you that answer me, I apologize in advance for another algae question. I have been in the hobby for years now and have never had an algae problem this bad. I currently have some algae that is growing on the rocks that is disgusting looking. I bought a sea hare for a temporary fix. I have always understood that algae feeds on nitrates and bad lights. Well nitrates are 0 and the lights are new. I am at a loss. Any help is appreciated or ideas.
Also, I have recently added new LR but post-algae. I am trying to get this under control so it doesn't take over my corals.


Also, here is a little bit about the tank. It is a 29 gallon tall. Filtration is an Ehiem canister that is cleaned thoroughly weekly. I have heard that these are a nitrate factory if not cleaned weekly. How I clean it is, unhook it from the tank and open it. Drain all water, take pads and media out, wash everything thoroughly except for the bio-media. I lightly rinse the bio-media with sea water to keep some of the biological filtartion on. I am also using a #2 Hydor Koralia PH to help on dead spots and will be adding another one soon. My LS and LR is about 70#'s. Parameters are great down the board. I did let the PH get to 8.0/8.1 after a water change but buffered to bring that up this evening.
Cleaning the tank happens weekly with 5 gallon water changes. I siphon the sand every water change as well.
I am just at a loss. Thanks SWF.
 
boosted306

boosted306

Member
Wow, I got responses quick, thanks guys. On the light cycle, will I sacrifice coral growth/health.
I understand that most of this is going to be regurgitation of what gets discussed but when I searched I just got hours worth of reading material. It seemed that most of which was directly related to nitrate or old bulbs.
 
nigerbang

nigerbang

Active Member
Nitrate and bulbs that have shifted spectrum will also cause it.. So will flow..
What kind of skimmer are you running..
Shortening the light cycle wont really hurt anything.. How long are the light on a day?
 
jpa0741

jpa0741

Member
Originally Posted by NigerBang
http:///forum/post/2938220
Also... Natural Sunlight from a window will help cause algae also
False. Algae feeds on Nitrate and Phosphate. You could be getting false nitrate readings because of your algae growth. Also phos is very hard to get an accurate reading with out using a photometer. I would start with frequent water changes, less feeding, more flow, cut down on light, run some GFO. These are things I would start with IMO.
 
nigerbang

nigerbang

Active Member
Originally Posted by jpa0741
http:///forum/post/2938235
False. Algae feeds on Nitrate and Phosphate. You could be getting false nitrate readings because of your algae growth. Also phos is very hard to get an accurate reading with out using a photometer. I would start with frequent water changes, less feeding, more flow, cut down on light, run some GFO. These are things I would start with IMO.
Light from a window wont cause algae?
Considering light passing through a window will hit the tank as about a 6500k or 5k bulb with a more yellow and weaker light.. Pretty much the same thing as a bulb shifting...
 
boosted306

boosted306

Member
Lights are on for 10/12 hours daily.
There are new bulbs and also nitrates are at 0.
Even though the bulbs are new and the nitrates are at 0 the algae still is a deep healthy looking green. Just to let everyone know of what I am working with, the algae is barely at length. It is just enough to take away from very nice looking coralline. Sea hare takes care of any algae that gets long enough for him to eat. Which honestly isn't enough to solely sustain his life. I have to feed him algae sheets.
 
jpa0741

jpa0741

Member
Originally Posted by NigerBang
http:///forum/post/2938239
Light from a window wont cause algae?
Considering light passing through a window will hit the tank as about a 6500k or 5k bulb with a more yellow and weaker light.. Pretty much the same thing as a bulb shifting...
No. Algae won't grow using any color light if the nutrients aren't there for it to. There are many people using solar tubes (natural sunlight) to light there tanks with beautiful success.
 
boosted306

boosted306

Member
Originally Posted by jpa0741
http:///forum/post/2938235
False. Algae feeds on Nitrate and Phosphate. You could be getting false nitrate readings because of your algae growth. Also phos is very hard to get an accurate reading with out using a photometer. I would start with frequent water changes, less feeding, more flow, cut down on light, run some GFO. These are things I would start with IMO.
I thought that sunlight through a window would cause algae growth. In my case the tank gets no visible sun light. What I understood about the sunlight through a window was that it was a redder spectrum which algae thrives on, no?
EDIT: I thought that algae was photosynthetic just like any other plant. I know that algae feeds on nitrates etc but was mainly photosynthetic.
 
jpa0741

jpa0741

Member
Originally Posted by boosted306
http:///forum/post/2938240
Lights are on for 10/12 hours daily.
There are new bulbs and also nitrates are at 0.
Even though the bulbs are new and the nitrates are at 0 the algae still is a deep healthy looking green. Just to let everyone know of what I am working with, the algae is barely at length. It is just enough to take away from very nice looking coralline. Sea hare takes care of any algae that gets long enough for him to eat. Which honestly isn't enough to solely sustain his life. I have to feed him algae sheets.
Do you anything to check phos?
 
nigerbang

nigerbang

Active Member
Originally Posted by jpa0741
http:///forum/post/2938242
No. Algae won't grow using any color light if the nutrients aren't there for it to. There are many people using solar tubes (natural sunlight) to light there tanks with beautiful success.
Show me some fact that shows it wont.. I know people run solar tubes..
Everything you find will say it can be a contributing factor..
Agreed about the nutrients.. They are the proverbile gas on the fire..
If lighting didnt factor in why would you replace bulbs after X amount of months instead of running them until they burn out..
At anyrate PM me if you want to debate this some more so we dont Hijack the OP thread..
 
jpa0741

jpa0741

Member
Originally Posted by boosted306
http:///forum/post/2938245
I thought that sunlight through a window would cause algae growth. In my case the tank gets no visible sun light. What I understood about the sunlight through a window was that it was a redder spectrum which algae thrives on, no?
No. That is a myth started a while back. Many people encourage the use of light coming through their windows now. But if you do have an access nutrient problem to start, yes it will just add to the problem.
 
jpa0741

jpa0741

Member
Originally Posted by NigerBang
http:///forum/post/2938248
Show me some fact that shows it wont.. I know people run solar tubes..
Everything you find will say it can be a contributing factor..
Agreed about the nutrients.. They are the proverbile gas on the fire..
If lighting didnt factor in why would you replace bulbs after X amount of months instead of running them until they burn out..
At anyrate PM me if you want to debate this some more so we dont Hijack the OP thread..
We replace bulbs because the spectrum does shift and the par numbers drop, making the bulbs less effective. If you like start a seperate thread.
 
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