Zoos and Lighting

[estein02]

I've had my zoos for about 2 weeks now and they are doing really well. When I got them I increased my lighting from 5 total hours to 8 (not counting the lunars). Now my sand looks like crap...covered with green hair algea an cyanobacteria. The only places where my sand is white is under LR. How much light should zoos ideally have? I need to cut back the lighting to get this growing nuisance under control, but don't want to hurt the zoos in the process.
Also, I think that I am going to try chemi-clean because nothing else is working. From what I've read it seems that as long as the instructions are followed exactly there should be no problems. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[nycbob]

zoas love lights. try getting a few snails or sand sifting gobies. they will take care of the algae.

 

[scubanoah]

how long has you tank been set up? what kind of lighting are you using? what do you currently have for a clean up crew? how much flow do you have?

 

[estein02]

Originally Posted by ScubaNoah
how long has you tank been set up? what kind of lighting are you using? what do you currently have for a clean up crew? how much flow do you have?
The tank has been set up for almost 3 months. For lighting I am using the Current Nova Extreme (two 460nm Actinic Blue and two Daylight 10,000K SlimPaq high output T5 lamps). Currently I have 2 turbo snails, 10 astraea snails, 15 - 20 red leg hermits, 3 nassarius snails, 1 emerald crab and 1 sally lightfoot. For flow in the tank I have approx. 1,471 gph (1 maxi-jet 1200, 1 maxi-jet 400, 1 seio M620, and the return pump from the sump is a mag drive 7). In the sump I have a mag drive 3 running the skimmer. I know that every thing you read says increase the flow, but the cleanest sand in the tank is under LR where, I'm guessing the flow is the lowest.

 

[puffer32]

Originally Posted by estein02
The tank has been set up for almost 3 months. For lighting I am using the Current Nova Extreme (two 460nm Actinic Blue and two Daylight 10,000K SlimPaq high output T5 lamps). Currently I have 2 turbo snails, 10 astraea snails, 15 - 20 red leg hermits, 3 nassarius snails, 1 emerald crab and 1 sally lightfoot. For flow in the tank I have approx. 1,471 gph (1 maxi-jet 1200, 1 maxi-jet 400, 1 seio M620, and the return pump from the sump is a mag drive 7). In the sump I have a mag drive 3 running the skimmer. I know that every thing you read says increase the flow, but the cleanest sand in the tank is under LR where, I'm guessing the flow is the lowest.
The sand under the rocks is clean because its getting no light. 8 hrs of light from 5 hrs is a big jump, go down to 6 hrs with the whites, you can keep just the acentics on for 8 hrs. I have the same lights on my 55, and thats my lighting schedule, zoos are thriving, and no algae blooms.Heres a pic.

 

[estein02]

Originally Posted by puffer32
The sand under the rocks is clean because its getting no light. 8 hrs of light from 5 hrs is a big jump, go down to 6 hrs with the whites, you can keep just the acentics on for 8 hrs. I have the same lights on my 55, and thats my lighting schedule, zoos are thriving, and no algae blooms.Heres a pic.

Okee dokee...I will try that. Nice tank by the way.
What other types of corals do you have in there that are doing well with that lighting? Do you add any supplements or anything else to your tank? Do you have any inverts or fish that help keep the sand so clean?
Thanks for the help.

 

[estein02]

When I was originally at 5 hours it was 5 hours of total light...5 with the blues and just 3 with daylights. Now it is 8 total hours...8 with the blues and 6 with the daylights. Should I try cutting back the daylights to 4 hours while still keeping the blues on for 8?

 

[ibew]

looks like your turning the tank enough. might want to get rid of the MJ400 replace it with a 1200 to get more GPH your over 20 times turnover rate which is good. Have you tried different placement of the PHs are they to high in the tank maybe. Or not covering enough water low enough. Not sure were you have them but you don't want them to close or pointing at the top to much. Just a suggestion could make a big difference or maybe nothing

 

[estein02]

Originally Posted by Ibew
looks like your turning the tank enough. might want to get rid of the MJ400 replace it with a 1200 to get more GPH your over 20 times turnover rate which is good. Have you tried different placement of the PHs are they to high in the tank maybe. Or not covering enough water low enough. Not sure were you have them but you don't want them to close or pointing at the top to much. Just a suggestion could make a big difference or maybe nothing

I will see if I can get a decent picture showing the location of my PHs to see what you and others think of the placement. I'm willing to try anything to get things perfect...or as close to perfect as I can get them.