Lights too powerful?

Gdevine · 05/22/2007, 10:18 AM

I have a 65g Ecosystem live reef with a 25g bio (refug) filter...miracle mud and all. Only run a PhosBan 150 reactor and UV sterilizer. My water chems are ideal across the board. Tank is about 5 months old and conduct regular water changes and RO/DI from LFS who uses a double step process. Feed only twice a day but phosphates are damn near zero.

Good water flow with a 1000gph pump and two eductors.

Lighting rig is Tek Light T5 HO with 2 blue general actinics, one 6,500K mid day and one 11,000K super.

And I can't for the life of me figure out what's fueling my Diatom problem!

If water chems are all in the "ideal" range where water quality is excellent and all other things are in line...could it simply be that my lights are just too much?

Shooter7 · 05/22/2007, 10:27 AM

I would venture that water parameters are not "ideal" given your comment of feeding twice a day and that phosphates are "damn near zero". Most phosphate tests aren't that great and even with salifert showing zero phosphates, it's been found that phosphates are still there. So, if you're showing phosphates on a test kit result, you probably have much more than you think. And if you're showing phosphates on a test kit and you have a phosban reactor on there too, you must have a bunch in there. Just info that I've found from being around on here for awhile. My salifert test shows absolute zero all the time with zero nitrates as well, along with running a phosban reactor, and I've had algae issues before.

Gdevine · 05/22/2007, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shooter7
I would venture that water parameters are not "ideal" given your comment of feeding twice a day and that phosphates are "damn near zero". Most phosphate tests aren't that great and even with salifert showing zero phosphates, it's been found that phosphates are still there. So, if you're showing phosphates on a test kit result, you probably have much more than you think. And if you're showing phosphates on a test kit and you have a phosban reactor on there too, you must have a bunch in there. Just info that I've found from being around on here for awhile. My salifert test shows absolute zero all the time with zero nitrates as well, along with running a phosban reactor, and I've had algae issues before.

I guess it's possible but I changed out the phosban twice within 3 week intervals and your saying regardless of the phosphate test results AND the presence of the reactor that there could still be too much phosphate? WOW!

So what the hell is fueling all of this; feeding small amounts of frozen food that I denature twice a day (12 hour intervals)?

Shooter7 · 05/22/2007, 10:58 AM

I would say most likely. Many people only feed their fish a couple times a week. I feed mine once a day or every other day, but was using some flake food (formula one) and nori and I think that's where mine was coming from. I have since made my own frozen food and added the reactor. It has taken a few months, but the algae I was getting is going away.

Toddrtrex · 05/22/2007, 11:27 AM

Have you ever tested the RO/DI water from your LFS with an TDS meter?? I don't know your LFS at all, but IME, most do not change their filters often enough.

Nano Chris · 05/22/2007, 05:16 PM

Check out this thread of the month, i had a algae problem, and i just finished my 3 days of no lights and walla! No more algae, hope it stays away! Please read this thread:
No lights for 3 days every couple of months works wonders!
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1078532

demonsp · 05/22/2007, 05:26 PM

What do you feed ? And whats your stock including cleanup crew ? And do you use tap water?

05/22/2007, 10:18 AM	#1
Gdevine Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pompano Beach, FL Posts: 1,232	Lights too powerful? I have a 65g Ecosystem live reef with a 25g bio (refug) filter...miracle mud and all. Only run a PhosBan 150 reactor and UV sterilizer. My water chems are ideal across the board. Tank is about 5 months old and conduct regular water changes and RO/DI from LFS who uses a double step process. Feed only twice a day but phosphates are damn near zero. Good water flow with a 1000gph pump and two eductors. Lighting rig is Tek Light T5 HO with 2 blue general actinics, one 6,500K mid day and one 11,000K super. And I can't for the life of me figure out what's fueling my Diatom problem! If water chems are all in the "ideal" range where water quality is excellent and all other things are in line...could it simply be that my lights are just too much?

05/22/2007, 10:27 AM	#2
Shooter7 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tolono, IL Posts: 6,754	I would venture that water parameters are not "ideal" given your comment of feeding twice a day and that phosphates are "damn near zero". Most phosphate tests aren't that great and even with salifert showing zero phosphates, it's been found that phosphates are still there. So, if you're showing phosphates on a test kit result, you probably have much more than you think. And if you're showing phosphates on a test kit and you have a phosban reactor on there too, you must have a bunch in there. Just info that I've found from being around on here for awhile. My salifert test shows absolute zero all the time with zero nitrates as well, along with running a phosban reactor, and I've had algae issues before. __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 10 years salty - standard 29g reef - moved from 120 gal reef, 2x250w Reeflux 10k's on ARO electronics and VHO super actinics on Icecap ballast, 2xTunze 6060, MSX 200 skimmer, GEO 612 Ca reactor, mag 12 return

05/22/2007, 10:58 AM	#4
Shooter7 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tolono, IL Posts: 6,754	I would say most likely. Many people only feed their fish a couple times a week. I feed mine once a day or every other day, but was using some flake food (formula one) and nori and I think that's where mine was coming from. I have since made my own frozen food and added the reactor. It has taken a few months, but the algae I was getting is going away. __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 10 years salty - standard 29g reef - moved from 120 gal reef, 2x250w Reeflux 10k's on ARO electronics and VHO super actinics on Icecap ballast, 2xTunze 6060, MSX 200 skimmer, GEO 612 Ca reactor, mag 12 return

05/22/2007, 11:27 AM	#5
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	Have you ever tested the RO/DI water from your LFS with an TDS meter?? I don't know your LFS at all, but IME, most do not change their filters often enough. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

05/22/2007, 05:16 PM	#6
Nano Chris Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,758	Check out this thread of the month, i had a algae problem, and i just finished my 3 days of no lights and walla! No more algae, hope it stays away! Please read this thread: No lights for 3 days every couple of months works wonders! http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1078532 __________________ Chris ------- 34 Gallon Red Sea Max 130! Setup (Just got back into the hobby) Current Tank Info: 34 Gallon RedSeaMax!

05/22/2007, 05:26 PM	#7
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	What do you feed ? And whats your stock including cleanup crew ? And do you use tap water?