Need Advice: Darkness Or No Darkness?

SharkLVR09 · 07/27/2011, 09:53 AM

So, In an earlier Thread I asked about a Phosphate Reactor. . . For those of you who did not see that, Check out the following Link:

Phosphate Reactor Thread

Anyway, What I need advice with is. . . I bought the phosphate reactor and now have been reading some other stuff with these. My question is I have been reading that once you have installed the phosphate reactor, If you have a lot of algae you should leave the light off for 3 days... Is that a good Idea? I have a Bit of algae and want to get rid of it as soon as possible. The phosphate reactor is installed and has been running about a week now. I just didn't know if the "3 days of darkness" would work. If it does work, Will it hurt my corals in the tank? I look forward to hearing some advice. Thank you very much to all that answer.

Allmost · 07/27/2011, 10:03 AM

my corals have gone with 7 days no light, no Issues ... [not even SPS had Issues !]

Idea is to take out light, so all algae dies off, releasing its contents, po4 and no3 mainly, so po4 remover can remove it. you will need to Physically remove the dead algae and do water changes during this period, to take out the no3, and also the dead algae, so it wont rot away in your tank again.

I did this once, covered all sides, and the top ... everyday, did a 5% water change.
Id monitor the po4 too, to be sure the po4 remover wont shut,

SharkLVR09 · 07/27/2011, 10:08 AM

This is gonna sound bad, What is po4? Sorry I'm just having a brain Fart.

I'm just guessing, but Its Phosphate right? And The other is Nitrate(no3). . .

invincible325i · 07/27/2011, 10:37 AM

I would maybe suggest running your light cycle at half the time you normally do for a week and perform a 25% water change in about 3 days of running the phosphate reactor media. After a week kick your light schedule up an hour every day until you are back on your normal light schedule. Either way will work its just how much time you want to put into it

Also if you have the time and material to do so I would suggest kicking up your magnesium up to about 1600 until you notice the algae turning white and thinning out! In raising your magnesium you would not need to adjust your light cycle at all just keep it at normal time and let the tank itself with the magnesium up at around 1600 kill the algae off. Good luck with the fight !

SharkLVR09 · 07/27/2011, 11:10 AM

I thought about doing that too. I leave my lights on about 8hrs now, So what your saying is cut them down to 4hours? I might have to try this. This algae is annoying as all get out. It all mainly came from my other tank when I transferred the rock over. Ever since then it really hasn't grown much but I don't want it too... I needed the LR though to help seed the tank. Otherwise I just would have let it dry out...

SharkLVR09 · 07/27/2011, 11:43 AM

For those of you who want a better idea of how much algae I have, Check out this Link. . .

My 75G Reef Tank

You can either watch the video or check out the pictures towards the end of the thread I just posted.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

invincible325i · 07/27/2011, 11:54 AM

Yep run them for about 5 hours a day and slowly bring them back to your normal schedule as the algae dies out! If it were me though after looking at your pics I would suggest not cutting the lights down at all and just raise your magnesium up to about 1600 and that alone will kill the lil bit off that you have then do a 25% water change after it turns white! Slowly raise the magnesium up over a couple of days and the same for lowering it once the algae dies off and you wont have any adverse effects on your tank bro!

SharkLVR09 · 07/27/2011, 11:57 AM

What should I use to raise the magnesium? I don't have anything that just add's Magnesium. Everything I have adds trace amounts...

invincible325i · 07/27/2011, 03:37 PM

For adding Tech M, the bottle recommends only 1ml per gallon per day, which will boost your system by 18.3 ppm per day. In my case, I needed to raise it from 1100 to 1550pm, so it would have taken nearly a month to get it where I needed it (450ppm / 18.3 per day = 24.5 days). So I was adding 4-5 times that amount, to boost magnesium by about 80-100ppm per day.

SharkLVR09 · 07/27/2011, 03:45 PM

What should magnesium Levels be at in a Reef Tank? What all is Magnesium good for? I have read it is good to help Buffer Alk, but what else is it for? What Brand test kit do you use to test the levels? Thanks again!

invincible325i · 07/27/2011, 04:48 PM

Magnesium levels in a tank should be 3 times the amount of your calcium level. So for instance if you have a calcium level of 440 you would want to shoot for magnesium levels of around 1320 for a well balanced system. Magnesium is something that helps with photosynthisis as well and does help maintain calcium levels. You may see a jump in your calcium but this will just help coraline growth during this time lol! As far as your test kit goes something like reef keepers kit will do fine, around $35 bucks or so maybe a lil more just ensure it has the magnesium test included.

SharkLVR09 · 07/27/2011, 04:50 PM

Cool! I will look into that! I appreciate the info.

07/27/2011, 09:53 AM	#1
SharkLVR09 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 141	Need Advice: Darkness Or No Darkness? So, In an earlier Thread I asked about a Phosphate Reactor. . . For those of you who did not see that, Check out the following Link: Phosphate Reactor Thread Anyway, What I need advice with is. . . I bought the phosphate reactor and now have been reading some other stuff with these. My question is I have been reading that once you have installed the phosphate reactor, If you have a lot of algae you should leave the light off for 3 days... Is that a good Idea? I have a Bit of algae and want to get rid of it as soon as possible. The phosphate reactor is installed and has been running about a week now. I just didn't know if the "3 days of darkness" would work. If it does work, Will it hurt my corals in the tank? I look forward to hearing some advice. Thank you very much to all that answer. __________________ 75G Reef Tank, Stand, Filter & Light. All Deep Blue brand Underneath: 40G Sump(Berlin Style) & Reef Octopus Skimmer(HOB) Phosban Reactor 150

07/27/2011, 10:08 AM	#3
SharkLVR09 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 141	This is gonna sound bad, What is po4? Sorry I'm just having a brain Fart. I'm just guessing, but Its Phosphate right? And The other is Nitrate(no3). . . __________________ 75G Reef Tank, Stand, Filter & Light. All Deep Blue brand Underneath: 40G Sump(Berlin Style) & Reef Octopus Skimmer(HOB) Phosban Reactor 150 Last edited by SharkLVR09; 07/27/2011 at 10:27 AM.

07/27/2011, 10:37 AM	#4
invincible325i Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 53	I would maybe suggest running your light cycle at half the time you normally do for a week and perform a 25% water change in about 3 days of running the phosphate reactor media. After a week kick your light schedule up an hour every day until you are back on your normal light schedule. Either way will work its just how much time you want to put into it Also if you have the time and material to do so I would suggest kicking up your magnesium up to about 1600 until you notice the algae turning white and thinning out! In raising your magnesium you would not need to adjust your light cycle at all just keep it at normal time and let the tank itself with the magnesium up at around 1600 kill the algae off. Good luck with the fight ! __________________ My reef tank is sexier than your girl! Current Tank Info: 125 gallon modern reef tank sitting at 6 foot long with mixed sps, lps and softies

07/27/2011, 11:10 AM	#5
SharkLVR09 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 141	I thought about doing that too. I leave my lights on about 8hrs now, So what your saying is cut them down to 4hours? I might have to try this. This algae is annoying as all get out. It all mainly came from my other tank when I transferred the rock over. Ever since then it really hasn't grown much but I don't want it too... I needed the LR though to help seed the tank. Otherwise I just would have let it dry out... __________________ 75G Reef Tank, Stand, Filter & Light. All Deep Blue brand Underneath: 40G Sump(Berlin Style) & Reef Octopus Skimmer(HOB) Phosban Reactor 150

07/27/2011, 11:43 AM	#6
SharkLVR09 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 141	This Might Help For those of you who want a better idea of how much algae I have, Check out this Link. . . My 75G Reef Tank You can either watch the video or check out the pictures towards the end of the thread I just posted. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________ 75G Reef Tank, Stand, Filter & Light. All Deep Blue brand Underneath: 40G Sump(Berlin Style) & Reef Octopus Skimmer(HOB) Phosban Reactor 150

07/27/2011, 10:03 AM	#2
Allmost Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: canada, toronto Posts: 8,161	my corals have gone with 7 days no light, no Issues ... [not even SPS had Issues !] Idea is to take out light, so all algae dies off, releasing its contents, po4 and no3 mainly, so po4 remover can remove it. you will need to Physically remove the dead algae and do water changes during this period, to take out the no3, and also the dead algae, so it wont rot away in your tank again. I did this once, covered all sides, and the top ... everyday, did a 5% water change. Id monitor the po4 too, to be sure the po4 remover wont shut,

07/27/2011, 11:54 AM	#7
invincible325i Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 53	Yep run them for about 5 hours a day and slowly bring them back to your normal schedule as the algae dies out! If it were me though after looking at your pics I would suggest not cutting the lights down at all and just raise your magnesium up to about 1600 and that alone will kill the lil bit off that you have then do a 25% water change after it turns white! Slowly raise the magnesium up over a couple of days and the same for lowering it once the algae dies off and you wont have any adverse effects on your tank bro! __________________ My reef tank is sexier than your girl! Current Tank Info: 125 gallon modern reef tank sitting at 6 foot long with mixed sps, lps and softies

07/27/2011, 11:57 AM	#8
SharkLVR09 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 141	What should I use to raise the magnesium? I don't have anything that just add's Magnesium. Everything I have adds trace amounts... __________________ 75G Reef Tank, Stand, Filter & Light. All Deep Blue brand Underneath: 40G Sump(Berlin Style) & Reef Octopus Skimmer(HOB) Phosban Reactor 150

07/27/2011, 03:37 PM	#9
invincible325i Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 53	For adding Tech M, the bottle recommends only 1ml per gallon per day, which will boost your system by 18.3 ppm per day. In my case, I needed to raise it from 1100 to 1550pm, so it would have taken nearly a month to get it where I needed it (450ppm / 18.3 per day = 24.5 days). So I was adding 4-5 times that amount, to boost magnesium by about 80-100ppm per day. __________________ My reef tank is sexier than your girl! Current Tank Info: 125 gallon modern reef tank sitting at 6 foot long with mixed sps, lps and softies

07/27/2011, 03:45 PM	#10
SharkLVR09 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 141	What should magnesium Levels be at in a Reef Tank? What all is Magnesium good for? I have read it is good to help Buffer Alk, but what else is it for? What Brand test kit do you use to test the levels? Thanks again! __________________ 75G Reef Tank, Stand, Filter & Light. All Deep Blue brand Underneath: 40G Sump(Berlin Style) & Reef Octopus Skimmer(HOB) Phosban Reactor 150

07/27/2011, 04:48 PM	#11
invincible325i Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 53	Magnesium levels in a tank should be 3 times the amount of your calcium level. So for instance if you have a calcium level of 440 you would want to shoot for magnesium levels of around 1320 for a well balanced system. Magnesium is something that helps with photosynthisis as well and does help maintain calcium levels. You may see a jump in your calcium but this will just help coraline growth during this time lol! As far as your test kit goes something like reef keepers kit will do fine, around $35 bucks or so maybe a lil more just ensure it has the magnesium test included. __________________ My reef tank is sexier than your girl! Current Tank Info: 125 gallon modern reef tank sitting at 6 foot long with mixed sps, lps and softies

07/27/2011, 04:50 PM	#12
SharkLVR09 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 141	Cool! I will look into that! I appreciate the info. __________________ 75G Reef Tank, Stand, Filter & Light. All Deep Blue brand Underneath: 40G Sump(Berlin Style) & Reef Octopus Skimmer(HOB) Phosban Reactor 150

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