Algea growth/lighting question

haywood2 · 07/30/2007, 01:50 PM

46 bowfront has a 30" coralife 50/50 bulb. Tank has had brown algae growing since about 2 weeks into the cycle. There is now a tiny bit of green and purple algae growing on the front of the tank down where the sand is. The tank has been running for about 8 months, and there is still brown algea on the tank. What should I do? I just bought some live rock, and a lot of the green algea has been mowed down, I'm guessing the damsels ate it. Anyways, is there a better single bulb I could put in there so the live rock doesn't die?

sir_dudeguy · 07/30/2007, 02:22 PM

Damsels dont eat algae. Either your snails/other inverts did, or its starting to die back.

While that bulb is a bit old (pc's arent very good after 6 months IMO) it is not the cause of algae. The cause of algae would be excess nutrients, such as nitrates and phosphates. You need to test for those and make sure they're as close to 0 as possible.

Also, what do you have for cleanup crew? You need to have a good assortment of snails and stuff to get all that extra algae.

Randall_James · 07/30/2007, 02:25 PM

Well, IMO the lights probably have little to do with the algae in general. (granted it would not grow without it)

A few things: Algae requires 2 things, nutrient and light. With adequate water changes, most algae can be taken care of provided the bio load is not off the chart.. Changing lights usually only changes the type of algae you have. A refuge can work wonders to grow algae that out competes the stuff in the tank.

Water parameters are needed..
Bio-load (number and type of fishes) anything else that needs food?
Water change practices (how much/often)
How much do you feed the tank and how?

Most issues seem to boil down to excess nutrient import (to much feeding) and Bio load (just too many fish). BUT water changes can sure cover a lot of sins

haywood2 · 07/30/2007, 02:25 PM

My nitrates are a little hight. I haven't had to do a water change until now. I think I am going to do a small water change, take off the bio wheels, and buy a small clean up crew. Will the turbo snails eat the brownish slime?

haywood2 · 07/30/2007, 02:27 PM

Here is a pic of what is growing in the front.

Here is a pic of the live rock I bought. What kind of bulb should I change to? Aqua Glow? Power Glow? 10,000k?

Randall_James · 07/30/2007, 02:49 PM

that is typical diatom algae, the pink could be a touch of cyano (bacteria).. both are typically passing phases and will go away with little effort.

Biowheels can create elevated nitrate levels (read ALGAE FOOD)...
I would eliminate them as well and do the water changes.. Give it a good month or so before digging too much further.

I use a black sea cucumber to keep my top sand turned and cleaned...

haywood2 · 07/30/2007, 03:55 PM

How much would a black sea cucumber run? Also, should I hold off on more live rock until I do a water change and nitrates drop?

rbtwo4 · 07/30/2007, 04:49 PM

If u add new rock u will see a spike again. If I'm not mistaking. Don't know what u have for a CUC but get some Nassarius snails they go under ur sand and just might help out. Ceriths and Nerites too can help. Don't just rely on turbos. This is why they are called a "crew" each help out in different ways. I say get 5 of each and u should be good. Scarlet hermit crabs too haven't had a problem with them and my snails.

Randall_James · 07/30/2007, 05:16 PM

Cucumbers run between $7 and $15 There are stories of them "poisoning" tanks when they die but I have not seen this first hand and I do know that they are pretty common in home tanks.

The rock is depends...

Uncured rock should not be put in the tank. It should be cured separately at this point.

If the rock has been cured (say at the store for 3 or 4 weeks) then you should be able to just dump it in the tank. All depends on the new rocks condition.

I am not a fan of hermit crabs, they seem to do a good job of cleanup but they seem to always reduce the number of snails in a tank over time (they like the shells I guess) My snail count is about 1 per ten gallons and I do not have algae issues.

haywood2 · 07/30/2007, 08:02 PM

Hmmm... so can any of you recommend me a single light? The tank will be switching over to a 75 gallon soon and will have 4 18" bulbs. Which lights should I use for them?

Randall_James · 07/30/2007, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by haywood2
Hmmm... so can any of you recommend me a single light? The tank will be switching over to a 75 gallon soon and will have 4 18" bulbs. Which lights should I use for them?

Not sure I understand this question..

For a 75G a 48" fixture fits just right. MH would be something like a 2X175W setup or a maybe a T5 (6X54W)..

haywood2 · 07/31/2007, 07:37 AM

Could I get away with dual 24" coralife 50/50 VHO bulbs, 75 watts each so 150w total? I don't want to have to spend a lot of money on lighting.

Randall_James · 07/31/2007, 10:44 AM

Sure you could...

With that said, lighting requirements for what is in your tank will determine what you can / can not use.

The main thing is to determine what you want to keep before picking out your lights. Otherwise, you will just end up spending for lights again.

150W of PC lighting on a 75G tank is not a lot of light

haywood2 · 07/31/2007, 02:47 PM

I will never have corals, just FOWLR. Plans for the tank include a snowflake moray eel, and whatever else I decide to put with him. I won't have a ton of live rock, but I want to keep it looking its best. Would 150W be enough to keep the existing algae on the rocks growing, and maybe make the rock look nicer?? Thanks for the help.

Randall_James · 07/31/2007, 03:03 PM

I would think you would be fine as long as you like the lighting effect.

07/30/2007, 01:50 PM	#1
haywood2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: southern nj Posts: 231	Algea growth/lighting question 46 bowfront has a 30" coralife 50/50 bulb. Tank has had brown algae growing since about 2 weeks into the cycle. There is now a tiny bit of green and purple algae growing on the front of the tank down where the sand is. The tank has been running for about 8 months, and there is still brown algea on the tank. What should I do? I just bought some live rock, and a lot of the green algea has been mowed down, I'm guessing the damsels ate it. Anyways, is there a better single bulb I could put in there so the live rock doesn't die?

07/30/2007, 02:22 PM	#2
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	Damsels dont eat algae. Either your snails/other inverts did, or its starting to die back. While that bulb is a bit old (pc's arent very good after 6 months IMO) it is not the cause of algae. The cause of algae would be excess nutrients, such as nitrates and phosphates. You need to test for those and make sure they're as close to 0 as possible. Also, what do you have for cleanup crew? You need to have a good assortment of snails and stuff to get all that extra algae. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

07/30/2007, 02:25 PM	#3
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	Well, IMO the lights probably have little to do with the algae in general. (granted it would not grow without it) A few things: Algae requires 2 things, nutrient and light. With adequate water changes, most algae can be taken care of provided the bio load is not off the chart.. Changing lights usually only changes the type of algae you have. A refuge can work wonders to grow algae that out competes the stuff in the tank. Water parameters are needed.. Bio-load (number and type of fishes) anything else that needs food? Water change practices (how much/often) How much do you feed the tank and how? Most issues seem to boil down to excess nutrient import (to much feeding) and Bio load (just too many fish). BUT water changes can sure cover a lot of sins __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

07/30/2007, 02:49 PM	#6
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	that is typical diatom algae, the pink could be a touch of cyano (bacteria).. both are typically passing phases and will go away with little effort. Biowheels can create elevated nitrate levels (read ALGAE FOOD)... I would eliminate them as well and do the water changes.. Give it a good month or so before digging too much further. I use a black sea cucumber to keep my top sand turned and cleaned... __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

07/30/2007, 04:49 PM	#8
rbtwo4 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NY Posts: 747	If u add new rock u will see a spike again. If I'm not mistaking. Don't know what u have for a CUC but get some Nassarius snails they go under ur sand and just might help out. Ceriths and Nerites too can help. Don't just rely on turbos. This is why they are called a "crew" each help out in different ways. I say get 5 of each and u should be good. Scarlet hermit crabs too haven't had a problem with them and my snails. __________________ I am completely ADDICTED!!!! Current Tank Info: 30G Rimless Deep Blue, AI Sol, 120 SWC Skimmer, Apex controller, MP10

07/30/2007, 02:27 PM	#5
haywood2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: southern nj Posts: 231	Here is a pic of what is growing in the front. Here is a pic of the live rock I bought. What kind of bulb should I change to? Aqua Glow? Power Glow? 10,000k?

07/30/2007, 03:55 PM	#7
haywood2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: southern nj Posts: 231	How much would a black sea cucumber run? Also, should I hold off on more live rock until I do a water change and nitrates drop?

07/30/2007, 05:16 PM	#9
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	Cucumbers run between $7 and $15 There are stories of them "poisoning" tanks when they die but I have not seen this first hand and I do know that they are pretty common in home tanks. The rock is depends... Uncured rock should not be put in the tank. It should be cured separately at this point. If the rock has been cured (say at the store for 3 or 4 weeks) then you should be able to just dump it in the tank. All depends on the new rocks condition. I am not a fan of hermit crabs, they seem to do a good job of cleanup but they seem to always reduce the number of snails in a tank over time (they like the shells I guess) My snail count is about 1 per ten gallons and I do not have algae issues. __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

07/30/2007, 08:02 PM	#10
haywood2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: southern nj Posts: 231	Hmmm... so can any of you recommend me a single light? The tank will be switching over to a 75 gallon soon and will have 4 18" bulbs. Which lights should I use for them?

07/31/2007, 07:37 AM	#12
haywood2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: southern nj Posts: 231	Could I get away with dual 24" coralife 50/50 VHO bulbs, 75 watts each so 150w total? I don't want to have to spend a lot of money on lighting.

07/31/2007, 10:44 AM	#13
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	Sure you could... With that said, lighting requirements for what is in your tank will determine what you can / can not use. The main thing is to determine what you want to keep before picking out your lights. Otherwise, you will just end up spending for lights again. 150W of PC lighting on a 75G tank is not a lot of light __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

07/31/2007, 02:47 PM	#14
haywood2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: southern nj Posts: 231	I will never have corals, just FOWLR. Plans for the tank include a snowflake moray eel, and whatever else I decide to put with him. I won't have a ton of live rock, but I want to keep it looking its best. Would 150W be enough to keep the existing algae on the rocks growing, and maybe make the rock look nicer?? Thanks for the help.

07/31/2007, 03:03 PM	#15
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	I would think you would be fine as long as you like the lighting effect. __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"