Am I Wrong???

kel2682 · 10/30/2008, 09:40 AM

Just wondering if this is correct I have been slowly getting my tank together for the last like 6 months letting the tank cycle getting rock so on and blah blah blah I was just using a reg flouresent light I was wondering now that I changed my light am I just waiting for a hair algea explosion????? I went with orbit PCs not the best I know but seem to do the job in my 30gal.......
Also I know the more light the more algea???? yes or no and the new lights are a 24 hour light system...I havent had much algea at all but now I can see some starting this is b/c of the new light
????????? SORRY SO LONG OF A QUESTION
I would like to stop

the attack before it happens

_E_ · 10/30/2008, 10:16 AM

Not really sure of your question. You used to have regular fluorescent and now you changed to a PC and want to know if your nuiscance algae will explode? A PC is a type of fluorescent light. In general, algae need light and nutrients to grow. While algae do grow best at a lower K or higher wattage light, so do many other things like corals. You would likely be better off working on reducing nuiscance algae from the nutrient side of the equation rather that the lighting side.

AngeloM3 · 10/30/2008, 10:48 AM

I don't think you'll get an "explosion" but will probably show signs of "more algae".

Why do you have the lights on 24hrs a day?

returnofsid · 10/30/2008, 10:50 AM

If you have hair algae in the tank, increasing lighting may cause it to grow better. However, I agree that you need to fight the algae with ways other than lighting.

Manual removal of as much as you can
Ro/DI water
high quality skimming
refugium with Macro algae for nutrient export
decreased feeding will introduce less nutrients into the tank
Use of phosphate eliminating tools, such as phosban in a reactor or even a filter sock.

The less you add nutrients and the more you export nutrients from the tank, the less fuel you'll have that feeds algae.

crab0000 · 10/30/2008, 10:50 AM

I think as long as you keep phosphates under control you shouldn't see anymore algae than you did before. If light was the limiting factor and you had plenty of nutrients in the tank then yes you will see a huge explosion in algae.

kel2682 · 10/30/2008, 11:33 AM

Well the real question i guess was sinc I changed the light would it create an alge bloom, And I dont run the light 24hrs It has a night light which I did not have before. good looks on the feedback anymore is much appreciated

WaterKeeper · 10/30/2008, 11:55 AM

Many of the hair algae are low light algae so increasing the amount of light really doesn't make any difference. As others stated, keep the nutrients low and avoid all types of algae problems.

I would also consider using a timer on those lights as 24 hour lighting is stressful to the critters in your tank.

crab0000 · 10/30/2008, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by WaterKeeper
I would also consider using a timer on those lights as 24 hour lighting is stressful to the critters in your tank.

I think he means it has LED's for moonlights; not that the light stays on 24 hrs.

_E_ · 10/30/2008, 11:59 AM

You should't have any problems with the new lighting if your nitrates and phosphates are kept in check. I you see an algae bloom, look into ways to decrease those nutirent levels (i.e. always use RO/DI water, don't overfeed, rinse any frozen food, start a refugium, keep up with water changes, use phosphate remover, etc)

WaterKeeper · 10/30/2008, 11:59 AM

Ah, never mind.

Reefolution · 10/30/2008, 12:20 PM

Your increased lighting is a good thing, it helps you grow what you want. Make sure you run an appropriate lighting cycle 10-12hrs a day. Everyone has mentioned cutting back on nutrients and focusing on water quality is the real answer to your problem. Remember if you use a filter sock you must change/clean it regularly so the particulate matter does not have a chance to break down by the water flow.

kel2682 · 10/30/2008, 12:33 PM

I did mean LED's sorry ,also I do use a filter sock which i do change I also do use ro/do water So I should be okay it didnt happen yet but I swear I can see the begin stages maybe not though...Thanks for the quick and knowledgable responses
I do greatly appreciate all the feedback

10/30/2008, 09:40 AM	#1
kel2682 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: CT Posts: 532	Am I Wrong??? Just wondering if this is correct I have been slowly getting my tank together for the last like 6 months letting the tank cycle getting rock so on and blah blah blah I was just using a reg flouresent light I was wondering now that I changed my light am I just waiting for a hair algea explosion????? I went with orbit PCs not the best I know but seem to do the job in my 30gal....... Also I know the more light the more algea???? yes or no and the new lights are a 24 hour light system...I havent had much algea at all but now I can see some starting this is b/c of the new light ????????? SORRY SO LONG OF A QUESTION I would like to stop the attack before it happens

10/30/2008, 10:16 AM	#2
_E_ Professional Lurker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Du Quoin, Illinois Posts: 1,169	Not really sure of your question. You used to have regular fluorescent and now you changed to a PC and want to know if your nuiscance algae will explode? A PC is a type of fluorescent light. In general, algae need light and nutrients to grow. While algae do grow best at a lower K or higher wattage light, so do many other things like corals. You would likely be better off working on reducing nuiscance algae from the nutrient side of the equation rather that the lighting side. __________________ Eric "If you think things can't get worse it's probably only because you lack sufficient imagination." Current Tank Info: 140 DSA with basement sump room

10/30/2008, 10:48 AM	#3
AngeloM3 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 1,016	I don't think you'll get an "explosion" but will probably show signs of "more algae". Why do you have the lights on 24hrs a day? __________________ "I'm sick of chasing my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where their going and catch up with them later." -Mitch Hedberg R.I.P

10/30/2008, 11:55 AM	#7
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Many of the hair algae are low light algae so increasing the amount of light really doesn't make any difference. As others stated, keep the nutrients low and avoid all types of algae problems. I would also consider using a timer on those lights as 24 hour lighting is stressful to the critters in your tank. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

10/30/2008, 11:59 AM	#9
_E_ Professional Lurker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Du Quoin, Illinois Posts: 1,169	You should't have any problems with the new lighting if your nitrates and phosphates are kept in check. I you see an algae bloom, look into ways to decrease those nutirent levels (i.e. always use RO/DI water, don't overfeed, rinse any frozen food, start a refugium, keep up with water changes, use phosphate remover, etc) __________________ Eric "If you think things can't get worse it's probably only because you lack sufficient imagination." Current Tank Info: 140 DSA with basement sump room

10/30/2008, 10:50 AM	#4
returnofsid Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,852	If you have hair algae in the tank, increasing lighting may cause it to grow better. However, I agree that you need to fight the algae with ways other than lighting. Manual removal of as much as you can Ro/DI water high quality skimming refugium with Macro algae for nutrient export decreased feeding will introduce less nutrients into the tank Use of phosphate eliminating tools, such as phosban in a reactor or even a filter sock. The less you add nutrients and the more you export nutrients from the tank, the less fuel you'll have that feeds algae.

10/30/2008, 10:50 AM	#5
crab0000 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Jasper,GA Posts: 2,801	I think as long as you keep phosphates under control you shouldn't see anymore algae than you did before. If light was the limiting factor and you had plenty of nutrients in the tank then yes you will see a huge explosion in algae.

10/30/2008, 11:33 AM	#6
kel2682 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: CT Posts: 532	Well the real question i guess was sinc I changed the light would it create an alge bloom, And I dont run the light 24hrs It has a night light which I did not have before. good looks on the feedback anymore is much appreciated

10/30/2008, 11:59 AM	#10
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Ah, never mind. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

10/30/2008, 12:20 PM	#11
Reefolution Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 299	Your increased lighting is a good thing, it helps you grow what you want. Make sure you run an appropriate lighting cycle 10-12hrs a day. Everyone has mentioned cutting back on nutrients and focusing on water quality is the real answer to your problem. Remember if you use a filter sock you must change/clean it regularly so the particulate matter does not have a chance to break down by the water flow.

10/30/2008, 12:33 PM	#12
kel2682 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: CT Posts: 532	I did mean LED's sorry ,also I do use a filter sock which i do change I also do use ro/do water So I should be okay it didnt happen yet but I swear I can see the begin stages maybe not though...Thanks for the quick and knowledgable responses I do greatly appreciate all the feedback