Hair algea explosion, new lighting or new corals?

Sealilly · 06/04/2014, 07:12 PM

Hell Reefers, long tome reader, first time poster. Well established 30g, almost 10 years, finally upgraded to MH lighting. Week later, pickup 2 corals, an elephant ear and green dragon eye. Both corals came on good sized rocks. Suddenly experiencing green hair growing by the hour. Would you think this is more likely caused by new lighting or perhaps it was brought in new coral/rock? MH lighting on 10 hours, perhaps too much?

Sea Hare and Lawnmower arrive tomorrow.

Thanks all.

oscarinw · 06/04/2014, 09:21 PM

What is your water change, feeding and lighting regime? Have you tested for Phosphates and Nitrates before and after the changes? Finally, what's your bio-load and do you skim?
Without those pieces, any answer would be a shot in the dark...

Azedenkae · 06/04/2014, 11:07 PM

As above, but if I was to hazard a guess, perhaps its both. If you start experiencing a remarkable outbreak of hair algae, it would be because of the addition of the corals. Now, 10 hours is quite a while, and if there was plenty of half-dead stuff on the rocks, that could bump up nitrates and phosphates very quickly, stimulating the growth.

Also, have you changed anything else recently, with the addition of corals, or around then? Feeding more? Etc?

thegrun · 06/05/2014, 08:11 AM

+1 to the above. I suspect the new rock is leaching phosphates into the water, combined with too long of a photoperiod. You are better off limiting the MH to 6-8 hours maximum, actinic lights if you have them can run 11-12 hours. Also, is the bulb new or old? MH bulbs will shift towards the yellow spectrum over time which promotes algae growth. If the bulb is over 10 months old I would replace it. You might also consider replacing the bulb if it is 10K or warmer in color with something in the 14-20K range.

06/04/2014, 07:12 PM	#1
Sealilly Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 3	Hair algea explosion, new lighting or new corals? Hell Reefers, long tome reader, first time poster. Well established 30g, almost 10 years, finally upgraded to MH lighting. Week later, pickup 2 corals, an elephant ear and green dragon eye. Both corals came on good sized rocks. Suddenly experiencing green hair growing by the hour. Would you think this is more likely caused by new lighting or perhaps it was brought in new coral/rock? MH lighting on 10 hours, perhaps too much? Sea Hare and Lawnmower arrive tomorrow. Thanks all.

06/04/2014, 09:21 PM	#2
oscarinw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 1,091	What is your water change, feeding and lighting regime? Have you tested for Phosphates and Nitrates before and after the changes? Finally, what's your bio-load and do you skim? Without those pieces, any answer would be a shot in the dark...

06/04/2014, 11:07 PM	#3
Azedenkae Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,196	As above, but if I was to hazard a guess, perhaps its both. If you start experiencing a remarkable outbreak of hair algae, it would be because of the addition of the corals. Now, 10 hours is quite a while, and if there was plenty of half-dead stuff on the rocks, that could bump up nitrates and phosphates very quickly, stimulating the growth. Also, have you changed anything else recently, with the addition of corals, or around then? Feeding more? Etc?

06/05/2014, 08:11 AM	#4
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	+1 to the above. I suspect the new rock is leaching phosphates into the water, combined with too long of a photoperiod. You are better off limiting the MH to 6-8 hours maximum, actinic lights if you have them can run 11-12 hours. Also, is the bulb new or old? MH bulbs will shift towards the yellow spectrum over time which promotes algae growth. If the bulb is over 10 months old I would replace it. You might also consider replacing the bulb if it is 10K or warmer in color with something in the 14-20K range.