new ligth...new algae problem???

doca · 03/14/2007, 09:10 AM

thats my question....

hi, im new in this forum, and almost new in the hobby too (1 year)...

i just put a 36" 2 x 96W satellite fixture (current USA) in my 30 gl tank, and suddenly it became to grow a lot of algae...green, maroon and a new (for me) red diatom...my system is a low tech (because of money) basically BERLIN, with almost 50 pounds of live rock and some 600 gl/hr in circulation...

the sustrate was white 2mm aragonite...was, now is red-pink-maroon (some kind of that)...there is not sump, but there is a canister fluval with bioballs (i suspect thats the origin of nitrates) and my parameters are:

NH4 0
NO3 0
NO2 10
PO4 1.5 mg/l
pH 8.1

im sure that the origin of the algae are nutrients, but any other condition in my tank havent change...only the ligth (was a T5 28 w bulb with 2 50/50 white/actinic 14 w bulbs), and never had these algae problem before...

the population are:
1 gramma loreto
1 yellow coris
1 firegobie
1 boxer shrimp
3 ermit crabs
1 spider crab
1 codylactis (about 10 cms in diameter)...

i dont know what todo for put the nitrates and fosfates down, iÂ´ll begin with a water change and put off the bioballs of the canister and put in there only purigen, phosguard, rowaphos or somethin like that...maybe set the ligthnin period to 10 hrs (now its 12), and buy some vegetarian blenny...

maybe you coud tell me some how to combat this algae thing...
or if some of you had the same problem with an update of ligth...

alan214 · 03/14/2007, 09:16 AM

First, cut down the photoperiod while the tank gets acclimated to the new lights. Then, increase your water changes to be weekly and try to "vacuum" up as much of the algae as you can in the process.

What kind of water are you using for your changes (tap, distilled, RO/DI)?

musicgirl1217 · 03/14/2007, 09:44 AM

Had the same problem when I switched from pc lighting to T5's. I greatly reduced the lighting period to 4-5 hours a day, continued the weekly water changes, and the algae outbreak is cleared up nicely - takes a couple of weeks though.

Toddrtrex · 03/14/2007, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by doca
and my parameters are:

PO4 1.5 mg/l

IMO, that is the reason for you outbreak. All the new lights did was
shed light on an existing problem (bad pun intended). Try to get your PO4 down.

doca · 03/14/2007, 10:35 AM

thank a lot for answering...

alan, im using 5 gl bottled water, a local brand of pepsi co. that says to be purified by osmosis...

musicgirl, does not the 4-5 hrs a very short period, thinking about my condy???

toddrtrex...im sure youre rigth...any suggest for it???

Toddrtrex · 03/14/2007, 10:39 AM

I personally run PhosBan in the reactor.

This is the reactor I am using, and here is the media I use.

HTH

turbo2oh · 03/14/2007, 10:48 AM

what are you feeding? if its frozen try rinsing it first

davidryder · 03/14/2007, 10:56 AM

yeah changing bulbs should be done slowly, or you will have problems like the algae blooms. it can also cause some slight bleaching in corals.

doca · 03/15/2007, 10:04 AM

thak to all...

i didnt know about doing the change of ligths gradually...
the problem is there and is ugly, i start for removing all agae i can from the glasses and from the live rock and sustrate...
reducing the ligth period...
putting off the bioballs of the canister...
less feeding to my fishes...
maybe move an urchin from my other tank to this...

i dont know if i can do anything else for it...

03/14/2007, 09:10 AM	#1
doca Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Xalapa, Ver., Mexico Posts: 156	new ligth...new algae problem??? thats my question.... hi, im new in this forum, and almost new in the hobby too (1 year)... i just put a 36" 2 x 96W satellite fixture (current USA) in my 30 gl tank, and suddenly it became to grow a lot of algae...green, maroon and a new (for me) red diatom...my system is a low tech (because of money) basically BERLIN, with almost 50 pounds of live rock and some 600 gl/hr in circulation... the sustrate was white 2mm aragonite...was, now is red-pink-maroon (some kind of that)...there is not sump, but there is a canister fluval with bioballs (i suspect thats the origin of nitrates) and my parameters are: NH4 0 NO3 0 NO2 10 PO4 1.5 mg/l pH 8.1 im sure that the origin of the algae are nutrients, but any other condition in my tank havent change...only the ligth (was a T5 28 w bulb with 2 50/50 white/actinic 14 w bulbs), and never had these algae problem before... the population are: 1 gramma loreto 1 yellow coris 1 firegobie 1 boxer shrimp 3 ermit crabs 1 spider crab 1 codylactis (about 10 cms in diameter)... i dont know what todo for put the nitrates and fosfates down, iÂ´ll begin with a water change and put off the bioballs of the canister and put in there only purigen, phosguard, rowaphos or somethin like that...maybe set the ligthnin period to 10 hrs (now its 12), and buy some vegetarian blenny... maybe you coud tell me some how to combat this algae thing... or if some of you had the same problem with an update of ligth...

03/14/2007, 09:16 AM	#2
alan214 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: The Colony, TX Posts: 1,258	First, cut down the photoperiod while the tank gets acclimated to the new lights. Then, increase your water changes to be weekly and try to "vacuum" up as much of the algae as you can in the process. What kind of water are you using for your changes (tap, distilled, RO/DI)? __________________ I live really close to the airport. The other day I was walking across the living room and the stewardess told me to take my seat. Current Tank Info: 73G FOWLR

03/14/2007, 10:48 AM	#7
turbo2oh Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: MD Posts: 458	what are you feeding? if its frozen try rinsing it first __________________ Well, animals are not like people, Mrs. Simpson. Some of them act badly because they've had a hard life, or have been mistreated...but, like people, some of them are just jerks.

03/14/2007, 10:56 AM	#8
davidryder Claris or Elliot? Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Nightopia Posts: 2,750	yeah changing bulbs should be done slowly, or you will have problems like the algae blooms. it can also cause some slight bleaching in corals. __________________ A rolling stone gathers no moss... Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef, corner overflow (Mag 9.5), 25g refugium (Mag 5), 15g refugium, Orbit 260w pc, Pan World 50PX-X (Closed loop), AquaC EV-120 (now skimmerless)

03/14/2007, 09:44 AM	#3
musicgirl1217 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hortonville Posts: 91	Had the same problem when I switched from pc lighting to T5's. I greatly reduced the lighting period to 4-5 hours a day, continued the weekly water changes, and the algae outbreak is cleared up nicely - takes a couple of weeks though.

03/14/2007, 10:35 AM	#5
doca Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Xalapa, Ver., Mexico Posts: 156	thank a lot for answering... alan, im using 5 gl bottled water, a local brand of pepsi co. that says to be purified by osmosis... musicgirl, does not the 4-5 hrs a very short period, thinking about my condy??? toddrtrex...im sure youre rigth...any suggest for it???

03/14/2007, 10:39 AM	#6
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	I personally run PhosBan in the reactor. This is the reactor I am using, and here is the media I use. HTH

03/15/2007, 10:04 AM	#9
doca Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Xalapa, Ver., Mexico Posts: 156	thak to all... i didnt know about doing the change of ligths gradually... the problem is there and is ugly, i start for removing all agae i can from the glasses and from the live rock and sustrate... reducing the ligth period... putting off the bioballs of the canister... less feeding to my fishes... maybe move an urchin from my other tank to this... i dont know if i can do anything else for it...