??? Old Light bulbs???

[Larah]

Would old light bulbs cause algea blooms and cyano to proliferate?
I've done absolutely everything and it's just getting worse.
The bulbs are about 12 months old... oha nd since I know everyone will ask, LOL,
tanks been set up for over a year, all of the readings are good...
cal 400
nitrates 0
nitrites 0
Ph 8.3
alk 10 DKH
Lots of flow, giant skimmer, phosban reactor and a refugium.
Feed: pelleted food, live brine and various frozen foods...
100 gallon reef tank

[Toddrtrex]

IMO, the bulbs themselves don't cause the issues, they just shed light on an existing issue -- excess nutrients. If there weren't any excess nutrients to fuel the algae growth, the old bulbs wouldn't make it just appear. Now, the old bulbs can shift wavelengths, which might give the algae the extra boast they need, but there needs to be nutrients to feed the algae too.

[Larah]

Well hell I don't know how else to get rid of the nurtients.. I do water changed every other week of 20%-25% and I run a canister with all sorts of media, purigen, chemi pure elite, and a bead phosphate remover as well as running a phosban reactor. It's killing me.
Seriously I'm thinking of giving up.......

[Drjusc00]

Load up on crabs and snails. That should take care of it.

[Larah]

you'd think so but they don't seem to last long in my tank adn they won't eat the actual "Crap"... Oh and I;ve used Chemi clean twice inthe alst month and it;s not helping.......

[SleepyMike]

What kind of stuff do you have in the fuge?

[Larah]

macroalgea, live rock rubble and a deep sand bed. there were some snails and bristel worms in ther ebut I don't know if they're there or not because there's a ton of macroalgea so Ican;t see them...

[SleepyMike]

I have been having a little bit of the same problem with algea. Its not too bad but still disapointing. I added a gfo/carbon reactor and it helped but not all the way. I have a refugium withlive plants in it. I forgot how to spell it I think it is clerpa but I know that is wrong. I was told that if you have alot of plant growth that it gets to a point that it cant grow anymore and it starts to slowely die. This slow decay around the edges can causes algea growth. Something about if it cant grow any bigger it starts to brake down and release bad stuff back into the water. I was told that if you remove a little plant around the edges so it constantly has room to grow may help.

I am not a pro so I am sure some one will say if this is a good idea or not.

[Larah]

most people on here will tell you that calurpa is bad, but I too have feather calurpa in my fuge. I can't seem to get the cheato to grow, and the feather calurpa does the same job.
I'll try trimming some out and see if that helps. Thanks!

[jimsplace]

If your bulbs are a year old it is time to change them. As bulbs age, the spectrum changes and in my opinion do contribute to algae growth. I can tell in my tank when the bulbs are at the end of their life. I run all VHO and replace my bulbs every 8-10 months depending on the bulb.

[tspors]

Larah, This happened to me last year about this time (Cyano). Nutrients do cause issues, however, when all else is in balance the Cyano can stay very low key to nonexistant. Last year I replaced my lights 4-96w duals and 3 150w MH and also replenished my CUC. Well here I go again. Same thing is happening and Lights need to be replaced and I need to buy CUC. SO I am driving to FOsters and SMith tomorrow to pick it all up again. Keep in mind Nutrients cause the issue the rest aids it. This cleared me up last time most likely will this time. I can report back to you in a week but if I were you time to make the yearly investment.

[capnfritz]

Before anything else, I hope you are using a RODI
That yearly switch may also be the result of your
local water company changing formulas, as they do here.
Also think that 100% removal of algae to be unrealistic
and even detrimental. JMO

[Uncle Salty 05]

I agree with jimsplace, old bulbs can cause algae problems.
In the past I have seen algae problems resolve after replacing old bulbs.
While it is true nutrients are the root cause the spectrum of your lighting is a big factor.

[Larah]

Yes I use RODI and I just got the new bulbs in! YAY! I just orderd them a week ago and ($150) they just showed up, so we'll see if that helps. Plus a nice water change. and I do plan to go get some more CUC... Snails don't seem to last long, but I do have several Nassirius and 2 Giant turbos that have lasted over a year!

[tspors]

It should help out Larah, I am 100 miles from Fosters and Smith. My new lights will be in Saturday afternoon. This exact same thing happened to me last year so I am making some assumptions it will clear up after I change it. Good Luck,

[lordofthereef]

Originally Posted by Toddrtrex

IMO, the bulbs themselves don't cause the issues, they just shed light on an existing issue -- excess nutrients.

+1

Too often people blame bad lighting for their algae problems. Light is not all it takes to grow algae!

[Larah]

Originally Posted by lordofthereef

+1

Too often people blame bad lighting for their algae problems. Light is not all it takes to grow algae!

Yes I know but I'm trying to figure out what combination of things is causing my issue, and I htink that the bulbs are certainly not helping. I just increased my CUC and I'm doing a water change as well as installing the new bulbs, hopefully this will take care of th eissue. I realize that some algea is to be expected but it was taking over my sand bed entirely and growing along the walls as well as covering my corals so I have to do something! Chemi clean and water changes alone are just not cutting it!

[mihamlet]

I would change the bulbs, but probably is not the only issue as others indicated.