Lighting question

beans · 07/25/2012, 06:51 PM

Can too much light (alone) create algae? I'm having a problem with red diatom algae (I believe its diatom - it's red / purple and creates a blanket with some strings flowing in the current). It's only forming on my sand, which is a royal pain since removing it is very messy, you can never get it all, and gets sand all over the place. My water quality is very good and the tank has been established since 5/21 (post initial cycle). Numbers from my last test:

SG 1.026
PH 8.2
Alk 2.5
NH3 0
NO2 0
NO3 0.1
Phos 0
CA 425
MG 1250

I use RODI water for 0 TDS and the tank is a mixed reef (4 small fish, 2 shrimp, 6 mithrax, 6 turbo snails, various hermit and corals). The tank is doing very well otherwise.

I get some "fuzzy" green/brown algae on some rocks that the snails power through so quickly you really don't notice. I have a sump with chaeto, protein skimmer working very well, GFO reactor and carbon reactor (both changed media last week even though numbers didn't indicate need).

My lighting is EcoTech Radion (2 units) and the tank is a 120g. Without going into the detail settings the lighting plan permits, I had them running from about 7 am to 7 pm ramping from zero to 70 percent intensity and then back to zero, with a short 1 hour period of royal blue only for moonlight simulation (mainly because it's cool to see the corals fluoresce).

The lighting is very bright at 70 percent intensity, so I just backed it down to max 50% tonight and shortened the lighting duration to start at 8:30 am.

Can lighting that is too bright (not sure mine is / was...) alone cause algae to grow?

Thanks,

Allan

hackney · 07/25/2012, 06:54 PM

Sounds like you are describing cyano

https://www.google.com/search?q=cyan...CcWd6AG1kIHYAw

beans · 07/25/2012, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hackney

Sounds like you are describing cyano

https://www.google.com/search?q=cyan...CcWd6AG1kIHYAw

Sorry - yes... definitely cyano... didn't remember which was which...

Misled · 07/25/2012, 07:12 PM

Read this.

beans · 07/25/2012, 07:30 PM

thanks... I'll give the lights out a try. I've reduced the lighting intensity as well. Given the water quality is good, I figure it has to be the lighting...

07/25/2012, 06:51 PM	#1
beans Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 106	Lighting question Can too much light (alone) create algae? I'm having a problem with red diatom algae (I believe its diatom - it's red / purple and creates a blanket with some strings flowing in the current). It's only forming on my sand, which is a royal pain since removing it is very messy, you can never get it all, and gets sand all over the place. My water quality is very good and the tank has been established since 5/21 (post initial cycle). Numbers from my last test: SG 1.026 PH 8.2 Alk 2.5 NH3 0 NO2 0 NO3 0.1 Phos 0 CA 425 MG 1250 I use RODI water for 0 TDS and the tank is a mixed reef (4 small fish, 2 shrimp, 6 mithrax, 6 turbo snails, various hermit and corals). The tank is doing very well otherwise. I get some "fuzzy" green/brown algae on some rocks that the snails power through so quickly you really don't notice. I have a sump with chaeto, protein skimmer working very well, GFO reactor and carbon reactor (both changed media last week even though numbers didn't indicate need). My lighting is EcoTech Radion (2 units) and the tank is a 120g. Without going into the detail settings the lighting plan permits, I had them running from about 7 am to 7 pm ramping from zero to 70 percent intensity and then back to zero, with a short 1 hour period of royal blue only for moonlight simulation (mainly because it's cool to see the corals fluoresce). The lighting is very bright at 70 percent intensity, so I just backed it down to max 50% tonight and shortened the lighting duration to start at 8:30 am. Can lighting that is too bright (not sure mine is / was...) alone cause algae to grow? Thanks, Allan __________________ Allan Current Tank Info: Currently being built! 120g tank, PM refugium w/GFO and Carbon Reactors, CS-1 skimmer, 2x Koralia 1400's, 2x Radion LED's

07/25/2012, 07:12 PM	#4
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	Read this. __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

07/25/2012, 07:30 PM	#5
beans Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 106	thanks... I'll give the lights out a try. I've reduced the lighting intensity as well. Given the water quality is good, I figure it has to be the lighting... __________________ Allan Current Tank Info: Currently being built! 120g tank, PM refugium w/GFO and Carbon Reactors, CS-1 skimmer, 2x Koralia 1400's, 2x Radion LED's

07/25/2012, 06:54 PM	#2
hackney Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 65	Sounds like you are describing cyano https://www.google.com/search?q=cyan...CcWd6AG1kIHYAw