lighting and algae?
I've been battling algae for a while now, red and green hair algae mostly also some other type of red algae, not sure exactly what it is.
Anyway, with focusing on getting my phosphates down, it's gotten a lot better, however, it still grows rapidly towards the back of my tank. Especially on the back wall, the PHs, pump, heater and all plactic parts and on the backs of my LR and the very top piece, but just the top side closest to the lighting. Which makes me wonder, then, if the lighting might be a big culprit. The bulbs are only a few months old, and I didn't notice a big change(in algae) when I did replace them. I've got a NO strip light that just sits on the glass canopy (came standard with the aquarium), it has two 18,000K (40W) bulbs and it sits on the back half of the aquarium where most of the really ugly algae growth is. I have it set on the back so that I can keep the front flaps of the canopy open -I also have a low pH struggle. Could the NO be my problem? Should I be upgrading my lighting? They are on for about 9 hours. |
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Are you cycling your tank right now?
You can update "my info" button with your tank specs/equip and critters so we can see what you have. I agree w/the PHs moving more water...it's kind of like moss doesn't grow on a rolling stone.....I am having the same problem. It is out of control on one end of my tank, My cleaning crew is working overtime. If I would have thought ahead, I would have siphoned that stuff up BEFORE adding my cleaning crew of SUPER tiny snails. I was afraid I would suck them up....Sigh...hindsight is always 20/20.... |
My tank has been up for about a year now, and I have a yellow tang, two clowns and a six-line wrasse in a 72 gal bowfront. I've got a skimmer, two 600 maxijet PHs and a cannister filter that I just use for media when needed such as phosphate sponge.
My PO4 levels are 0-.1 mg/l, and most of the algae is growing where the most movement is, infact, I have lot of growth on the PHs and the pump itself. Unfortunately, because my lighting is a striplight that sits on a glass canopy, I also have a hard time with the temp in my tank. In the summer, even with AC, my tank is at 82 degrees. So, to avoid temp swings, I keep it at that all year. The fish and urchins seem to be fine, but I can't seem to keep snails alive. They are fine for a few weeks or months, but they eventually die off. Even though there seems to be plenty of food for them. I also have calcium levels on the low side. I'm sure all of my problems contribute in some way. It's so frustrating! |
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What kind of snails are they? How long do you acclimate them? I had the same problem with my pH, once I replace the lighting from a canopy to an over the tank lighting system, it is now around 8.2-8.4 Quote:
What critters do you have? You can update your "my info" with tank size/critters/equipment, so others can look and see what you have. |
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I do have some bad hitch hiker crabs, although I finally managed to get rid of the largest one I know of, however I keep discovering little ones hiding out in the rock. Quote:
I do think that it's getting better, but it's difficult to get it all out when cleaning. It's like taking two steps forward, one step back everytime little pieces break off during cleaning and re-grow plant themselves elsewhere. |
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I took most of my LR out and scrubbed it in SW. I think I will try the turkey baster tonight. |
Yeah, I'm always looking for good ways to remove the algae completely without taking out too much water in the process. I'll try the turkey baster as well, but I'm going to also try straining the water so it can be added back into the tank.
I don't really want to pull out my LR until I know it's not just going to come right back. |
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Removing as much algae as possible manually is a good idea, but obviously will not stop it from retuning. As far as snails go, what are your nitrates, Ca, ALk, and PH? |
When buying PHs I guess I did figure it on the low side. This is my first set up and I was thinking that since it was only a FOWLR tank, that I wouldn't need as much flow as if I were going to have corals and such. I didn't really understand how easy it is to have problems with algae and pH and such due to water circulation. The cannister filter has definately helped the pH, but I never thought to recalculate the flow coming from my PHs. Sounds like a near future upgrade to me!
nitrates 0 Ca 350-400 ALk 3 pH 8.0-8.1 phosphates .1 |
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