Light and algae

[twoodrough]

I changed to sand about a month ago. The sand developed a layer of green where the light hits it (nothing in caves or under decorations). I feed lightly and change water regularly so I don't think it is nitrates. I was running lights 14 hours a day, and have a couple hours a day where light from a window across the room gets the tank. I have reduced my light to 8 hours right now. Can't do anything about tank placement.

How long should it be before I started to see the algae disappear? Should I go less than 8 hours of light? Should I just leave the lights off for a few days? I have a marineland LED and could also just run the moon light.

Thanks in advance.

 

[fort384]

The less you run the light, the better, so long as you aren't trying to grow live plants. If you can leave it off for a few days or a week and just use the moon light, it might help to combat some of the algae that has already grown.

The natural sunlight will continue to be a problem however. Nothing is better at growing algae than natural light .

What are your nitrates testing at? Most likely this is a lighting issue, but it wouldn't hurt to review any potential excess nutrients you may have in the water.

 

[twoodrough]

My nitrates are usually at or less than 10.

I guess I will leave the light off for a while. I will look to see if I can get the tank in another area of the room, but I don't think that will happen.