[tray262]

Ok guys, I've been running t5's over my tank for two years now, I've had a lot of troubles with my tank. I run a 8 bulb tek lighting system. I've had lots of Hair algea problems.

Like I said it's a 150 tall it has a 50 gal refug. with a 96watt pc over it. No hair in the refug. except for he little bit that gets loose in the main and makes it's way into the refug, but it quickly dies off. So my question is, do I have too much light ? I have a huge rock structure in my tank. So there is not a lot sand area. I have about 150-175 lbs in my display. I have a good skimmer it pulls a lot of crap out of the water, (Octopus recirc 200). I use good salts, I do good water changes, I use RO water.

I'm just lost. I've definitly bleeched almost every corol I've put into my tank. Which leads me to believe I'm overlighting. But would that cause algea problems ? And since I've got $500 wrapped up in my lighting what do I do now ? Can I only run 6 bulbs on a 8 bulb system ? I'm a little lost as to what to do ?

Thanks,
Tray262

[Poseidon]

Can you try to replace a "white" bulb or 2 with some "blue" ones? That would be the quickest way to drop par, and still run all 8 bulbs....

[charlie]

I don't think you have to much lite. I am thinking not enuf flow to keep your rock clean. Just a hunch????

[Ramer]

Phospate level? I think I have narrowed my problem down to that. I was not using food grade tub to mix my salt & ro/di water in.

[tray262]

Originally Posted by Poseidon

Can you try to replace a "white" bulb or 2 with some "blue" ones? That would be the quickest way to drop par, and still run all 8 bulbs....

I may give that a shot. I'm currently running 50/50 4-10ks, 4-Atinics, I've just been dealing with the Algea for a LONG TIME and I'm looking to find out what's going on.

[JR719]

In a nutshell.... If you properly acclimated your tank to the new lights, you should not have a problem. If you did not, well.... You know what happens...

If your having HA problems, you may look at something other than the lights. Start testing your water, that would be my first step. Whatever is out of parameteres, work on it.

Pull all the HA out that you can. Rinse your fingers before putting your hand back into the tank, and keep going. If your having a serious outbreak, you may look into a nudibranch to help get rid of it.

Good luck. I've pulled and pulled.... and had fish that were supposed to eat the stuff. Right! Good luck.

[charlie]

Originally Posted by JR719

In a nutshell.... If you properly acclimated your tank to the new lights, you should not have a problem. If you did not, well.... You know what happens...

If your having HA problems, you may look at something other than the lights. Start testing your water, that would be my first step. Whatever is out of parameteres, work on it.

Pull all the HA out that you can. Rinse your fingers before putting your hand back into the tank, and keep going. If your having a serious outbreak, you may look into a nudibranch to help get rid of it.

Good luck. I've pulled and pulled.... and had fish that were supposed to eat the stuff. Right! Good luck.

IMO, you have hit the nail on the head. The lites may help grow the problem, but excess nutrients in the system are what's fueling the algae. You are going to have to find the nutrient problem before fixing it. You said you have a refugium, how much macro do you have?
One last thing. how old is your system? You said you have been running the T5 for 2 years, is that the age of the system? What are your water parameters?

[Samper]

The first thing I think of is PO4 levels. With my colorimeter I have found multiple systems claiming 0 for Phosphates with regular test kits but were much higher in reality.