Substrate Algae - ???

[CMOS]

Hey All,

I'm annoyed by the substrate algae in my tank (36 x 12 x 24). It's the type that sort of clumps together, and is difficult to vacuum up when I do my water changes.

What can I do to reduce this? Is this normal?

Filtration is a Redline 125 in a sump. Lighting is dual Power Compacts and single 175W MH. I run the PC's for 12 hours a day and currently the MH for 6 hours a day. Tank is lightly stocked with a Coral Beauty, Royal Gramma, one Frogspawn, and a clump if Green Star Polyps, + CUC.

Any thoughts on how to control this algae? Both fish and corals are doing very well. It just looks like crap.

Thanks for any suggestions.

CMOS

[ToddTT]

Got a picture?

How's your water quality? Phosphate level? Do you have good water flow? Have a refugium? Protein skimmer? Snails?

Misery loves company...

algae problem site:reefland.com - Google Search

[CMOS]

Protien Skimmer is a Redline 125. No refugium. Have snails. Algae in all other parts of tank (rocks, glass) is well within acceptable norms for me.

Currently I do not have a test kit that will test for Phosphates.

Water used in tank is all RO-DI at TDS = 0.00.

CMOS

[Steve McKay]

First,congratulations for having a good skimmer rated for over double your water volume.A photo would help ID the algae.Is it green or brown?What is your nitrate level?If your PC lighting is more than actinic,your photoperiod is to long ten hours is good enough,eight would probable be ok.If it is actinic then you only need one hour before and after the MH.

[CMOS]

My 2 PC's are 1) dual Actinic and 2) half Actinic and half 10K.

If I only have soft corals, how long is the suggested light cycle for both the PC's and MH's?

Thanks for any input.

CMOS

[Steve McKay]

My 2 PC's are 1) dual Actinic and 2) half Actinic and half 10K.

If I only have soft corals, how long is the suggested light cycle for both the PC's and MH's?

Ten hours max. for anything but actinic.I would suggest staying with six hours of MH with an hour before and after for the PC lighting or eight hours MH with an hour before and after with the PC lighting.This will help your algae problem but this isn't necessarily the complete fix.When you say you vacuum that means you have crushed coral and that is not good.Crushed coral traps waste (detritus) and causes higher nitrates.Again I ask you what is your nitrate level?

[Parrothead]

Ten hours max. for anything but actinic.I would suggest staying with six hours of MH with an hour before and after for the PC lighting or eight hours MH with an hour before and after with the PC lighting.This will help your algae problem but this isn't necessarily the complete fix.When you say you vacuum that means you have crushed coral and that is not good.Crushed coral traps waste (detritus) and causes higher nitrates.Again I ask you what is your nitrate level?

Steve,

I went back and searched his prior post, he does have a 2" sand bed in his tank, see post 5 in the below link.

Problem new tank cycling?

Might be a flow issue, like a dead spot, need to know what color goo we are dealing with here, his tank has been up for about 2 years.

[CMOS]

Steve,

My API test kit shows Nitrates at zero.

I don't think this is a dead spot issue as they algae if pretty uniform throughout the tank wherever light directly hits the substrate.

Lighting: to simulate dusk and dawn I do turn on the PC's first, then a few hours later the MH. In reverse order, at night, the MH goes out first with the PC's going out about an hour and a half after that.

Thoughts?

CMOS

[cdearing]

I have the same problem with a reddish brown algae. I tried adding a couple more power heads and after a couple of sandstorms, I situated them so that they didn't blow the sand but sure blew around the corals on the sandbed. They were NOT happy. After trying this for a couple of weeks without any results, I took out the extra power heads. Corals are happy again but I still have the algae on the sand.

[Parrothead]

Greg,

How old are your pc bulbs?????????

Those darn things ain't worth a crap when they get old, no warning either, they just go blah, might be a lighting issue???????????

[CMOS]

PC's are less than 60 days old.

CMOS

[Parrothead]

Well ain't that, try Steve's suggestion and shorten the light cycle, lighten up on feedings a little, and keep up the good fight, that's about the only thing I can think of, especially with your nitrates being at 0, the algea is probably eating them, starve the algea, it goes away

[CMOS]

I am behind schedule on my water changes. I'll step them up for a while.

CMOS

[Parrothead]

That won't hurt anything, algea needs nutrients to grow, so it will probably help a great deal, just keep an eye on things and keep us posted

[Steve McKay]

Steve,

I went back and searched his prior post, he does have a 2" sand bed in his tank, see post 5 in the below link.

Sorry about that,CMOS.I thought you had crushed coral because you said you vacuumed when you did water changes.Try my lighting suggestions they will help regardless of the algae problem,you don't need lights on for twelve hours.