Quick Question

[ReefCrazed]

Do you think that an overflow of sunlight coming in through a curtain and blide could cause hair algea?


Amy

[Aragorn]

Yep.

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One Ring to rule them all. One Ring to find them. One Ring to bring them all, and in The Darkness bind them.

Tahoereefs.com

[Bamm Bamm]

Defiantely I think thats why Iam constantly battling it..

[CaptainK]

I agree with the above 100%
I always go through an algae bloom during the months when the sun is out a lot.
CaptK

[Biomanjcs72]

Absolutely, with out a doubt, yes.

[olgakurt]

Nope, only if you have excess nutrients. My tank gets several hours of sunlight in a sunroom. Algae is a symptom of excess nutrients and sufficient light.

[ReefCrazed]

Olgakurt,

Well actually we have a great 3inch live sand bed and lots of live rock. As well as a Berlin sump full of live sand and rock and ?Caulpera? ~ We also have been doing weekly water changes with RO/DI water(since the hair algae began).
The RO water also tests clean for phosphates and Silicates... We are extremely careful to not over feed the tank... We have two other smaller tanks that are maintained basically the same way, just in other sections of the house that do not have hair algea. This particular tank is about 3 foot from a door with a window and also has another window about 6 feet from it.... It does not get direct sunlight but it does get the filtered light through the curtain and the blind...
My 29 in my bedroom has a window less than 3 foot from it but the light is more indirect and it has a darker blind that doesn't let in as much sun light. (no hair algae)

Golfish~
Cute....

Thanks again,
Amy

[olgakurt]

Amy,

Seems like you are doing the right things to control this. As I said algae grows from excess nutrients and sufficient light. If you block the sunlight, you will lower the light, but your lighting (VHO+MH) may be sufficient to sustain the algae. If you can reduce nutrients then a high light level is relatively irrelevant and will be beneficial to your corals.

I am not familiar with your sump. I am a Marine Scientist, but that doesn't necessarily translate to aquaria knowledge on all things.

denitrifying conditions are produced at varying depths depending on multiple variables (particle size distribution, water flow, organic content, etc.). I found it starts around 2-2.5 inches in my tank (seen those conditions in as close to 1/4-1/2" in silt though), 4-6 inch sandbeds are normally suggested to ensure sufficient space for denitrification. If you slowly add more sand, you may increase the denitrifying ability of the sand bed. Foods or dosing phytoplankton (along with impure water) may add phosphates. again you may not see this reflected in water tests as it is being effectively utilized by the algae. What are you dosing /feeding?

You may be able to get rid of the symptoms by lowering the light but it doesn't get at the problem

[golfish]

Amy,
I guess what I was trying to say is the sun might be helping the HA grow but I don't think the sun is your problem.....[img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

[ReefCrazed]

Well

Here is the thing...

The hair algea is centered on the side of the rocks that the sun hits and on the side of the tank that the sun hits... we have ruled out Phosphates and Silicate and Nitrates and Nitrites are at 0.... But it still is happily taking over our 75.... We thought it was a bad spectrum on our MH bulbs but it didn't help once they were replaced.

I don't know but any suggestion on getting rid of this horrid stuff?

Amy

[olgakurt]

Amy,
the reason your water tests probably *appear* good is that the algae is *probably* consuming the nutrients as quick as they become available. You need to find a way to export nutrients (through exporting macros, denitrification in a sand bed, water changes using *clean* ro/di water) or reduce inputs (less food, clean water).

[golfish]

does this mean the ocean if full of hair algae [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

[ReefCrazed]

Thanks for the insight guys....

Hopefully we can get it under control!