algae control

[Lovge]

Im thinking about cutting my lights off to rid myself of quite a bit of green on my rocks.. I have a couple of questions about lighting and such.

1) if I go 48 hours no light will this hurt my zoas ?

2) Im currently using compact flourescents 10000K white and actinic blue, standard issue on my biocube for 12 hours a day both of them on. when I turn my lights back on should I try a blue only cycle with both but reduce the times they are on?

Ty for any and all input

 

[zemuss]

How old are the lights? How old is the tank?

What are your parameters?

 

[Lovge]

How old are the lights? How old is the tank?

What are your parameters?

tank has been running since feb 25 and the lights were replaced that day. params are all normal, I even took a sample to the LFS to double check. just lots of green real estate. ive brushed the rocks a few times and have 4 turbos, green emerald and 6 other random snails I have no ID for, as well 4 zoa frags.

 

[HiddenUser]

In the wild, reefs are not exposed to sunlight every single day. 2 days without lights won't be bad. Many threads out there about doing lights out for 3 days. I did a lights out period for 3 days...prior to doing so I did a fairly large water change because I had an excessive amount of nitrates.

You'll still need to look into why you're having an algae outbreak...New tank? Excessive nutrients? Mixing salt with tap water versus RO/DI water? High nitrates? High phosphates? etc...

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

Two days without light will be fine, but after I would keep both of your lights on for the corals.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

Don't do a blue only light cycle for a long time. And you do not have to have your lights on for 12 hours.

 

[Lovge]

In the wild, reefs are not exposed to sunlight every single day. 2 days without lights won't be bad. Many threads out there about doing lights out for 3 days. I did a lights out period for 3 days...prior to doing so I did a fairly large water change because I had an excessive amount of nitrates.

You'll still need to look into why you're having an algae outbreak...New tank? Excessive nutrients? Mixing salt with tap water versus RO/DI water? High nitrates? High phosphates? etc...

This is what I dont understand??? everything checks out at 0 or within acceptable params. I threw a bag of purigen into my filtering system.. I use RO water from Walmart.

 

[fishroomlady]

phosphate can be bound up in your algae and your tests be fine. The fact that you have algae indicates that you have excess nutrients. I would suggest you may want to shorten your light period - 8-10 hours is usually enough time.

 

[Reefing Madness]

I'd go with the 3 day customary lights out. It won't harm your corals, and you stand a better chance of killing the algae.

 

[zemuss]

phosphate can be bound up in your algae and your tests be fine. The fact that you have algae indicates that you have excess nutrients. I would suggest you may want to shorten your light period - 8-10 hours is usually enough time.

I agree with this. Just because the readings are 0 doesn't mean you have no Nitrates of Phosphates. It just means that something in the take is consuming it, and in this case its algae. Lights out will not hurt as everyone is suggesting it. However, we need to figure out the issue first and correct it because lights out might kill it now but once you provide the light sources again the algae will return.

I would like to know how your feeding. And Water from Wally World might not be the best idea. Check it with a TDS meter and I bet you will find that its not a Zero reading.

 

[Lovge]

Thank you. Im not feeding anything. All i have is 10 snails 1 emerald amd 4 zoa plugs so far. The tank at this point is self sustaining.

Ima need to find a tds meter i guess. I had read that wally world water is ok but you may be right on that.

Ty for the input