Algae help

[steelermags]

Fellow Reefers,

Just running into my first sightings of a bright green algae on several pieces of my live rock. Should I be concerned? Tank 125G, T-5 Lighting, run NOON -10:00 PM every day then LED lights for an hour. SUMP with Skimmer, refugium with lighting on off hours. 120 lbs of live rock with cuc, powder blue tang, 2 clowns, hippo, and sailfin tang. Started giving Tangs seaweed in clip daily - is this the culprit of green algae? How do you attach a picture as I was struggling trying to do it. Sorry for the series of questions -as always feedback is greatly appreciated.

 

[skinz78]

Can you post a pic? I use Photobucket or just upload them to my Facebook acct and then cut and paste the photo URL here.

Do you use RO/DI water? What do you feed the tank?

 

[steelermags]

iI am hoping you can see this image.

 

[steelermags]

Yes I have RO/DI water as I collect water each week in (3) 55 gallon barrels.

 

[Mameshiba]

Looks like a standard algae that grow's more like coraline than anything else, if you are using ro/di and doing water changes on schedual and have a refuge then you shouldn't worry too much =)

 

[Chameleon]

how old is the tank? my tank did that shortly after setup but it went away a few weeks later

 

[steelermags]

tank has been up and running since middle of January so about 7 weeks!

 

[S@ltydog]

In my experience every setup i have had has been a little different. I think personally that its the begining of an algae bloom. Every tank that starts out will inevitabley go through this. To what scale is the question. Check the parameters and see if phospate levels are up. with it being that young of a tank thats my best guess right now with no further info.

Post parameters when you can

Good Luck

 

[MimicOcto8]

Think like a reef my friend. What do our natural reefs have to take care of this?? Clean up crew. stock your tank with hermits and snails. Wait on the angels and tangs till you have a mature tank.

 

[steelermags]

thanks! I do have a CUC now but not sure if enough. I have approx. 40 small hermits, a few Mexican turbos, and 2 shrimp. Sounds like I need more. I will post my results on my water later tonight. Appreciate your feedback.

 

[smadascott]

I see that you have your light on for 10 hours a day. Are they at full intensity during this full ten hours? Also you said that your refugium light is on a reverse daylight cycle. Does this mean that the refugium light is on for 14 hours straight?

I wouldn't have the main lights on for 10 hours straight at full intensity. the corals only need about 6-8 hours at the most. Also, from my experience, your refugium will be much more effective if you have periods of dark staggered throughout its light cycle. The algae produces sugars during the light cycle but it needs dark cycles to allow it to grow. Personally, I have my refugium light on 4 hours then off 4 hours constantly. Using this method I have seen much more growth in algae then I have ever seen with a long light cycle (8+). The growth in algae in your refugium should be very noticeable!

Long light cycles also cause some algae to sexually reproduce or break down entirely and pollute your aquarium.