Brown algae and light

[Princess Hockey]

Starting to accumulate more brown algae than I would like. I wouldn't say it's out of control, but appears to be more than my CUC can keep up with as it is slowly increasing in amount. Nitrates and phosphates are low, bioload is low, I don't believe I'm overfeeding but I can certainly cut back. My CUC is probably too small, ~20 hermits, 8 snails in 115 total system volume tank (1oog display). 2 clowns are the only fish.

It's one of those hydra lights with the programmable color amounts, running some program I found online, I guess its called "David Saxby" lighting preset. Looks like this:


From my searching, it seems like white light contributes to algae growth and is mostly just for us to look at. If I just reduce the white light way down (or even turn it off) for awhile, would that harm anything? Be any sort of bother to corals or fish? I have softies and LPS only.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

That’s a good schedule.
It’s not the white lights. Many many run much “whiter” than that.

Algaes will phase in and out of the tank over its life time.

Your best bet is to get more snails.
The do more work than crabs.

Unless it’s a really problematic alage. Like Dino’s or Chrysto s it’ll pass.
Even then some do nothing but good husbandry and they pass as well.
Yea , it’s not picture perfect. But be patient.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

How old is your tank? Do you have any corals yet?

The brown algae is also probably diatoms, which tend to come and go as nutrients are more available in the tank. Your test results may be low because the algae is consuming any nutrients that are readily available. Eventually you will need to combat this issues by adding corals or a macroalgae refugium that will consume some or all of the excess nutrients and keep pest algae growth at bay.

 

[Princess Hockey]

How old is your tank? Do you have any corals yet?

The brown algae is also probably diatoms, which tend to come and go as nutrients are more available in the tank. Your test results may be low because the algae is consuming any nutrients that are readily available. Eventually you will need to combat this issues by adding corals or a macroalgae refugium that will consume some or all of the excess nutrients and keep pest algae growth at bay.

6 weeks old, thought I’d had diatoms come and go already, but maybe they just came back. I have more corals than fish, maybe a dozen? 8 heads of frogspawn, 6 grabs of zoas (5-10 polyps avg), some gsp, war coral and a mushroom, and some Xenia.

 

[Princess Hockey]

That’s a good schedule.
It’s not the white lights. Many many run much “whiter” than that.

Algaes will phase in and out of the tank over its life time.

Your best bet is to get more snails.
The do more work than crabs.

Unless it’s a really problematic alage. Like Dino’s or Chrysto s it’ll pass.
Even then some do nothing but good husbandry and they pass as well.
Yea , it’s not picture perfect. But be patient.

Okay awesome, thanks! I need to get more snails, I agree with that. Cerith and Trochus good choices? I have none of those so far.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Okay awesome, thanks! I need to get more snails, I agree with that. Cerith and Trochus good choices? I have none of those so far.

Yes very. I also like astrias.
If the sand is fairly mature a fighting chonk.

Good info here.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/choosing-cleanup-crew-critters.258695/

A fwiw , since reefing began , folks have blamed their lights for algae. Lol
Algaes and corals have extremely similar needs spectrally.
Orange and yellow being the big difference.
Most Are surprised to be reminded that the big color Marine alge likes is blue.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

How old is your tank? Do you have any corals yet?

The brown algae is also probably diatoms, which tend to come and go as nutrients are more available in the tank. Your test results may be low because the algae is consuming any nutrients that are readily available. Eventually you will need to combat this issues by adding corals or a macroalgae refugium that will consume some or all of the excess nutrients and keep pest algae growth at bay.

6 weeks old, thought I’d had diatoms come and go already, but maybe they just came back. I have more corals than fish, maybe a dozen? 8 heads of frogspawn, 6 grabs of zoas (5-10 polyps avg), some gsp, war coral and a mushroom, and some Xenia.

Ugly phase.
You’re fine.

 

[Princess Hockey]

Yes very. I also like astrias.
If the sand is fairly mature a fighting chonk.

Good info here.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/choosing-cleanup-crew-critters.258695/

A fwiw , since reefing began , folks have blamed their lights for algae. Lol
Algaes and corals have extremely similar needs spectrally.
Orange and yellow being the big difference.
Most Are surprised to be reminded that the big color Marine alge likes is blue.

About how many snails do you think I need to add? Headed to LFS today.

(Have 20 hermits, 5 nassarius, 3 turbo, 2 clowns, 15 pieces of coral). Nobody is doing ANY glass cleaning whatsoever.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Honestly, the only one that does a good job on the glass is also the one asking questions on Reef2Reef.

3-4 Trochus , 2-3 turbans. 3-5 Astria and maybe a chonk. For the sand. I like to go slow and add as I see it.
Your concerned about the sand. Focus there.

Personally I think you may have a few too many crabs