Hi all. I'm brand new to the hobby and have been enjoying two new tanks for about three months. I've noticed some green algae beginning to grow on the rock in both tanks. I've been in the freshwater side of the hobby for many years, so I'm assuming the algae is being caused by either 1) overfeeding or 2) too much light. I'm not overfeeding, so I could use some guidance on lighting balance. Other thoughts are appreciated as well.
Tank 1 is 29 gallons. Two corals (xenia and a mushroom) are thriving. I have a midnight clown, a green chromis, a large cleaner shrimp and a CUC in the tank so far. CUC is 7 turbo snails and an emerald crab. Water parameters look good and everyone is healthy.
Tank 2 is 20 gallons (high). There is a nice crop of green star polyps coming along. There is also a darwin clown, a cardinal and a giant featherduster doing well in the tank, in addition to the CUC (4 turbos and an emerald crab). Again, water parameters are perfect and everyone is looking healthy.
Both tanks have the same lighting setup, filter, powerhead, live rock and sand from the same source, same salt, etc. Light is a CD-87697 Current USA Orbit Marine LED Saltwater Reef Lighting System. Hang on the back filter is running Seachem Purigen and Matrix Carbon.
I've attached a pic of the green algae I'm seeing. I just did a water change over the weekend and tried brushing it off with a toothbrush but it didn't budge. Here are the light settings I've been running for the past few months. Low intensity "sunrise" from 6am to 9am. Moderate intensity (60%) from 9am to 3pm. Low intensity "sunset" from 3pm to 6pm. My LFS tells me that this is too much light.
I want to make sure my corals and other livestock are getting enough light but I don't want to continue to feed the algae with an overabundance of light. Any thoughts on how to strike this balance would be most appreciated.
Tank 1 is 29 gallons. Two corals (xenia and a mushroom) are thriving. I have a midnight clown, a green chromis, a large cleaner shrimp and a CUC in the tank so far. CUC is 7 turbo snails and an emerald crab. Water parameters look good and everyone is healthy.
Tank 2 is 20 gallons (high). There is a nice crop of green star polyps coming along. There is also a darwin clown, a cardinal and a giant featherduster doing well in the tank, in addition to the CUC (4 turbos and an emerald crab). Again, water parameters are perfect and everyone is looking healthy.
Both tanks have the same lighting setup, filter, powerhead, live rock and sand from the same source, same salt, etc. Light is a CD-87697 Current USA Orbit Marine LED Saltwater Reef Lighting System. Hang on the back filter is running Seachem Purigen and Matrix Carbon.
I've attached a pic of the green algae I'm seeing. I just did a water change over the weekend and tried brushing it off with a toothbrush but it didn't budge. Here are the light settings I've been running for the past few months. Low intensity "sunrise" from 6am to 9am. Moderate intensity (60%) from 9am to 3pm. Low intensity "sunset" from 3pm to 6pm. My LFS tells me that this is too much light.
I want to make sure my corals and other livestock are getting enough light but I don't want to continue to feed the algae with an overabundance of light. Any thoughts on how to strike this balance would be most appreciated.
