Light and algae

[TikiBird]

When I was picking out my CUC at the LFS, the guy working there was giving me general advice, and said to keep the lights off in my tank unless I was looking at it in order to keep algae from growing.

I've searched the forum but thought I would ask you also: is this true? Is it beneficial to leave the lights off almost all the time? It's kind of depressing to me to look over and see my tank all dark during the day.... [emoji53]

 

[Radman73]

Do you have an algae problem? With proper feeding, filtration, and water changes algae generally isn't a problem almost regardless of how long you run your lights.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Algae needs light to grow, but it's not the cause of algae. The advise you got was bad. lol.

 

[brandon429]

this mode of thinking starts all tanks down eventual algae invasion because if not lights its something else. not any external event or series of events determines if you get and keep algae, its all aquarist-chosen as to if it stays. The locus of control for algae in your small reef is pick out the rocks, scrape it off, put a known algae cleaner chem over the surface, cheat, and be free.

if you had high nutrients or bad lighting choices you'd be repeating that more often than if they were tuned, but youd be algae free always. Its true light duration is set around what your light-needing animals require, longer intervals helps algae grow but has nothing to do with being algae invaded even if you left lights on 24x7

 

[TikiBird]

Thank you so much for your replies, @Radman73, @cromag08, and @brandon429!! So much appreciated.

Nope, I have no algae problem! LOL The guy was very nice but seemed to like to offer advice when I hadn't asked for any. [emoji23]

Thanks again. I'll go turn my lights on then! Lol

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

You had them off? lol. I have my lights on a total of 14 hours a day - whites 8 hours and blues 14 hours. no algae.

 

[TikiBird]

You had them off? lol. I have my lights on a total of 14 hours a day - whites 8 hours and blues 14 hours. no algae.

Well I did have them on during the day, but after that guy told me that, I've had them off! I should have just come home from the LFS and asked you all right away. Lol

 

[ahiggins]

I agree with Radman-as long as you dont overfeed, you will be fine.
Keep in mind that a brand new tank will go through an algal bloom, its natural. Maybe your LFS was trying to keep it to a minimum.
Do you have any fish/coral in your tank yet?

When I start all my tanks, unless I have coral in them, I turn only the blues on (~19K) for as long as Im home-just because I love blues. Sometimes it would be 4 hrs, sometimes 10 hrs.
Once I got fish (especially corals) I had to get a schedule together.
I run:
9am-10am ramp up to 14.5K
4pm-5pm ramp up to 19K
8pm-9pm ramp down to 0K

Someone correct me if Im wrong-IME,the more white you have in your spectrum, the more problems with algae you will have. **Keep in mind, I feed a lot so theres a lot of "algae food" in the column. If you dont feed much/very little/keep the nutrients down, your lights wont matter.

 

[TikiBird]

Thank you, @ahiggins! That's good to know. I have two clownfish, two snails, and a cleaner shrimp in there now. I will try to feed lightly and maybe that will help too.

I just have a BioCube with stock lights so I don't think I can control their intensity...? Unless I'm totally missing something (which is entirely possible!)...

 

[chris124]

I would say he gave you bad advice.

 

[ahiggins]

Oh gotcha, if I missed that previously (about the lights) I apologize lol Ive never had a biocube...so Im not familiar with their lights.
From what Ive seen/read, fish usually just need ambient light--like if youre room is lit from an open window or something--just so they know when its day and when its night.

good luck!! We have all been the newbies lol

 

[ahiggins]

I would say he gave you bad advice.

I dont think it was bad advice at all, I think he was trying to limit the amount of algae growth for a newer tank. He just didnt elaborate as he should have.

 

[TikiBird]

Oh gotcha, if I missed that previously (about the lights) I apologize lol Ive never had a biocube...so Im not familiar with their lights.
From what Ive seen/read, fish usually just need ambient light--like if youre room is lit from an open window or something--just so they know when its day and when its night.

good luck!! We have all been the newbies lol

It was my fault, I didn't mention what kind of lights I was using like I should have!

There's definitely ambient light in the room, but it's also good to know I can keep their tank lights on so I can see them too. Lol!

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

You can't adjust the stock lights.

 

[TikiBird]

You can't adjust the stock lights.

Didn't think so, but wanted to make sure I wasn't seriously missing something! Lol!

 

[NeptuneGarden]

Really bad advice. Everything in the tank is use to a natural light cycle. Algae is caused by other issues. 99.9999999999999% of the time by simply having a dirty tank.

Every "new" tank is going to go through it's growing pains. There's not much you can do about that except maintain proper maintenance and cleanliness routines and be patient for it to find equilibrium.

 

[Mikemccafe]

I love LFS, but when I was first starting out in the reef hobby I found so many different opinions at each store. Back then there was no UTube, yeah I'm old. Thankfully we had Julian Sprung. Get a good reference book from an experienced aquarist in the long run you'll save thousands and be happier and your tanks will show it too

 

[ahiggins]

Im glad we were able to help you out with your algae education lol
Pretty soon you will have the "gut feelings" about what you can and cant do to your tank.

Once I got my nails done and then rearranged some rock work, not realizing all the chemicals still on my hands/arms.
I freaked out for a good week about it LOL
good luck!!

 

[TikiBird]

Ha! @ahiggins, I have also had the painted-nails-in-the-tank panic!Only it was with my freshwater tanks.

I was hoping my FW experience would translate to SW but I am a newbie all over again!

 

[ahiggins]

hahaha good, Im not the only one!
I hear ya with the transition too...its a whole other beastie. I just found out (even though my tanks went through it) that theres TWO cycles! lol