macro algae dying?

[melypr1985]

My macro is dying off I think. I've never used this kind before. Forgive my spelling but I'm pretty sure it's called Calurpa? Caulerpa? Whatever, there is a picture below and if you look at the upper left hand of it you can some of the dying part. I also posted a picture of the details of the light I'm using. It's just some LED thing that I picked up at home depot. My tank is new, it's 40 Gallons with a 10 gallon sump/refugium. Its only been set up since last Friday. I want to know if the algae is dying because of my light, or because its a new tank (which has never happened to me before). I wont be offended if my light sucks, i'll just put it under some cabinets in the kitchen and get something else rigged up.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Preyou]

It may be dying back due to the lack of nutrients in the water. I know that you stated that the system is new... If your system has not cycled yet, your system will not have the bacteria in place to convert ammonia into nitrite and nitrite into nitrate... the nitrate being what the calurpa would feed on. Do you have any animals in the tank yet?

 

[melypr1985]

There is a hermit crab, that I have been feeding.

 

[Reefing Madness]

May not have enough flow, and the lighting you have for it is insuficient at just 3 watts. I'd put at least the 13watt compact flourescent with a shop reflector on it.

 

[melypr1985]

I was expecting that I think. Not a problem. I'm also going to get some live sand out of an established tank to help get some bacteria in there. Do you think using the raw shrimp method instead of ghost feeding will be better?

 

[Reefing Madness]

Yea, I like the use of raw shrimp better than ghost feeding. More of an ammonia source itself than just feeding the tank.

 

[jzaso]

I believe that is part of calpura,s life cycle-this is where it releases spores, I do cheato