Macro Algae not doing very good

[jabberwock]

I have had these rocks and algae for 27 days. I have been waiting for the algae to settle in, but it looks like they are going the other direction. I am running 2 Kessil Tuna Blue A80s, 7 hours a day at about 50% intensity. I know these lights are not very powerful. That is why I got 2, also the tank is a shallow lagoon style. I fiddle with blue to white throughout the day. I have 2 good wave makers.

Do I need more intensity of light? More Blue? More white? Longer Duration? Any suggestions?

Parameters: (API, so fuzzy numbers)
pH = 7.8
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 20
Phosphate = 0.5
ppm KH = 150
Calcium = 420
Salinity = 1.024
Temp = 78

 

[AC1211]

I have had these rocks and algae for 27 days. I have been waiting for the algae to settle in, but it looks like they are going the other direction. I am running 2 Kessil Tuna Blue A80s, 7 hours a day at about 50% intensity. I know these lights are not very powerful. That is why I got 2, also the tank is a shallow lagoon style. I fiddle with blue to white throughout the day. I have 2 good wave makers.

Do I need more intensity of light? More Blue? More white? Longer Duration? Any suggestions?

Parameters: (API, so fuzzy numbers)
pH = 7.8
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 20
Phosphate = 0.5
ppm KH = 150
Calcium = 420
Salinity = 1.024
Temp = 78

Are nuisance algae like hair algae or such doing well in any part of your tank? Also a month might not be much especially in a brand new tank.

 

[AC1211]

I am assuming it's new or relatively new. Firefish looks good

 

[jabberwock]

Are nuisance algae like hair algae or such doing well in any part of your tank? Also a month might not be much especially in a brand new tank.

No Hair algae, mild green film algae. I clean the glass once a week. The sea urchin roombas about and appears happy. I had the tank running for a month with regular live rock from the LFS to establish cycle before adding the live ocean rock.

 

[jabberwock]

Thanks! I am in the "observation" period. The firefish keeps thing going before I finalize with sand and more livestock. Caught a few undesirables, a very small predatory worm, a couple tiny crabs, some whelks, nothing crazy. (oh, except the very small polyclad flatworm)

 

[jabberwock]

A really helpful resource for caring for macro algae: https://www.marineplantbook.com/
I think my issue was too little light intensity and duration. I lowered the lights 3 inches to get to 6 inches above the water surface, cranked up the intensity to 100% (was at 50%), dial in some blues at the end of the light cycle, and increased the duration to almost X2 from 6 to 10 hours a day. After one day of these changes, I think I see small positive effects.