Old Metal Halides causing fur algae?

saintperez · Oct 19, 2014

Ok, besides Phosphates being too high which I am fighting now with water changes, GFO and Lathanum Chloride is it possible that my very old metal halides are causing a really strange fur like algae to grow on my rocks. I don't call it hair algae because I have some of that ins some rocks but not too much. THis stuff almost looks like it a cacoon of some sorts developing all over my rocks. It's furry algae but not very green kind of sand color with a bit of green. Some spots are starting to develop bubbles.

I'm just wondering if my old lights could be causing it. I've been waiting on Reef Radiance lights since my order Sept 23.

Reefing Madness · Oct 19, 2014

Yea, old lamps can cause some issues with alge growth

hybridazn · Oct 19, 2014

Yup def can cause algae problems. How old are the bulbs?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 19, 2014

IMO, bulbs get the blame more often than is really the case, but some types of micro and macroalgae do seem to grow better with warmer (redder) light than is used in many reef aquaria, and mh bulbs tend to get redder when older, so they may contribute.

FWIW, I run my mh bulbs much longer than most people (years) because I prefer the warmer look than a fresh 10,000 k bulb provide sin my tank.