Help with algae problem!

[1MCp]

Good day everyone,

I have a tank set up in my room, but it gets loads of sunlight, I keep my blind shut all day as I have an LED lamp for light.

I am however getting a very alight amount of brownish reddish algae along the corners of my tank and very slight amounts generally on the glass surface.

How would I combat this algae growth?

Maybe clean up crew? I have 5 astrea snails.

What are your methods to prevent algae? I also do bi weekly clean along with water change.

 

[mcarroll]

Some algae is desirable....conditions that are good for algae are also good for coral. Conditions that do not support algae growth aren't good for coral either....often you end up with worse-than-algae when you go that route. Cyano., dinoflagellates, etc...

Are you keeping the LED's on for 12 hours a day? Do they have a sunrise/sunset function or just on/off?

Also, have you even measured intensity on your lights to know how many lux or PAR you are projecting onto it?

 

[1MCp]

Some algae is desirable....conditions that are good for algae are also good for coral. Conditions that do not support algae growth aren't good for coral either....often you end up with worse-than-algae when you go that route. Cyano., dinoflagellates, etc...

Are you keeping the LED's on for 12 hours a day? Do they have a sunrise/sunset function or just on/off?

Also, have you even measured intensity on your lights to know how many lux or PAR you are projecting onto it?

Thanks for the input, I'll keep that in mind. I keep forgetting the tank isn't my room, I'm a freak about being dust free in my room.

Also, the led is on about 10 hours a day and does not have a night mode, more of a weak weaker strong type modes.

Lastly how does one test the intensity of their lighting?

Thank you!

 

[1MCp]

Some algae is desirable....conditions that are good for algae are also good for coral. Conditions that do not support algae growth aren't good for coral either....often you end up with worse-than-algae when you go that route. Cyano., dinoflagellates, etc...

Are you keeping the LED's on for 12 hours a day? Do they have a sunrise/sunset function or just on/off?

Also, have you even measured intensity on your lights to know how many lux or PAR you are projecting onto it?

Also an additional question. I prefer a blue light for my tank as it bring out some of my corals orange shades well. Does color of light matter? Or is it the intensity that you want to get right?

 

[mcarroll]

Also, the led is on about 10 hours a day and does not have a night mode, more of a weak weaker strong type modes.

If your lights are on/off in function, then you might have to consider a shorter photoperiod. See below....

Also an additional question. I prefer a blue light for my tank as it bring out some of my corals orange shades well. Does color of light matter? Or is it the intensity that you want to get right?

You can more or less set the color of lights that you want......(lots of blue is even present in the white LED's.....blue is really the magic ingredient)

But the intensity is hard to gauge with your eyes. So use a meter.

You can get a lux meter app for your smartphone that uses the camera's light sensor to calculate a regular lux reading – can't beat the price, best way to start. Post your results though....not all apps are compatible with all camera sensors so results can be wrong dictating that you try another app.

I'd also recommend a handheld lux meter like the "lx-1010b" that I use. Less than $15, delivered.

• Measure lux with either meter at the water surface.
• Find the peak reading and see how much space that covers before you're down to [peak reading minus 10%].
• Then see what your readings are around the tank's perimeter – always angle the sensor to get the highest reading you can from each spot you sample.
• You might also be curious to see what reading you get for particular locations around the tank.....watch the shadow of your sensor on the live rocks/coral – that's the spot you're sampling.

 

[JadeM]

how old is the tank?? new? established??

 

[Rick.45cal]

Color and intensity of light both affect P.A.R. (Photosythetically Active Radiation). PAR is a measure of how much of the visible (and not visible) spectrum is available for photosynthesis. You can get PAR meters to measure the intesity of your lighting, they aren't cheap. Sometimes a local fish store will have one that you can borrow (or rent). That's the best way to measure your lighting.

The other option is to get a lux meter off of Amazon and measure your lighting brightness at the surface. This however, doesn't tell you how much is available to the corals for photosynthesis, but it is much better than not knowing at all. I use a PAR meter, but I'm certain (@saltyfilmfolks) someone will be along that has first hand knowledge and can better answer your questions regarding them (if you have any)

Algae grows for many reasons, there are many types and species that inhabit many niche's in marine ecosystems. There are also numerous species of bacteria that resemble blue green algaes, slimes etc. and range in color from black, green, nuclear green, red etc. Very hard to identify without a microscope and looking at them at a cellular level. There are some tricks you can learn on here to help identify some of them. For us to be of much help you will need to provide a good picture of the algae, and do some water testing and provide us with some parameters of your tank. Specific Gravity, Temperature, Alkalinity, Calcium, Magnesium, Nitrate, Phosphate, maybe even Ammonia. The more information you can provide, the easier it is to provide you with an accurate ID and possible solution.

I hope this helps somewhat!

 

[1MCp]

Color and intensity of light both affect P.A.R. (Photosythetically Active Radiation). PAR is a measure of how much of the visible (and not visible) spectrum is available for photosynthesis. You can get PAR meters to measure the intesity of your lighting, they aren't cheap. Sometimes a local fish store will have one that you can borrow (or rent). That's the best way to measure your lighting.

The other option is to get a lux meter off of Amazon and measure your lighting brightness at the surface. This however, doesn't tell you how much is available to the corals for photosynthesis, but it is much better than not knowing at all. I use a PAR meter, but I'm certain (@saltyfilmfolks) someone will be along that has first hand knowledge and can better answer your questions regarding them (if you have any)

Algae grows for many reasons, there are many types and species that inhabit many niche's in marine ecosystems. There are also numerous species of bacteria that resemble blue green algaes, slimes etc. and range in color from black, green, nuclear green, red etc. Very hard to identify without a microscope and looking at them at a cellular level. There are some tricks you can learn on here to help identify some of them. For us to be of much help you will need to provide a good picture of the algae, and do some water testing and provide us with some parameters of your tank. Specific Gravity, Temperature, Alkalinity, Calcium, Magnesium, Nitrate, Phosphate, maybe even Ammonia. The more information you can provide, the easier it is to provide you with an accurate ID and possible solution.

I hope this helps somewhat!

Tons of great info thank you for the input. I shall watch in the next few days when it becomes enough to take photos if they grow more. For now they are at very minimal level.

 

[1MCp]

how old is the tank?? new? established??

My tank is six months old!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

My tank is six months old!

ugly phase, or the end of it. tooth brush for algae. Look into a refugium even a hob. My first fuge cost $19. The green glass prob whe away in days.
Id outcompete the ugly algae with other organisms. Like macro algaes or CORAL!!! :)

sounds like a healthy tank.
With a lux meter (or par) you can balance the light levels to the animals you have or want to have.

 

[1MCp]

ugly phase, or the end of it. tooth brush for algae. Look into a refugium even a hob. My first fuge cost $19. The green glass prob whe away in days.
Id outcompete the ugly algae with other organisms. Like macro algaes or CORAL!!! :)

sounds like a healthy tank.
With a lux meter (or par) you can balance the light levels to the animals you have or want to have.

I have a lux measuring mechanism what should it read if my corals are all currently closer to the surface? Thanks!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I have a lux measuring mechanism what should it read if my corals are all currently closer to the surface? Thanks!

depends on the coral. yea sorry vague.
How deep is the tank. Id guess you want to be in the 20,000 to 30,000 lux range for med light animals to low light on the bottom corals.
Imo most coral will do well at 150par, some need more light like acropora. Corals come from all over and do have thier own light requirements.
I look at par charts of other tanks to compare.
https://www.google.com/search?tbm=i...0ahUKEwjn6_Kalp3PAhUT0IMKHeUiBcgQ9C8ICQ&dpr=1