Intensity of light?

[daso]

I am having an AWFUL algae problem! I have tried everything-- just finished a 72 hr lights off period. I have the Current Marine Orbit LEDS. Does anyone have these..and if they do what intensity would you run it at? I have a couple of mushrooms and softies--nothing major. It's a 50 gallon tank.

 

[LetItReef]

How long you have it ON? Mine at 6am-10pm. Blues at 90% and Whites at 15% Moonlight 2 hr and Sunrise/SunSet 15mins. No algae.

 

[saltyphish]

What is your nitrates and phosphates?

I am having an AWFUL algae problem! I have tried everything-- just finished a 72 hr lights off period. I have the Current Marine Orbit LEDS. Does anyone have these..and if they do what intensity would you run it at? I have a couple of mushrooms and softies--nothing major. It's a 50 gallon tank.

 

[daso]

How long you have it ON? Mine at 6am-10pm. Blues at 90% and Whites at 15% Moonlight 2 hr and Sunrise/SunSet 15mins. No algae.

I was running it on the preset 3...it's a 12 hour cycle of full intensity, 15 min sunrise/sunset, with 4 hours of blue moonlight

 

[daso]

Nitrates are near 0 and phosphates are maybe .25..probably a little less.

 

[LetItReef]

and you are using RO/DI or Distilled water, correct? I would check also TDS readings, should be at 0.

 

[ashley]

How long you have it ON? Mine at 6am-10pm. Blues at 90% and Whites at 15% Moonlight 2 hr and Sunrise/SunSet 15mins. No algae.

I have a lot of algae I have ray2 lighting. How many hours should I have it on? I don't have moon light or sunrise/sunset?

 

[LetItReef]

It depends. Some cut down lights longer maybe try 1-3 hrs first.
Do you have a pic of the algae? Could be something else.

 

[Bad Company]

If you have a lot of algae, it is likely that nitrate readings will be zero because the algae is absorbing it all. How long have you had the lights? What is your method of nitrate control? Algae is caused by two things, abundance of nutrients and a lot of light. Cut back on one or both.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Phosphates are your problem, way to high, should be reading .05-.03

 

[ashley]

I had a dead emerald crab in there could that be my problem

 

[Reefing Madness]

Not likely.

 

[ashley]

So this is what my algae looks like

 

[Cleo642]

So this is what my algae looks like

I know this isn't part of the conversation but what do you use as a biological filter? There's not alot of rock in your tank.

 

[ashley]

I have a regular filter and a protien skimmer. I'm adding rock

 

[Cleo642]

I have a regular filter and a protien skimmer. I'm adding rock

What kind of filter? I know some people say that a Hang on back filter doesn't do much for a reef tank. And canister filters are cause allot of nitrate. But I heard of others who use them and they do fine.

 

[ashley]

So I have two internal power filters