Lighting schedule to stop algae going sexual

[ReefDragon420]

Our display tank is also our refugium (per se) It’s a lettuce sea slug dominant tank so we MUST keep algae in the main tank hence no refugium for us and lack of some equipment most folks use. We have bryopsis (thank you @PokeFish for helping out!) as well as Mexican and prolifea, chaeto, dragon tongue, and a few others I’m drawing a blank on at the moment.

To keep from our algae plants from going sexual, what would be a good lighting schedule? Currently, sunrise 630am ramp up to 100% by 8am. 100% until 715 sunset ramp down another hour and half til blues kick in at 845pm. Then blues until midnight. With 6.5 hours complete dark.

My guess is our tank alage is going sexual as it’s VERY cloudy (white/geeen?) and is seemingly worse after the night.
No UV..yet, canister filter, no skimmer. Air bubbles and stones are in the tank as well.
Any suggestions on lighting schedule without staying on 24/7?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Reds promote algae as does white lighting

 

[ReefDragon420]

Reds promote algae as does white lighting

Yup… thoughts on my question?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Yup… thoughts on my question?

I typically have low blue at 7a, blues at 9a, whites at 18% on at 11a - 7p
Back to low blues at8p and lights off at 10:30p
8.5 hrs of darkness

 

[ReefDragon420]

I typically have low blue at 7a, blues at 9a, whites at 18% on at 11a - 7p
Back to low blues at8p and lights off at 10:30p
8.5 hrs of darkness

If my issue is algae going sexual, is my best option then to keep blues on all evening instead of 6.5 of pure darkness ? I can add red as much red blue green or white as well or straight blues ?

 

[vetteguy53081]

If my issue is algae going sexual, is my best option then to keep blues on all evening instead of 6.5 of pure darkness ? I can add red as much red blue green or white as well or straight blues ?

Low red - straight blue ok