New light causing major issues (cyano)

[saltyMJ]

Hi,

I upgraded LED lights on my 30 gallon reef tank about a month ago and things have gone crazy. I followed the instructions and took about 1-2 weeks to slowly ramp up the lights to 40% blue and 10% white. Well out of nowhere there is a huge red cyano bloom and it's really damaging all my soft corals and lps. It's so bad I can't keep the corals cleaned off. My toadstool, GSP, and clove polyps won't even open up, theyve been closed for 2 or 3 days now. Been battling the cyano for 1-2 weeks. How long is this going to last? Are the lights the issue? I really don't want to add any chemicals or anything like that. Trying to wait it out but I'm afraid my corals aren't going to make it.

Tank is 13 months old
Ammonia- 0.25
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-15
Ph-8.2
Phosphate-0
KH-9
Calcium-400
Mag-1305

 

[Spare time]

Are you sure its cyano and not dinos? I ask because you said 0 phosphate. What test kit are you using for phosphate?

 

[saltyMJ]

Are you sure its cyano and not dinos? I ask because you said 0 phosphate. What test kit are you using for phosphate?

I guess I'm not sure. Just looked like cyano to me. It covers the sand and rocks and all corals, pretty much everything. I'm using the API master reef kit. I attached two pictures of the red algae

 

[Spare time]

I guess I'm not sure. Just looked like cyano to me. It covers the sand and rocks and all corals, pretty much everything. I'm using the API master reef kit. I attached two pictures of the red algae

You need a different phosphate test as that can't distinguish between 0 and 0.25, when the recommended values are around 0.03-0.1ppm. If it is red, its cyano, if it is brown, its probably dinos.

 

[saltyMJ]

You need a different phosphate test as that can't distinguish between 0 and 0.25, when the recommended values are around 0.03-0.1ppm. If it is red, its cyano, if it is brown, its probably dinos.

What phosphate test would you recommend? Could that be the main cause of the algae? I find it odd that I had no issues with this algae until I added the new light

 

[Spare time]

What phosphate test would you recommend? Could that be the main cause of the algae? I find it odd that I had no issues with this algae until I added the new light

Light should never be a limiting factor for algae in a reef tank. It should be competition and predation. I would just suggest another phosphate test as the API one is pretty much useless in a reef tank. Hanna ULR phosphate or phosphorus, or the salifert test would be the ones I'd recommend. It could also just be a temporary ugly from upgrading to a proper light.

 

[saltyMJ]

Light should never be a limiting factor for algae in a reef tank. It should be competition and predation. I would just suggest another phosphate test as the API one is pretty much useless in a reef tank. Hanna ULR phosphate or phosphorus, or the salifert test would be the ones I'd recommend. It could also just be a temporary ugly from upgrading to a proper light.

Why do you think my GSP and toadstool aren't opening? This is the third day of them not opening up at all. Do you think it's the red algae or the light? Maybe I should dim the light as much as I can? I currently have it on 30% blue and 10% white.

 

[tedfisher496]

I guess I'm not sure. Just looked like cyano to me. It covers the sand and rocks and all corals, pretty much everything. I'm using the API master reef kit. I attached two pictures of the red algae

Ide start with a new set of test kit's.

 

[paragrouper]

Why do you think my GSP and toadstool aren't opening? This is the third day of them not opening up at all. Do you think it's the red algae or the light? Maybe I should dim the light as much as I can? I currently have it on 30% blue and 10% white.

At the bottom of the thread in the link below, @vetteguy53081 gives a pretty comprehensive overview of Cyanobacteria and what to do about it.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/help-needed-cyanobacteria.1006308/