Lighting/algae question

[NanCrab]

So, I went semi-dark for 3 days only having my t5 (one 2 bulb fixture 48” on 72” tank) to try to cut down on algae growth. It seemed to work until today when I now see explosive growth after turning the LED’s back on for a day.
Does algae grow under the blue only spectrum of lighting? I really hate to go total blackout because my corals will suffer. Even though my diatom algae is exploding my coral growth is also very good so it’s a toss up. I’ve been told the “ugly stage” resolves on its own...true or false?

 

[Steve Burton]

If it gets to bad you could always move the coral to back to the QT tank for a while. The uglies won't last forever.

 

[Rickdareefa]

Please provide pics. As far as spectrum i believe, someone correct me if im wrong, algae grows best in red, green, and white spectrum. If possible decrease intensity of leds test and keep phosphates and nitrates down and manually remove when possible also a refugium may help

 

[Rickdareefa]

There will definitely be some battles in a new tank, i would wait for it to go away on its own. Be proactive and go to battle cuz when you win the war its extremely rewarding.

 

[Rickdareefa]

There will definitely be some battles in a new tank, i would wait for it to go away on its own. Be proactive and go to battle cuz when you win the war its extremely rewarding.

Sorry meant to say" wouldn't wait for it to go away on its own"

 

[NanCrab]

My nitrates are 5 ppm and phosphate .01. I have a refugium with matrix, sand and 2 mangrove plants in it.
These pics are under blues but all that black on the sand is brown algae not pretty black Hawaiian sand

 

[Rickdareefa]

My nitrates are 5 ppm and phosphate .01. I have a refugium with matrix, sand and 2 mangrove plants in it.
These pics are under blues but all that black on the sand is brown algae not pretty black Hawaiian sand

Too blue in the pics to tell. Without the camera filter pic will look better in white

 

[NanCrab]

Too blue in the pics to tell. Without the camera filter pic will look better in white

Under whites as requested.

 

[Tanster2]

How is your flow?

 

[NanCrab]

High. I can’t post a video on here but it’s good. Plenty of coral movement all over the tank but not blowing things over.

 

[NanCrab]

Also as absolutely ugly as it is, the corals are creating new polyps like crazy so something must be right in there.

 

[urbanknight]

@NanCrab, if it's only tank uglies as previously described, as Steve said, it will eventually go away. I would only caution you to insure that it's not the dreaded dinoflagellates! I only mention this because I just finished a successful battle with dinos. I have a microscope and was able to identify the nasty little buggers. If the brown algae looking stuff has strings and small bubbles attached to some of them, chances are it's dinos. Allowed to grow unchecked, they will eventually take over your DT and kill your corals. Having now seen your new pics I don't believe it's dinos. Just new tank uglies. Use a turkey baster to blow your rocks off. Vacuum the sandbed into a filter sock placed in your sump. Hang in there!

 

[NanCrab]

Thanks. Strings yes, small bubbles no.

 

[RonS]

I started my tank in August, and have only been diatom-free (well, mostly) for a few weeks now. Definitely vacuum the stuff off. Also, run the smallest micron filter sock you can find - I was running 100u socks and cleaning them almost daily - it's amazing how much that will pull out. With the NO3 at 5 ppm, I think you'll be alright relatively quickly.

As for corals and low light... think about storms in the tropics. They are able to go days with very cloudy weather.

Breathe. You'll be ok - you are too conscientious not to be!!

--Ron

 

[RonS]

Oh, forgot to add - get that UV tuned for algae-removal flow....

 

[NanCrab]

Oh, forgot to add - get that UV tuned for algae-removal flow....

Ok I will have to see how much faster I can get that pump to run. Thx

 

[sharis100]

UV will help. Conchs and gobies and other critters to stir up sand help. Also, the good old turkey baster, vacuum into filter socks etc. work as above. Looks like the normal tank ugly phase to me- which doesn’t last forever and eventually will get better.

 

[NanCrab]

UV will help. Conchs and gobies and other critters to stir up sand help. Also, the good old turkey baster, vacuum into filter socks etc. work as above. Looks like the normal tank ugly phase to me- which doesn’t last forever and eventually will get better.

Thank you. I keep getting algae eaters but they have to visit the QT first. Tang is in there now but is a voracious eater, very healthy looking. stress hasn’t brought out any ich so not sure how long she will be in there. May be making space for new critters in there soon.

 

[NanCrab]

I started my tank in August, and have only been diatom-free (well, mostly) for a few weeks now. Definitely vacuum the stuff off. Also, run the smallest micron filter sock you can find - I was running 100u socks and cleaning them almost daily - it's amazing how much that will pull out. With the NO3 at 5 ppm, I think you'll be alright relatively quickly.

As for corals and low light... think about storms in the tropics. They are able to go days with very cloudy weather.

Breathe. You'll be ok - you are too conscientious not to be!!

--Ron

What micron size socks should I get? 100 or 200? Thanks!

 

[Steve Burton]

Plenty of great suggestions here, manual removal -filter socks, UV, Turkey baster, sand vacuuming and stirring. And Time! I wouldn't count on any algae eaters to help you with this. And the best suggestion of all, from RonS - "Breathe. You'll be ok"