I think dh calculated 1.5-2 watts/gallon? (could be wrong)
Murky tank - this is such a bummer!
Thanks for your help and insight!
Janet
Murky tank - this is such a bummer!
Thanks for your help and insight!
Janet
"micro" algae bloom?
- Thread starter glassfish
- Start date
I have personally had some trouble with the higher K bulbs, my experience was with the 10,000K. I use something around 5000-6500 k now. As far as the lights out. you really need to cover the tank and make it devoid of all light for the blackout to work quickly and efecciently. I always go 4-5 days. Diatom filters and micron filter will work according to what I've read (never tried them), Water changes help with stability of your tank, and future prevention but one of the things I learned the hard way was that water changes won't ever beat the algea once it's in there. As far as brands of filter, the marineland magnums with the micron cartridge has been mentioned as one that works, UV sterilizers also work, but Once again they are a band-aid that doesn't address the cause.
HTH
HTH
Thanks, daveedka-
So... how did you determine that the lighting was the cause? Just did a blackout then change the lights?
That is my primary ruleout for out tank, since that just seems like a lot of light.
So... how did you determine that the lighting was the cause? Just did a blackout then change the lights?
That is my primary ruleout for out tank, since that just seems like a lot of light.
So... how did you determine that the lighting was the cause? Just did a blackout then change the lights?
I guess you could say I surmised it because I upgraded my 55 from a cool white to a fancy 10000 k super daylight at the reccomendation of the LFS. I changed nothing else in the tank or maintenance and the my water turned pea green two weeks later so bad that I couldn't even see my Oscars in a 55. After fighting it for some time I put the cool white bulb back in on a hunch, and didn't get any more blooms. In those days I didn't own a nitrate test kit, but I did do a 40% weekly water change. The only other time I have had blooms is when I got really slack on water changes.
I guess you could say I surmised it because I upgraded my 55 from a cool white to a fancy 10000 k super daylight at the reccomendation of the LFS. I changed nothing else in the tank or maintenance and the my water turned pea green two weeks later so bad that I couldn't even see my Oscars in a 55. After fighting it for some time I put the cool white bulb back in on a hunch, and didn't get any more blooms. In those days I didn't own a nitrate test kit, but I did do a 40% weekly water change. The only other time I have had blooms is when I got really slack on water changes.
Phosphate culprit
I had the same murky water problem after I installed a 260-watt Coralife over my 80 gallon fresh water tank. I was sure that the cause of the algae bloom was the lights, since I had been running them daily for about 12-14 hours daily. After about 2-3 months of almost total blackout, the murky water remained.
Frustrated, I went and asked one of the guys from the LHS. He directed me to the possibility that it might be due to a build up of phosphate in my tank. You see, I've been feeding fish flakes to my community fishes. Apparently, algae loves the phosphate content of fish flakes. The cure he suggested was to keep changing the water once a week. I had been neglecting the water change for about 2 months. After 2 weekly water changes (about 15-20% water of the tank), the water cleared up enough to see the back of the tank. I then did 2 daily water changes (about 15-20%). About 4-5 days after the back-to-back water change, the water completely cleared up.
I too was concerned about adding anymore chemicals into the tank. I didn't use a phosphate test kit before the water changes, but base on my success, it must have been the phosphate. Hope this helps.
I had the same murky water problem after I installed a 260-watt Coralife over my 80 gallon fresh water tank. I was sure that the cause of the algae bloom was the lights, since I had been running them daily for about 12-14 hours daily. After about 2-3 months of almost total blackout, the murky water remained.
Frustrated, I went and asked one of the guys from the LHS. He directed me to the possibility that it might be due to a build up of phosphate in my tank. You see, I've been feeding fish flakes to my community fishes. Apparently, algae loves the phosphate content of fish flakes. The cure he suggested was to keep changing the water once a week. I had been neglecting the water change for about 2 months. After 2 weekly water changes (about 15-20% water of the tank), the water cleared up enough to see the back of the tank. I then did 2 daily water changes (about 15-20%). About 4-5 days after the back-to-back water change, the water completely cleared up.
I too was concerned about adding anymore chemicals into the tank. I didn't use a phosphate test kit before the water changes, but base on my success, it must have been the phosphate. Hope this helps.
