green algae growth on the glass

Beau is hosting the January Meeting this coming Saturday the 14th at 6PM.  It will be BYOB as well as a snack to share and raffle items are always welcome.  It has been requested that there be “NO SHOES” on the carpet due to it being a whitish color.

He doesn’t have a tank to view but we will have plenty to discuss in hopes that it will get the NEW YEAR off to a good start.  The annual membership fees are due, so now would be a good time to get them in to our Treasurer Stacey Hahn.   Fees are $20 per individual or $25 per family

Attendance was low at the election meeting in November and no votes were taken at December’s meeting so we have decided to take votes for anyone that didn’t get the opportunity in November and will be attending this meeting.  
We will add the votes to November’s ballots and the announcement will be made during the meeting so we can go forward.
NOMINATIONS:
President:  Jim & Nacho
V. President: Ed, Bo & Daniel Leigey
Treasurer: Stacey
Secretary: Carmen & Angie

Let’s hope the New Year brings new members, returning members and new ideas.  The club is always willing to take suggestions to get the most out of the hobby we all enjoy.

Please PM Nate C. by clicking here for directions if you are not a club member.  

Club members can click here to go to the club member only forum to get directions.

Hope to see you all there!

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[jerryB]

I seem to be having trouble lately with algae appearing on the glass. I am getting alot of light now with the longer days and the tanks location, which receives light from 6am to 8:30 pm. I also have upgraded my lights to 500 watts of MH 14k and 216 watts of actinic T5. I think light is my problem, but is it the sunlight or the artificial light? I clean the glass and in 2 days time it has significant growth back on it.

[Ed]

Hello Jerry,
      Certain Light can contribute to algae growth.  More photo period or  less can affect this also. Its often rumored that reflective light from windows produces this type of rapid growing algae.   I would look at other factors besides light that can contribute.  The good thing is algae in beneficial to removing waste.   

When ever we move Live rock from one type of lighting to another there is usually Die off and regrowth.  Die off of  Coraline Algae and other animals(sponge, etc) produces a food source for other algaes.    Keep doing water changes, feed only as needed, keep using filtered (RO/DI) water mixed as required.  Keep the flow going so your benificial bacteria, your skimmer, your filters work at best ability.  Keep Temps as stable as possible.
Check the TDS(total Desolved Solids) in your filtered water.    You could use charcoal, GFO-Granular Feroc Oxide as media to slowly remove phosphates.     You could use a UV sterilizer to slow growth.
I have a spare one sitting around if you want to borrow it.   

What ever you do, do it slowly.   Too much of a change usually ends up with some type of recourse.
The key is balance.
Good Luck,
Ed

[reefbegood]

also age of the bulb might be a factor, how old are the bulbs

[jerryB]

Thanks for the info guys. I am not sure what the problem is. The bulbs are brand new. I am getting about 15 hrs of light a day between artificial and natural. I will try a few water changes and see if that helps. I have noticed that my temp has gone from 76 to 77 with the old lights to 80 with the 500 watt MH.

[Nate C.]

15 hours of light a day is a ton.  Is the algae just a film on the glass?  If so, it's probably diatoms, and you will just need to get a magnetic cleaner and keep the glass wiped down.  It is something we all seem to deal with.

[jerryB]

Yes it is just a film. I can clean the glass completely off and have it all back in 24 hrs. I have had it before, but never to this extent. I will drop the MH back to 10 hrs a day and see how that works.

[The Apprentice]

I seem to be having trouble lately with algae appearing on the glass. I am getting alot of light now with the longer days and the tanks location, which receives light from 6am to 8:30 pm. I also have upgraded my lights to 500 watts of MH 14k and 216 watts of actinic T5. I think light is my problem, but is it the sunlight or the artificial light? I clean the glass and in 2 days time it has significant growth back on it.

Jerry I think Ed has diagnosed your problem (P04) but we could use a little more info. How big is your tank? How big is your bio-load? What kind of skimmer do you have?
I would recomend you getting a UV, Also look into some more snails to keep that grass mowed but you main problem is Phosphate, To reduce it you need to increase water changes and cut down on feeding, Now if you have a small bio-load then are you using ro-di water as this is a real good source of phosphate removal. Help us with more info Thanks & good luck.
Jeff Lee

[jerryB]

Thanks for the advise everyone. I was able to conclude that a combination of poor flow due to one of my 4 powerheads being out, and too much light caused my problem. Water quality is better than it ever has been with phosphates at 0,nitrates at 5, calc. 440, alk at 9 and ph at 8.2. I backed my MH down to 8 hrs a day, replaced the bad powerhead, siphoned out some of the algae from the sand bed and soon enough it all cleared up.

[Nate C.]

good to hear you got a handle on it Jerry.  Fighting algae is never fun.