Algae problem? cause?

[reefgeek84]

I have a 12 gallon eclipse system. 1" of SB with about 14lbs of fiji rock.

Stock-
Some mushrooms and ploylps
1 false perc
1 very small hippo tang(please no preaching on that this tank is to small, he is about an 1" long at the most, and is fine for now, i am working on getting my 55gal up and going so this is temp)
1 Royal Gramma

Its been established for about 1 year and half.

I uprgraded the lighting, so now there are 2 15W AN 18,000K and 50/50.

Some of the rocks had green turf algae, but now has turned into a red turf algae, but its very short in legnth. I use a 5 stage ro/di unit for all water put into the tank. 10% weekly water change.

The only levels i have are-

Sal. 1.024
Amm. 0
Nitrate-0
PH 8.4
temp- 78F

So what might be the cause of this? I am thinking maybe the 18,000k bulb? i should i switch to a 6,500k one?

Any help would be great.

 

[inlandreef]

How much do you feed a day? If you feed to much you can have a algae outbreak. Also How often do you do water changes and how much water is exchanged?

 

[reefgeek84]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6478065#post6478065 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by inlandreef
How much do you feed a day? If you feed to much you can have a algae outbreak. Also How often do you do water changes and how much water is exchanged?

Weekly water changes 10% w/ ro/di water
I feed every other day, brine shrimp plus and cut the cube in half.

 

[inlandreef]

OK, have you checked your phosphate levels?

 

[reefgeek84]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6478992#post6478992 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by inlandreef
OK, have you checked your phosphate levels?

I can not check that...would it be phosphates, even though i am using ro/di water?

 

[reefgeek84]

anyone else?

 

[kinerson]

Phosphates can be added with food especially frozen food. You mentioned that you feed cubed brine shrimp? That maybe a source. It would be worth checking.

Greg

 

[Samala]

Cut the cube, thaw the shrimp out, rinse in freshwater and apply any enrichment all before feeding. That should cut any incoming PO4 levels down considerably and might help thin the turf population. You might want to look into setting up a fuge for growing macroalgaes (Chaetomorpha, Ulva) in the meantime to outcompete the turf algaes. Might be able to put the Chaeto right into the tank.. though the tang may nibble it.

>Sarah

 

[doodoobrown]

you said you just upgraded your lighting. if you did it in the last month it could be as simple as that. if that is the case it will stabilize. i just went through the same thing when i changed my bulbs. not only are your lights stronger but you are probably introducing a new sprectrum that you may not have previously had

 

[gsrracer]

interesting

 

[kinerson]

I ended up growing the very algae in my regium that was taking over the tank. I put it under 24 hour lighting while the display was under a normal photo period. Turf algae will outcompete popular types of Calurpa etc by as much as 4 to 1 (according to Anthony Calfo's book).

Greg

 

[ridinfast03]

Was the rock completley cured before adding it to the tank?

 

[reefgeek84]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6528462#post6528462 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ridinfast03
Was the rock completley cured before adding it to the tank?

Its been in there for over a year now, and yes it was cured.

 

[doodoobrown]

could still be the lights. its hard to tell though w/o a phosphate test. are you getting ro/di from a store or are you making it? take it to a store to test if you dont have a kit. if you make the water take that to the store too. your filters may be bad and you not realize it. with a little more info we can probably help you a little better.

 

[sidjam]

i would guess that 3 fish in a 12g is causing your outbreak. even with good upkeep.