Algae vs. Anemone

[Scoobydude825]

Here is my problem. I had a HUGE hair algae outbreak a few weeks ago so I had to cut my lighting back. I need help finding the correct balance so that my Long Tent. Anemone can thrive while not providing too much light so that the hair algae gets out of control again. Right now I run the actinics for 7 hours a day and the 10,000k lights for about 6hrs15mins.
This amount of light is working wonders for my algea problems. But I'm afraid its not enough for my anemone.
Any advice is welcomed.

 

[Tron87]

So long as the light is intense enough, the nem should be able to go quite a while with good feeding. Weeks. If your lighting is deficient to begin with then you are only compunding the probem.

I think you will be fine so long as the actual lighting hardware is competent.

 

[Slakker]

The algae problem probably has a lot more factors than just your lighting. Cutting your photoperiod might just be a temporary relief if you can't figure out what is really causing it.

As for the nem...what is the type and wattage of your lighting?

 

[Scoobydude825]

Sorry I left that out. I ahve the Nova Extreme T-5 4x54watts. The algea problem started when I got my lights so I attributed the outbreak to my lighting. I have since cut back on the photo period and switched to RO/DI water. My LFS syays the lighting would be ok for my nem. I hope they weren't just trying to make a sale.

 

[Slakker]

I think that should be good for an LTA. T-5's pack quite a punch. Hopefully someone with some experience can pop in and verify.

The outbreak i'm sure has to do some with the lighting, but I'd be inclined to think that there's some reason that it's flourishing so well...nutrient rich water or some such. I could be totally, totally wrong.

 

[picassoman]

First, is it green hair algae or red slime algae? The only reason for green algae to grow is from too much light. Check your phosphates and nitrates as well. PO4 should be at 0 or a hair above. Get NO3 to 10 or less. RODI is going to work wonders though, but it'll take a few W/C. some herbivores will do the trick - crabs, snails, but maybe the best, a yellow tang.

 

[apayne]

Are yellow tangs realy that good? I am having the same problem w/ MH lighting.

Thanks,
Aaron

 

[Scoobydude825]

My algae problem is under control now and I don't want a tang in my 55 gallon tank. I just wanted to make sure that 7 hrs of light is enough for my LTA.
I learned the hard way about using tap water for my aquarium. I'll never do that again.

 

[FullPull]

Scoobydude,

Don't feel alone...I have the same size tank and same light with the same problem. Hair algae everywhere. Like you I cut my photo period back as well, after removing every rock and scrubbinng like a mad man and almost loosing an emerald crab and a peppermint shrimp in the process. Hair algae is a major Pain in the A**. Hopefully I can find a happy medium.

 

[RightWinger210]

Yeah def. check out your phosphates and nitrates, MAJOR algae fertilizer, as well as coral growth inhibitor. Go RO/DI if possible, i know a lot of people who used tap and had algae problems and got frustrated enough to get a filter and now it is a lot better, along with phosphate reducers in the sump and frequent w/c to get rid of nitrates. IME Sally lightfoot crabs are a little more active and gentler to corals and live rock than emaralds, they eat lots of algae, too. As soon as I put one in, it sank to the bottom and started picking off diatoms and algae like it was starved.