Let's See Some T5 Only Lite Tanks (remember Just T5 Lite Tanks) :-)

Do you have any Cyano, the red types? I think they produce the bubbles. I am getting the same thing man.

I have noticed when I direct flow toward the affected area, that it disappears the next day. I have 2 802 powerheads & a Seio 820, thats about 1600GPH in a 55g & still does not seem to be enough.
 
I don't have the cyno, getting what seems to be dino??? I've never had a problem with any type of algae so it's def. the lights. I think horkn is right, the lights are feeding the problem or making it a better environment for the algae. What I'm interested in is how to stop this from happening. I guess this is showing that our tanks have an abundance of nutrients and with the extra light, this is being turned into algae, bacteria or whatever.
I'm really going overboard with skimming now but I don't see an end to it. I've only had the lights now for a week 1/2 so I'm being patient but I am nearing my end of being nice.
As Patrick Swayze say's in Road House, "Be nice, until it's time not be nice!" I'm at that point.
Sorry for the Road House quote.
 
I have a EuroReef ES5-2. I can't say enough about this skimmer. I had another brand that was much more expensive and that didn't come close to what this thing pull out.
bboersma79, do you think it's a lack of skimming? I'm absolutely sure it's not the skimming or skimmer that is causing this, it's the increased light. Going from PC to T5 no matter if the watts aren't that much different on the box or instruction sheet, the light is much more intense.
 
I believe that the intense lighting is definitely causing more micro growth. When I turn my tank pumps off I see many small particles in the tank, then I think to myself...is there anything in my sys that is really designed to remove all these? Probably not, I bet production is higher than consumption/export at best.

I have a 55g, w/10 fuge & growning plenty of macros & loaded with shrimp, pods...etc. Loaded with macros to the rim actually. I now question that whole macro export philosophy. Yes, I am sure they do to an extent, but not enough to keep up with all the new growth that our lights are producing. I still believe that refugiums are a great way to constanly feed your tank though.

I have a remora C skimmer, which should suffice in a 55g? Ever since 2 months into my new T5's I have been skimming about 1 cup per day. I have recently witnessed something interesting. After having one of my timers for the lights not go off for just about the entire day, my collection cup only reached less than 1/4 full.
 
We all agree it's the lights! FastUno, you probably have to think about an upgrade on your skimmer. I think the remora is usable at best. It's not a very efficient skimmer and I think that you would see a remarkable improvement on your system with a better skimmer. Do you have a sump?
I wouldn't question the macro export. Without it you'd probably need a squeegie to clean the glass every day!
I think our systems have to get used to the new lights and it might take awhile. In the meantime, we slow down feeding and increase skimming until the tank can take care of the extra growth. I can't think it's anything but the lights. . . but if anyone else has an idea, I'm sure we all would love to hear it.
 
my tank is 7 months old. i attribute the red cyano to the new tank syndrome.

after a good 2 times vacuuming the cyano up, it seems to be a lot more in control.

i have no skimmer as of yet, do bi weekly 5 gallon water changes, and all tests read nothing except i have 10 ppm nitrate, which was higher earlier in the tanks life... i only have 1 small pink skunk at the moment, and a small but efficient crew of 3 snails, and a peppermint shrimp, and a small rock with about 20 small brain corals on it, which appear to be doing quite well. (which reminds me i need a calcium test)


the first day i got the t5 ho lights on (up from the 50 watts NO flourescents) the little bit of algae really started making tons of bubbles. it grossed my GF out.

i have a sump fuge and skimmer planned soon, depending if i get the job i have been working on. the second interview is on tues the 18th:)
 
I had the same issue when I upgraded my lights. It was a miserable 2 months that I had to deal with. I couldn't believe how many bubbles I had! And these weren't little bubbles either. There were bubbles everywhere - on the rocks, on the sand, and on the glass.

I increased the flow in my tank along with the water change frequency and that seemed to help. I also got rid of the silica based DSB and went to a 1inch South Down bed.

I attributed the algae to the new lights and the excess nutrients in the tank, but it's hard to say. All I know is that since then, I haven't had another outbreak of algae (knock on wood).
 
horkn said:
my tank is 7 months old. i attribute the red cyano to the new tank syndrome.

after a good 2 times vacuuming the cyano up, it seems to be a lot more in control.

i have no skimmer as of yet, do bi weekly 5 gallon water changes, and all tests read nothing except i have 10 ppm nitrate, which was higher earlier in the tanks life... i only have 1 small pink skunk at the moment, and a small but efficient crew of 3 snails, and a peppermint shrimp, and a small rock with about 20 small brain corals on it, which appear to be doing quite well. (which reminds me i need a calcium test)


the first day i got the t5 ho lights on (up from the 50 watts NO flourescents) the little bit of algae really started making tons of bubbles. it grossed my GF out.

i have a sump fuge and skimmer planned soon, depending if i get the job i have been working on. the second interview is on tues the 18th:)
Click to expand...


You did a BTA with no skimmer or fuge? You are a brave man.
 
NewSchool04 said:
good luck with the job horkn!
Click to expand...


thanks, i hope so too:)



grim, no bta for me...i plan on my skunk hosting in a coral eventually... so that means he will not host in a coral i guess:p

i read my posts, just checking to see if my fingers flubbed and mistakenly typed BTA.. hmmm:confused:
 
Check out this web site for aternate to tek and jebco lighting this a company that make commersial grade fixtures and the GL series of lights can have up to 6 T5's and you can get it with a high temp lens the web site is www.hew.com they have so info on a couple of jobs were they replaced metal halide with these, that is what they are designed for is the replacment of metal halides. The price is well under $250 for the 6 lamp fixture. I dont know the exact price or who to contact to get a price but might look into them, I so them in a trade magizine.
 
I started off with a 26g below w/everything that I have in the 55g now. Now I have the following:

-55g 48" tank
-10g refugium growing lots of macros, the 10g is literally packed! Also plenty of life pods, shrimp, stars...etc.
-RemoraC skimmer
-2 802 powerheads @ 400gph
-1 Seio 820 @ 820GPH
-Maxi 1200 @ 300GPH feeding the refugium & overflow back to main tank. My fuge is in the back of my 55g main tank.
-70pnds LR, 1/2" aragonite fiji pink sand

Can anyone see what I might be doing wrong? I think you guys are right about the skimming. It seemed to work well in my 26g, but it's impossible for it to keep up now. I used to dose phyto & cyclo in my old tank, but now I have had to stop. That is not to say that things are doing bad in my tank, many corals doing just fine, others could be better. Levels seem to be fine, although my nitrates are at .5 at times, which I hear is acceptable?

Will try to post a tank pic tonight.

32596229.jpg
 
I think the real home run there for someone wanting to put some serious light in their tank for little money is the low profile T8 setup. It takes 20" for 6 lamps but there looks to be partial wrap around parabolic reflectors. T8's put out a ton of light if you overdrive them and you can find usable day lamps at Homedepot etc. for a fewbucks a peice. Fosters and smith.com has actinics in stock.

Their T5 reflectors are the only one's I've seen that comes close to the precision design of the Sunlight Supply and Ice Cap units but they are BIG, 6" across. I don't know that we could get enough intensity without using 2 lamps per reflector. Depending on the price that might be an option but I think I'd be looking at the T8's if I didn't already have T5's.
 
horkn said:
thanks, i hope so too:)



grim, no bta for me...i plan on my skunk hosting in a coral eventually... so that means he will not host in a coral i guess:p

i read my posts, just checking to see if my fingers flubbed and mistakenly typed BTA.. hmmm:confused:
Click to expand...

I confused you with someone else, believe it or not. Sorry for the confusing confusion.
 
no problem.. that can happen....



i like to post while i drink my brandy and cokes, so its understandable to me;)
 
horkn said:
no problem.. that can happen....



i like to post while i drink my brandy and cokes, so its understandable to me;)
Click to expand...

I like to use scotch to mix my drinks. Equal parts of Scotch, Ice and glass:D
 
i tried that once, and didnt like it. it was bushmills too.. oh well, the liver complains either way;)
 
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