Lighting and algae....

[fryebaby9431]

I am new to the hobby, I bought an already established 40 gallon Breeder online and transferred half the water, live rock submerged in water, 4 damsels and a crab and snail, since then I have added a porcupine puffer and sand sifting sea star. Some of my rocks have thick grass like algae not them, but I want to keep growing coralline algae. What is a good lighting schedule for my fowlr tank that won't override my tank with algae?

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[mcgyvr]

Run the lights when you/someone will be there to enjoy the tank.. Plain and simple..

Keep nitrates/phosphates low so that algae does not become a problem..
Add a mexican turbo snail or other similar snails to eat the algae.. Or a fish like a lawnmower blenny..

 

[RobZilla04]

A media reactor with bio pellets and/or GFO will help export the phosphates and nitrates. Once they are under control you can remove the reactors.

 

[cscultho]

Be careful with removing your N03 and P04. Id recommend keeping those levels elevated.
When i did this it created a dino bloom that is unmanageable. Dino's are the worst alage to manage and make the hobby not fun!!

 

[Xxero]

+1 on the Mexican Turbo Snail.

Also, the recommended minimum tank size for the Porcupine Pufferfish is 180 gallons. You may need to transfer or upgrade in the future. :bigeyes:

 

[RobZilla04]

Be careful with removing your N03 and P04. Id recommend keeping those levels elevated.
When i did this it created a dino bloom that is unmanageable. Dino's are the worst alage to manage and make the hobby not fun!!

Define elevated?

Po4 <.03ppm
Nitrate <.2ppm

^ Those are ideal.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/

 

[fryebaby9431]

Run the lights when you/someone will be there to enjoy the tank.. Plain and simple..

Keep nitrates/phosphates low so that algae does not become a problem..
Add a mexican turbo snail or other similar snails to eat the algae.. Or a fish like a lawnmower blenny..

Thank you for the advice. I have brought in water samples to my local lfs and I know they have been testing ph, nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia, do they also test for phosphates? I also picked up a lawnmower blenny today as well


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[mcgyvr]

do they also test for phosphates?

Did you ask them too? They should be able to test whatever you want them too..

 

[GQsmooth]

I am new to the hobby
40 gallon Breeder
porcupine puffer

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:headwallblueo your research before buying certain fish

 

[mcgyvr]

:headwallblueo your research before buying certain fish

But its so cute