Macro Algae Problem

[Devtech]

Hey guys this is the first that ive posted a question here, but ive been reading for a while now and havent really found an specific thread for this. I have had my tank for about a good year and some change now.

I have boughten over 6 different times macro algae all the time it has been cheato or feather culerpa, but this stuff keeps on just dying, it never servives, i have had the lights on 24/7 like their supposed to be, the mud bed is full bacteria algae and the other good stuff you can see that itself has life but the algae i get always just dies off.

Is there something that can be causing this? my water i get tested every 3 to 4 days ritually... Water always tested to be great quality salt levels stay at a consistent 1.022-1.023, and the trace elements are all at the level it needs to be.

i just dont know whats happening with the algae, i just bought some Cheato and some Halimeda from a fellow reefer, just got them yesterday, if theres anything like trace elements i can add to help it grow like its supposed to, please let me know.

Thanks in Advance,
GIO

 

[loosecannon]

Devtech: The moor you treat it like a fish , the better! Iron Iodin. P.S. I wish my Culerpa would just DIE!

 

[SaltyDr]

Might want to up the SG to 1.025 - 1.026 although that's not likely the problem. What kind of light do you have in your fuge?

 

[wizzbane15]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10290553#post10290553 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SaltyDr
Might want to up the SG to 1.025 - 1.026 although that's not likely the problem. What kind of light do you have in your fuge?

I agree on upping the SG a bit. Also, some iron and magnesium suplements might help improve your macroalgae. As for the lights, remember that plants are different from corals and need lower spectrum lighting to activate chlorophyl. I use a regular planted aquarium flourescent bulb that I buy from Lowe's in my 'fuge.

 

[Justdrew]

i have had the lights on 24/7 like their supposed to be

I would change that. Even plants need a period of darkness to maximize their respiration cycle. Just put the lights on opposite your tank schedule. This helps minimize pH dips.

Later
Drew

 

[Avi]

make sure the light is in the 6500K range. That's the most effective for the plant growth. Also, make sure the water temp isn't too high.

 

[Lotus99]

If your nitrates run at zero without the macroalgaes, it's likely a nitrogen deficiency. The macroalgaes use nitrates, and if they're not there, the plants will basically starve. Some of the macros (like halimeda and codium) need good calcium levels... not higher levels than normal, just good.

 

[Devtech]

thank you all for the replies, well the lfs said to keep the lights 24/7 but what would be a good timer setting for it then?...the lights im using is just the regular planting lights used in freshwater plant tanks..

my salt levels could be fixed easily im guessing. i was using the compact lighting i used for coruls in my 10 gallon tank and thought that might have been the problem so i actually bought the freshwater lighting today out of spark. hopefully it grows well.

 

[3n1]

Set your fug lights to be on when your tank light are off, and vise versa.

 

[Devtech]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10291900#post10291900 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 3n1
Set your fug lights to be on when your tank light are off, and vise versa.

just went ahead and set up the timers to turn on the lights same time as the lights turn off on the main tank. hopefully this goes well. would phytoplankton be good as an additive for the macro algae