Macro in fuge with no light = browning of sps and hair algae?

[compuatic]

I've been dosing vodka + mb7 for a few months now and things have been good. about 4 weeks ago i got some chaeto from a local guy and threw it in my empty fuge to build up a pod population. I've been lazy and didn't throw a light on there. the fuge/sump is completely dark since it sits inside my enclosed stand.

just around 3 weeks ago i noticed an uptick in hair algae which i had no trace off before in the display and bit of color loss on my sps. Not knowing why, i increased my vodka from the maintenance dose of 1ml to 2ml daily. It really hasn't helped much.

Here is what i'm thinking, is having the chaeto with zero light actually causing it to degenerate and thus releasing phosphates etc which is now feeding the nusance algae? or should the lack of light only stunt/slow its growth with no ill effect?

 

[dudley moray]

" chaeto with zero light actually causing it to degenerate and thus releasing phosphates etc which is now feeding the nusance algae?

bingo!!

 

[joker295]

yepper roonie... !!! get a light on it or take it out....

 

[dzhuo]

Interesting. My experience shows differently: Surprise that my macro grows faster in dark. Currently, my fuge light only comes on 2 hours a day and the macro continue to grow much faster than when I lighted it 18 hours.

 

[sslak]

Interesting. My experience shows differently: Surprise that my macro grows faster in dark. Currently, my fuge light only comes on 2 hours a day and the macro continue to grow much faster than when I lighted it 18 hours.

2 hour light cycle is completely different than 0 light. 18 hours of light was likely too long of a cycle. Plants need dark hours as well to grow correctly, but they will die without any light at all.

Plants are photsynthetic, storing sunlight energy during the day and growing at night (and some during the day). They may show more growth during the night hours, but without any type of light cycle they will not grow.

Plants need light to grow.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-09/uoc--big090908.php

 

[dzhuo]

The grow isn't from the 2 hours; it's from complete darkness (or maybe just a little tiny bit of light in the basement). I have since increase from 0 hour to 2 hours. FYI... Lots of people light their fuge 24x7 or in a reverse lighting period with their main display. By that standard, 18 hours doesn't seem excessively long. Probably unnecessary in my case tho.

Plants need light to grow.

Yes I know that. Thx for the reminder.

 

[Eurobeaner]

I light mine 24/7. Growing insane! Tripled in size in less than a month.

Go get a cheap clip on light fixture for $6, and a CFL (swirl looking light) "100watt equivalent" in DAYLIGHT color. I bought a 5 pack from menards for less than $10. Just plug the light in 24/7 for now and see if your problem fixes itself. If it gets worse, do night only.