Upgraded Lights And Started Algae! How Long It Last? Advice!!!

[fasturtle30]

I just upgraded lights 2 weeks ago and started to get green algae over my glass only! how bad is gonna get? how long is gonna stay in my tank? what should i do to reduce it when it gets too much?
Im running actninics 10hrs and MH 6hours! my fixture is like 10" above my water level. Advice please!!!

I upgraded from 130w T5 to 2x250w MH with 4x55 blue actinics suplementation! my tank is over a year old and i got like 800 gph fwater flow!

[fasturtle30]

any comments guys? anyone experienced this?

[Skeptic_07]

I use this (http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~SearchStr~~action~view~idProduct~MF1113~idCategory~FIMTAMCMFM~category~Mag_Float_125_Mag net_Cleaner_(Glass)___Medium_(125_Gal)_Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies_Maintenance_Algae_Cleaning_Magnet s_Magnets_Floating~vendor~.html) .

[Toddrtrex]

All the new lights did was shed light on an existing problem ( pun intended ). And the existing problem is excess nutrients.

What are your water levels at? Could try increasing your water changes, feed less, and even removing the bio-balls from your wet-dry.

[fasturtle30]

the link didnt work skeptic_07 !!!

[fasturtle30]

well im not feeding too much thinking about that factor! i removed the bio balls long time ago and replaced with live rock, my parameters are acceptable SG=1.024, ph=8.0 ammonia=0, nitrites=0, the only thing is nitrates= 0.15 ! By now my main idea is to increase water changes ill start tomorrow ! any other ideas?

[Toddrtrex]

Have you tested for phosphates?

[fasturtle30]

being honest didnt test for phospates yet i was going to test calcium and alkalinity tonight! how much can affect phospates on algae problems todd? what levels would be acceptable?

[reefnetworth]

PO4 should be @ 0.0, Phosban or Purolite in your filter will work.

[fasturtle30]

maybe that'd be a factor my Mh are 10K i read a lot about people who likes to switch to 14k i didnt do it yet!

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12768404#post12768404 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fasturtle30
being honest didnt test for phospates yet i was going to test calcium and alkalinity tonight! how much can affect phospates on algae problems todd? what levels would be acceptable?

Pretty much any measurable ( with the common test kits ) phosphates will cause algae issues. And actually the test kit might show none, since it is being used up by the algae.

[reefnetworth]

10K to 14K will help tremendously. plus it makes your tank and its in habitants look sooo much better, plus it will help your coralline grow faster as long as you keep your Alk & Ca levels med-high and your Mg @ 3X's your Ca level.

[reefnetworth]

do you use RO/DI water when mixing salt and as top-off?

[fasturtle30]

i guess y may be thinking on purchasing new bulbs then! i tough about other things but no the MH. and yes i use RO/DI water for both !

[reefnetworth]

i dont think its a good idea to have two yellow tangs in a 55.
tangs should be in a 75G minimum. they will get as big as a dinner plate when full grown, plus they need room to swim and "dart" around LR as they do in the wild.

[reefnetworth]

dont buy cheap bulbs, they do not look as good as brand name bulbs such as Ushio, etc.

[fasturtle30]

well i only have 1 YT i moved one to my local LFS that info was outdated! talking about brands so u recommend ushio?