algae/lighting

[eddie]

I started having some green algae appear so I cut back on my lighting. When I did this, the algae became worse. I am almost positive the algae is due to the lighting since the other side of my tank which has different lighting system has no algae. Beside reducing lighting does anyone have a different suggestion?

[caferacermike]

Are the bulbs older than about 7 months? The spectrums will fall out and the algae will thrive while higher organisms will shut down. You dind't mention so I just thought I'd toss it out there.

[eddie]

The bulbs are new-- 2-3 months old.

[gjuarez]

Its not about the lighting, its about the parameters. Check you phosphates and the trates. What type of algae are we talking about?

[fishcrazy]

I have been having the same problem, tested my water and the nitrates where higher then ever! Don't know why my nitrates have all of a sudden risen but I think it's the cause of the algae. Maybe, because i have gotten lazy with water changes?

[eddie]

My parameters are in line. It is a bright green algae. The tank is over 2yrs old

[GaryP]

Whenever there is a nuisance algae problem it can usually be tracked back to an excess of nutrients. Ecologists use the term "limiting nutrient" to explain this.

Basically there are 3 key nutrients in algae growth. Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Light. The one that is present at the lowest levels is almost always the limiting nutrient. Light is never the limiting nutrient. In our case that is phosphorus (phosphates). You may be getting zero readings from a phosphate test kit and still be seeing algae growth. This is because of two reasons: 1. Sufficient phosphates may be present at levels below the detection limits of your kit. 2. the common test kits do not measure another form of phosphate (meta) that is present in water that usually exists at higher levels then what is being test for (ortho).

So, turn your lights back up and look at your water chemistry.

[safeuerwehr]

eddie, are you using a protein skimmer?

[GaryP]

One more thing.

When you cut back the lights the algae just slows down its growth. If you do not address the phsphates, the amount will just continue to increase. You are adding phosphates to the system every time you feed the tank.

If you are trying to wait the algae out, the algae will win. They have more patience. When the lights go back on, the higher phosphates just causes a huge algae explosion.

[eddie]

i do have a skimmer.

[eddie]

alsot the phosphate level is less than .1mg/liter. I use the seachem kit.