Fuge Cleaned out in 3 days

My algae died, almost all of it.

The fuge was full about 3 days, packed with algae. Now there is only a little algae left.

What the hell happen?

I had the lights on for the fuge for 2 days straight, could that have done it? I've left the lights on before, for longer. Stupid digital timer, can't get it to work.

The fuge also overflowed on me and I had to shut down the pump to the sump for about 10 hours.

The lighting for the fuge is a small cora life PC light box, with 2 50/50 bulbs. Also the little PC light that came with the hood on the 12 gallon. Looks like a 6500 k bulb.

Everything else seems to be fine in the tank, levels are normal. I just added a colt coral but I really don't think that made a difference.

I've also just changed out all my lighting in the main tank, been switching out PCs for the last 3 weeks.

Today or tomorrow I'll be adding new additions, fish will be in QT, but the fan worms I ordered are going in. Does anyone think it's a bad idea adding them?

The was one other thing, I let my SG get to 1.028, over the course of a couple of hours I got it down to 26, could a rapid change in SG kill all the algae off?

If anyone can help please let me know.

I'm going to be doing a water change today, I hope that will help.

Oh yeah, my skimmer is also broken at the moment, maybe that's it?

 

How your ph level?

 

Quick Dip says 7.6 but the 2 regular tests I did say 8.2, so I'm trusting the drop tests. Quick dips have never really worked, I use them mostly for Nitrate and Nitrite readings.

I'm going to add some buff while I'm making RO.

For some reason my SG is up to 29 now, have no idea how that happened, I've added top off and there is the same amount of water as always. I'm going to do a 25% water change today and a 25% tomorrow. I'll have to make sure to bring down the SG in steps.

 

I'm betting on the rapid change in SG and the high level. I'll guess that you ruptured the algae's cell walls. At least it only some Macro.

BTW, my office is in Buffalo Grove IL right off 294. It is a little bit of a hike, but if you need some Chaeto after you get your SG back in line shoot me a pm.

Good luck

 

All is well

Macro is growing back, and all levels are normal.

 

I dont think it was the light staying on for 2 days that killed the macro because i know people who run their refugium lights 24/7 without a problem (less ph swings). It also depends on the macro. Caulerpa for example is really productive with continuous lighting. Other algaes can vary. Im guessing it was the SG swing also, but who knows it could have been something else.

 

A P.H swing and a 24/7 lighting cycle will do it what type alga did you have ? Also how do you test the S.G a swing arm meter or a refractometer ? If its a swing arm do you clean it on a regular bases ?

 

Good point Tangster- I have also had problems steming from inacuracy of a swing arm type- a refractometer is always worth its wieght in gold!

 

I bought a refractometer within a month of the purchase of my tank. The swing arm type doesn't work at all.

And yes, it is worth it's weight in gold. I'm thinking of getting a constant digital station.

I'm really not sure what type of algae it is, mainly because its not the type I ordered. Each piece is very long and slender, with slits in it all the way down.

 

Salinity will possibly be a cause. Insufficient amounts of ammonium, nitrates, carbon dioxide and Dissolved oxygen can also bring upon this situation, iron supplement will also help with your seccess with Macro.
As for the light, that wouldn't make a difference, unless the lights were off for an extended time frame>