macro algae dying

my friend just bought some macro algae a week ago and he said they are dying. they look all dried up he said. his tank is still new...about 8 - 10 weeks old.

80 gal w/ 20 gal long sump/fuge, 80lbs LR.
1 yellow tang, 1 coral beauty, 1 royal gamma, and one black white angelfish. and 1 sally light foot crab and 20 assorted snails.

he has his light (15watt NO) on 24/7. anyone know what happened?


Thanks!
GKW

 

What kind of algae... My first guess would be not enough light.

Marc.

 

Oh yes

Its dying because you don't give it time to rest. It needs at least 6-8 hours of darkness, for respiration, to accur. The algae grows during that periode of darkness. If you deprive it of it it only converts co2 into oxygene but can't feed itself. Simple biology sorry, but elementary.

 

Wow thanks I did not know too much lighting could hurt. Simple but stupid fact.
Thanks, sometimes the simplest things elude us.

 

You may also not have sufficient light. 15w is not much for a plant. Consider a 65 watt 6.5k CFL for your macro algae (do not let this light get into your tank as ALL algae likes it.)