Massive lighting upgrade promoting Algae growth and Zoa Questions

Hi guys.

I Just upgraded my lighting from barely adequate T8's to super dooper bright MH's. Basically a Wattage increase of over 1100w !!!!
I have started to notice there is a lot of brown algae growing on the sand bed now and it is starting to create oxygen bubbles. (looks similar to the process you see in planted tanks when the plants are receiving lots of lighting and are 'pearling') Also the glass is getting really dirty really quickly.
Before i had dealt with all the algae issues and i was happy to say i had no nuisance algae what so ever and i only had to clean the glass about once a week (if that). But now i have to wipe the glass once a day at the moment.
Is this algae outbreak brought about by my upgrade to the MH's?

Also, all my corals seem to be really happy about the upgrade and they all seems to be coming out to do more 'sunbathing' now. That is all except for my 2 of my zoa colonies. I have purple, green and yellow zoas. Only the yellow seems to have responded well to the upgrade. The purple and green have both retracted and seem reluctant to open up. I even moved them to the bottom of the tank in a shaded area and still seem shy. Should i just give them time and why would the yellow enjoy the increase in lighting but not the other two?

Thanks for reading another one of my long posts ;D

 

did you cycle the light? that could help with the algae. how long do you have it on for?

 

I probably didn't cycle it as much as i should have, but i didn't go in all guns blazing either. My Gf bought it as a birthday present for me, so I have had it on since then, the 27th April.

 

thats not too bad then. just tryin to help you troubleshoot your problem buddy. you should post pictures of your tank i wanna see this beast!

 

hey Luc

congrats on the lighting by the way

changes in intensity and colour spectrum can both account for an increase in algae
lighting on its own doesnt cause it, but if you have available nutrients and algae spores
then this kind of upgrade can cause them to proliferate IME

Are you running any GFO in your system - the new store I mention on your tank thread and on my coral thread , has Rowaphos in 1000g tubs , and IME Rowa is probably the best phosphate removing product we have available in the shops here
if you cant find that - there is Tropic Marin elimi phos long life and aqaumedic aquaphos
all these 3 products are GFO - dont waste your time with the Azoo brand phos remover or algae clearers , they make a reasonable place for bacteria to live but in terms of reducing phosphates they are as usefull as an ash tray on a motor cycle

Zoanthids - lowering them and shading them is a good idea IME .
I have had similar experience under T5s to be honest, same colonies of Zoanthids fragged, seemed to show better colours lower down the tank than any I added in the middle or upper layers



Steve

 

What color temperature were your t8's and what color temperature are your halides?

 

I noticed this as well with mine recently. I originally had them on top and they were fine, then with new light they retracted and stayed closed. Occasionally they would try to open after shedding the top skin and then they would close again. I moved them to the mid/bottom corner and they are all open again.

 

I'm thinking the nutrients were there before you added the lights... with all the extra light, the algae took off... lower your nutrients and work on an export method for the algae you have..

When I added lights to my tank it took about 2-3 weeks of corrective maintenance for the algae to subside.

 

Thanks for advice guys. The colour temperature is pretty much the same, its just the intensity that has changed. As for nutrients, i have had a fuge running for pretty much the whole time my tank has been up and running. I also have 2 overpowered skimmers running 24 hours a day. I don't over feed. So i dont know why there should be excess nutrients if there is. The algae isnt too bad, and my snails and tang are doing quite a good job of getting rid of it. I was just wondering if the upgrade in lighting would have been the reason for its growth in the first place. Ill try getting some Rowaphos today as im passing the market anyway.
As for the zoas. The greens have finally started to open up, if only for a few hours a day. The purples are still shy though.

 

I don't know why you'd have excess nutrients either, but I'd look into it. Algae thrives on nitrates and phosphates... my guess is the fuge macros were easily out-competing the algae in the display until the brighter lights were introduced, giving them the advantage.