Algae issues with T5s

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reddead38

reddead38

Piranha
MFK Member
Aug 13, 2013
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Ok long story short i had purchased a 4' 200w 4 bulb T5 light because i had wanted to do a planted tank. plants did very well until the black algae started. the plants were doing ok but the algae just looked so bad and i couldn't seem to clean enough off. i decided to scrap the planted idea and now i'm wondering if there is a way that i can still use my super bright t5 that makes the tank look awesome without the algae..

i was thinking about possibly trying a clear window tint that has 99% UV protection or maybe some color filter to stop the algae without forfeiting my lighting.

Currently i keep the light on for about 6-7 hours from 6pm to 12pm and do 40% Wcs a week. i'm running a 30 gal Sump on a 120 gal understocked tank.

any suggestions not involving chemicals would be appreciated. (i have had bad luck with chemicals and the fish in the tank are very sensitive to water params.

thanks
 
UV sterilization....and less hours with the light....
Black algae is a form of red algae and is an indicator of high phosphate and low carbon dioxide....and you may want to reduce the time the light is on if you want that super bright light.
Get a test kit to measure ortho-phosphate...not total phosphate. ..and strive for a 1ppm concentration. Carbon dioxide should be around 15-25ppm. If you have high nitrates, over 10ppm, reducing these nutrients will help reduce or eliminate red aglae.
Personally, I like a little algae....
 
Alright, here's another opinion: UV only helps with suspended algae. Don't bother. I'd increase the light period to 12h rather than shorten it, so that the plants can outcompete algae.
Speaking of: what plans do you have?
What are your water parameters?
 
There is an inline uv sterilizer very low nitrates usually just a bit below 10ppm.. Do you think a clear tint to reduce the UV would work?
 
OTE="reddead38, post: 7358910, member: 117827"]There is an inline uv sterilizer very low nitrates usually just a bit below 10ppm.. Do you think a clear tint to reduce the UV would work?[/QUOTE]
You'll kill your plants.......
 
HarleyK said:
Alright, here's another opinion: UV only helps with suspended algae. Don't bother. I'd increase the light period to 12h rather than shorten it, so that the plants can outcompete algae.
Speaking of: what plans do you have?
What are your water parameters?
Click to expand...

Totally disagree.
I dont have red algae in my pond and it is OUTSIDE. Red algae is a product of a nutrient imbalance.
 
I know that we disagree on light period and UV.
We do, however, agree it's potentially a nutrients issue. Let's see what water parameters the OP comes back with.
 
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I took the plants out.
don't have any way to measure the co2 or other nutrients other nitrates nitrites ammonia and ph
 
Bummer.
What plants did you have?

Nitrate alone would've been a good start, phosphates also. These are good parameters to know, even without plants.
 
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