I mentioned in earlier threads an issue I had with uncontrolled brown algae blooms. Did all the conventional stuff...reduced light hours, less heavy feedings, water changes, wipe downs. It would clear for maybe a day or two then return full force. I was beginning to think I'd have to live with the blooms. But something kept bugging me. I didn't have them originally so what was different? Yes ,my O and BP are bioload monsters (and the Sev is no slouch) but the tank is understocked with huge water changes twice a week. So, wtf.
So I felt the clue was in the lighting. Not just duration, but intensity. Previously on Kong and Patch's tanks I had a basic blue/white led strip light. Got nonstop algae blooms, often both green and brown at the same time. I compared the blooms with the main tank. Then something occurred to me. The spectrum and intensity! The lights on the smaller tanks weren't adjustable. So I began fiddling with settings on the main tank.
My approach was to attack the algae on multiple fronts. What I discovered:
Red/Magenta light keeps algae at reduced growth levels.
The led kelvins are too damn high on those basic blue/white led strips. So are the default settings for "Marine" and "Fish" on larger strips. May be good for saltwater corals but for freshwater its a hot mess.
I used phosguard. It takes 4 days to see results. Low amounts of phosguard in the filters helps maintain clarity.
Get a DIMMABLE led strip light with color combination control. Otherwise you'll never control the algae, I guarantee it.
Make your stored settings with an 'early evening sunset' mode with magenta light, a deep blue night light and two low key "white" settings.
I also placed some frosted privacy film on the cover glass to reduce light intensity further.
Haven't had a bloom in 8 weeks.
So I felt the clue was in the lighting. Not just duration, but intensity. Previously on Kong and Patch's tanks I had a basic blue/white led strip light. Got nonstop algae blooms, often both green and brown at the same time. I compared the blooms with the main tank. Then something occurred to me. The spectrum and intensity! The lights on the smaller tanks weren't adjustable. So I began fiddling with settings on the main tank.
My approach was to attack the algae on multiple fronts. What I discovered:
Red/Magenta light keeps algae at reduced growth levels.
The led kelvins are too damn high on those basic blue/white led strips. So are the default settings for "Marine" and "Fish" on larger strips. May be good for saltwater corals but for freshwater its a hot mess.
I used phosguard. It takes 4 days to see results. Low amounts of phosguard in the filters helps maintain clarity.
Get a DIMMABLE led strip light with color combination control. Otherwise you'll never control the algae, I guarantee it.
Make your stored settings with an 'early evening sunset' mode with magenta light, a deep blue night light and two low key "white" settings.
I also placed some frosted privacy film on the cover glass to reduce light intensity further.
Haven't had a bloom in 8 weeks.
