algae growth.....red vs. green?

[segraves1]

I have noticed that in the past week or so, the red micro algae has pretty much taken over/over grown all of the green micro algae (the brown diatom has been gone for a long time now)........both green and red macro algaes are growing REALLY well (even have some yellowish/brown macro from rocky point that is doing pretty good)........during the day, all surfaces are covered with oxygen bubbles from the algae photosynthesizing..........but what I'm trying to figure out why the red micro is doing so much better than the green........light spectrum?

the lighting over the tank is about 120 watts NO florescent.......since I am only going to grow macros and shroms, it consists of 5, 18"bulbs, 3 (2X) overdriven (2 5400K full spectrum and 1 6500K full spectrum), and 2 normal output 50/50s........I'm wondering if I should get rid of the 5400Ks and replaced them with 50/50s and/or pure acentics.........my reasoning for using the 5400Ks was:

1: cheap........$5 at HomeDepot
2: cover more spectrum

[segraves1]

ttt

[Reptoreef]

Raise your kelvin temp for sure... you are using lights that are great for algae. IMO, no less than a 7100k -12000k for NO fluorecent lighting. IMO, go as close as possible to a "day light"/actinic @ a 50/50% mix.

[segraves1]

thanks..... :)

[davejnz]

That red algae you describe,does it grow like veins/spider webs across the rock?,does it feel coarse/not smooth or slippery?,does it grow very short,almost encrustnig like?

[segraves1]

That red algae you describe,does it grow like veins/spider webs across the rock?,does it feel coarse/not smooth or slippery?,does it grow very short,almost encrustnig like?

it grew smooth.....slippery feeling.........encrusting everything...........I swapped the lights around so that I am overdriving the 50/50s and in the last week 90%+ of the red algae is gone............guess that mean no more "standard" (HomeDepot) full spectrum lights.....

[davejnz]

Does your algae look like this

[segraves1]

nope....it was not fuzzy........it was very smooth and slick........

[KG]

Sounds like cyano which is actually a bacteria and not an algae. I posted some helpful ideas in another post today for someone in a thread titled algae on sand and gravel, I believe.
Good luck!

[davejnz]

cyano is a sign of excess nutrients but most of all,low current

[davejnz]

BTW,there is nothing wrong with the GE(or Philllips) lights sold at Home Depot.Just make sure to get the 6500k bulbs though.They are actually a true,tri-chromatic bulb and have an idea spectrum for coral growth.

[mutts]

So how many of thoses lights would you need to light up a 55 gal

[davejnz]

4-48" bulbs would do the trick on a 48"long 55gal.If you use an electronic IceCap660 ballast,it will allow you to overdrive the NO flourscents but it also gives you the ability to use VHO's or T5's too in any combination

[mutts]

I got two today. They are long 48'' ones to be used of a ten gallon and a 5.5 gallon, would that be enough for some types of corals????

[davejnz]

sure,the bulbs would overlap the 2 tanks though,I think 10gal are 18" long,not sure about your 5.5