AMBIENT LIGHT CAUSING HAIR ALGAE????

[camel shrimp]

I think that ambient light entering my tank mid day may be causing an excess in algae growth. Can anyone else tell me if I am on the right track? I would like to know if ambient indirect sunlight will cause hair algae. If so I'll just cover the window.
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[danmhippo]

It takes more than just light for your hair algae to grow well. Nutrients, PO4 and Nitrogen compounds, as well as lack of predators will all contribute to hair algae growth.

 

[Anonymous]

I've definitely noticed differences in algal growth where sunlight or roomlight is not uniform.

 

[danmhippo]

Oh, I don't doubt that, AOTS. But what I've said still holds. If the excess nutrients are not there in the first place and if there are hair algae grazer to keep them at bay, you won't see them (hair algae) at all, even if the tank is exposed under equator sunlight.

 

[imow]

Amen to that damnhippo. My 72 receives all day DIRECT sun moving across the tank and no HA.
Keep your water params in line.

 

[Anonymous]

I too agree. My tank gets indirect sunlight from one bay window,two skylights and two regular windows and it was not until I got the nutrients out that the cyano disappeared.

 

[esmithiii]

Camel,

How old is the tank? Do you use RO/DI water? Do you have a DSB? How well does your skimmer work? How many fish do you have? Do you feed heavily?

Ernie

 

[camel shrimp]

This has been an ongoing night mare. A four stage ro/di is on the way. I am planning some massive water changes in the next few weeks. It is a 120 and I only have four fish in there. The water purifier I have been using is an aquarium pharmaceuticals over the counter brand. I have tried phosphate removers and they don't seem to work. The consensus seems water changes and removal of PO4, but what is the quickest way to do this??? What type of scavengers should I be using?? Snails have failed me. I am considering a boat load of hermits. Let me hear your suggestions.
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[Anonymous]

If you are using the TWP by Aquarium Pharm you should be producing very pure water. The TWP is a DI unit. I only get between 50-80 gallons of pure water from it. However it is very pure water.It is a great addition to the RO unit.

 

[Anonymous]

A medly of different snails would be best. Cerith,turbos,astreas,and conchs.

 

[sMARTY]

Camel,
I had a TWP for almost a year, and fought outbreaks for the entire time. One cartridge I got was bad, and the algee got 10x worse

I got a 4 stage RODI. I did 3 60 gal water changes, with the RODI water, over the course of 2 weeks in my 180. One week later, my algee was gone.

It was like magic. I used to like my TWP, but since I got the RODI (Kent), there is no comparison. You are on the right track. Good luck

 

[SeaMac]

Check for phosphates coming out of the TWP cartridge...I was using one piggy-backed onto my RO system and measured insanely high phosphates in my make-up water. Note that this was well before the DI resin had even halfway changed color!

Now that I have switched to a Spectrapure add-on DI cartridge, PO4 is not detectable.

IME, the TWP resin works OK at best...it got rid of all the nitrates from my source water when I was using it by itself, but doesn't seem to handle the phosphate too well.

 

[Lynn]

I'm new to this, but in my opinion sunlight definitely causes algae to grow. Whether or not it becomes a problem is up to the critters that you have, IMO.
I have had a little 20 gallon tank since Nov. I have tested the water faithfully everyy single week. It has always been 100% including no phosphate whatsoever. Last month we have been blessed with a little more sun and the hair algae started growing..and growning!! I have not the size of tank to put a foxface or some algae consumer in, so I hand pick it. There is only algae on the one side (the side that was hit with 2 hrs. of direct sun this last month)!! I have no doubt that your water parameters can be perfect unyet you can have huge algae problems.

 

[camel shrimp]

I agree with all of you that say that the TWP can produce some insanely high phosphate make-up water. I am so disgusted with it that I'd rather use tap water. The 4-stage is on the way and it's encouraging to know that it will help. I am also receiving a TDS meter with the ro/di, and I will post the readings from the ro/di and the TWP. I am sure the results will shock many of you. I really appreciate all of your feedback. Now I know Iam not the only one who hates the TWP.
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