Stringy algae

[Brian716]

I have this problem too. I have had the tank set up for over 3 months but the reddish black stringy algae only first appeared about 2 or 3 weeks ago. I am running a 110 Watt PC for 8 hours a day. there is a window nearby but the tank is shielded behind a wall so it's not getting very much direct sunlight. I thought I had cleaned up the sand pretty well but it came back in 2 days. Will turning off the light for a couple days get rid of the algae? I really would hate to deprive my zoas of light for that long of a period.

[Stingray]

Hmm There's a theory let's give it a go...

[geekdafied]

Originally Posted by Stingray

Well this is weird, the chalk goby turns the stringy Black stuff over leaving a nice clean bed for most of the day, i go bed turn lights off, get up around 8ish still clean bed , no lights on in tank, then over 3 to 4 hours it creeps back (NO LIGHTS ON) after nothing on the snd to this in 3 or 4 hours...Here's a short clip...

That doesn't mean anything...

That slime is fed when the lights are, you goby covers it/moves it. When the lights are off, the goby isnt messing with it so it has a chance to come back.

[Stingray]

so if it is coming back when even the lights are off, what now should i bump up y cleaner crew?

[Zectra]

Wierd... A buddy of mine had that stuff in his, cut the lights back and fixed it for almost 100% of it. After that he only rarely got anything like that in it.

Hope you can find the problem buddy.

[baugherb]

Same problem here.. Left my lights of for a day and cut the time down to 5 hours.... Seems to be helping... Might waite a week and go another day without the lights on...

[Bigjoeybx]

Yeah I just noticed this in my tank yesterday. Will cut lights out for a day or so. Will it the lights off hurt my yellow polyps though?

[Daniel072]

lights being off for a couple of days aren't going to hurt anything. Look at it like a storm over natural reefs. They go with out sun there for days at a time.