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Lights Out?

Djplus1

By Djplus1,
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Djplus1 Grandmaster Reefer

Djplus1

I have one of those Pepco power saving thermostats where they cut your power down a bit here and there in exchange for a free thermostat and a bill credit and today is one of those days. I have had the faint beginnings of a cyano issue since I put my LED's on a month ago. Tiny patches forming on the sand and maybe a patch or 2 on the LR. Actually posted about this a couple weeks ago with the tiny "bubbles" on the sand and rock (which is still happening btw).

 

My question is, I've left my lights off all morning in the spirit of the power saving to presumably decrease the chance of a cyano outbreak. How much longer can I safely do this? Can I go all day without light? Should I leave them off tomorrow too? Is this the proper step to take even?

 

I've had a bad cyano issue months ago with my T5's and it was pretty nasty, so I'm trying to avoid a repeat of that.

Djplus1 Grandmaster Reefer

Djplus1

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Well what I have is barely noticeable, so three days may be a bit much. I'll try two and see what happens.

 

When the lights go back on is there an acclimation that I need to do? I currently run a natural sunrise/set program, would that be sufficient?

howaboutme

howaboutme

(edited)

I did 3 days light out while we were out of town and did NOT feed too and all was well. The cyano did come back a few days later, but in a less dramatic way, as there were still excess nutrients. I don't believe the lights out will totally solve your problem if you still have excess nutrients, it'll just put you ahead of the game. It took me approximately 2 months to rid it and I have not seen cyano since. It's like it all of a sudden, just went away.

 

I didn't reacclimate and have SPS and LPS/softies, all is well.

Edited by howaboutme
MBVette

MBVette

I just ran my tank lights out the last two days and when I turned it back on this morning everything opened right up just as normal.  Except I have less algae than before.

Coral Hind

Coral Hind

3 Days is easily a safe lights out period. I went a week once with no lights after a storm knocked out power and everything was fine afterwards.

L8 2 RISE

L8 2 RISE

I agree with the advice in this thread.  I don't think it will work for bubble algae unless it's a long period of time, but don't have experience with it.

flooddc Oracle Reefer

flooddc

Ok, same house different tank. Does a lights out regimen do anything for bubble algae?

Nope! BA required manual labor ;)

Djplus1 Grandmaster Reefer

Djplus1

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Yep...and emerald crabs if you are able to put them in....

Don't work.

+1 get picking ;)

 

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 4

Been doing this ever fricking week for 3 months. It's not working.

I've had a few tangs in the past that ate BA. Not a 100% guarantee but they did.

How many tangs do you think I can put in a 14g Biocube? Exotic Reef Creations says they can get Gem tangs, so I was thinking 2, or should I just get 3 or 4 to make sure they eat it all?
Djplus1 Grandmaster Reefer

Djplus1

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What lights are you using??Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 4

Stock Biocube lights, but bulbs are maybe 2 months old.The tank is in my 4 year olds room. It requires a lid, so hanging a d120 isn't happening until I trust him to to not throw a stack of toys, coins, etc in the tank.

smallreef

smallreef

So you've tried emerald crabs and they haven't eaten any? May need 3 or 4...and pull out the ones that don't do it...I have 4 in my 50g...

FishyPapa

FishyPapa

Nope! BA required manual labor ;)

Yep...and emerald crabs if you are able to put them in....

+1 get picking ;)

 

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 4

+1 for all. Manual labor and emerald crabs for BA. The day I got my 1 and only emerald, I dropped him in the tank and he happened to land right in front of my tiny bit of bubble algae and immediately started clawing and chomping on it. Haha

 

Djplus1 Grandmaster Reefer

Djplus1

  • Author

So you've tried emerald crabs and they haven't eaten any? May need 3 or 4...and pull out the ones that don't do it...I have 4 in my 50g...

It's a 14 gallon tank. I've put in as many as 3 at a time and probably 8 total over the last few months. All I can say is, I have a ton of bubble algae, but haven't seen a crab in weeks. If the stupid crabs were $2-$3, I would keep chucking them in, but at between $7-$10 each, just to have them go AWOL? I don't think so. I'd rather spend $40 on a foxface and throw it out the window when it's done with the bubble algae. :blast:

sachabballi reef

sachabballi reef

well throwing a foxface at the problem isn't the answer either as there is about as much of a guarantee of that working as the crabs....I have a foxface that literally doesn't even pick at the rocks let alone anything else...so I think you need to remove the rocks and scrub them outside of the tank if it is that infested....

Djplus1 Grandmaster Reefer

Djplus1

  • Author

well throwing a foxface at the problem isn't the answer either as there is about as much of a guarantee of that working as the crabs....I have a foxface that literally doesn't even pick at the rocks let alone anything else...so I think you need to remove the rocks and scrub them outside of the tank if it is that infested....

like I said before. Every week I do this. Every week. I need better outside the box suggestions. I'm considering tearing the whole tank down.

Cliff Puckstable

Cliff Puckstable

50:50 mix of peroxide and tank water. Remove rock(s) and apply to algae effected area(s). I found it works best to physically remove the BA and then apply the solution to the area. It's like magic, try it.

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