Beginnings of algae in my new setup. Advice please...

[ShadowMac]

My new scape, not a new tank, is currently beginning to get some signs of algae. Staghorn, my nemesis, primarily. Maybe some BBA, definitely GDA. I wasn't concerned about the GDA as it went away last time once plants filled in. Here is a breakdown of the specs.

37 gallon tall.

Filtration/Flow: Eheim 2217 with spray bar. Plants are all moving flow looks good.

Pressurized CO2 with inline atomizer. Generally I see a 1 degree pH drop over the lighting cycle. I tried to push it higher yesterday and my EBR's were not appreciative. Bubble rate is somewhere around 3 bps.

Substrate: ADA aquasoil, half 1 year old substrate, the other half NEW Aquasoil.

Lighting: 2x24W T5HO's with reflectors connected to icecap 660 ballast, Two Current USA powerbrite LED's (these don't give off a lot of visible light, I'm clueless on PAR)

Since I think CO2 and flow are good, probably lighting, right? I know the ballast overdrives the bulbs. Should I reduce lighting by removing reflectors? I decreased runtime for the lights yesterday. Lights on at 10 am off at 8 pm. The LED comes on 30 minutes before the T5's and goes off an hour after the T5's.

Could my LED's be adding a lot of extra light, although not visible, that is attributing to algae? Here is a link to a PAR measurement thread on the light: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/lighting/130190-current-usa-powerbrite-led-par-meter.html

Do you recommend running LED's only when T5's are on, removing reflectors, or something else?

Should I just wait for things to fill in a bit and this bump in the road will go away with increased biomass?

Thanks.

 

[Biollante]

Photon Torpedoes Armed

Hi,

Extra light may be an issue…

This is one of those times, where running some activated carbon, Chemi-Pure, or Purigen might be helpful.

Biollante

 

[ShadowMac]

shields up....failing...and down...

I do run purigen, but I suppose it could use a recharge/cleaning. I could also add the carbon pad for the eheim if that sounds like a good idea for a bit.
.
I was thinking my light was in the higher range, but not excessive and manageable. I've thought that before and been way wrong too. The lighting looks so nice...ugh...I'm sad to have to dull it, but if I must. Removing the reflectors are my best option for that.

 

[Biollante]

Treaties With The Romulans Are Always Tricky

Hi,

I think recharging the Purigen and adding activated charcoal along with a couple of large water changes will help.

Anything to lessen the load, oddly, perhaps, I think the algae are the systems attempt to cope with sudden change. The algae want to be your friend.

The light may be part of it, but along the way in changing and rearranging you either kicked up and released organic compounds or wiped out some capacity in the system to deal with organic compounds, or both.

Biollante