LEDs Causing Algae on Sandbed

[Madreefer]

Here's my story. I was running two 250W MHs with 4 54W T5s with no problems. I switched over to 4 of the Sol Super Blues. I started out at lower powers and coral looks good. The highest settings I'm run at during the peak of the day is 46-w 75-b 85-ry. I've been getting a copperish color algae on the top of my sandbed. Why and how do I stop it from happening? Too much light? Not enough white? Before all the comments on overfeeding and bad water parameters start. All water parameters are good, using RO water, I have a good skimmer and running phosphate and carbon reactors. I know this is strictly a lighting problem. Just not sure which way I should go with the lighting intensity or time. Dont want to bleach or burn corals.

[RedCoralEdmonton]

I have the Sol blues on my 230 and I run at about the same intensity, but the lights are 12 inches off the water and its another 30 inches to the sand, but I havent noticed anything yet..... although its only been a couple weeks.... corals love the light, and no bad reactions yet.... ill let you know if anything changes

Steve

[Coralgurl]

I have the same looking algae on my sand as well. I have 2 54w T5's and Vertex Illuminex LED's running. I've been moving my lights different heights off the tank, right now they are lower, but generally sit 6" from top of tank. My tank had been fallow for just over a month, fish added back in last week and over the weekend. I was ghost feeding tank for the shrimp/corals, every few days. I'm just going to tag along on this thread for others input.

[Madreefer]

Thanks Steve. Mine are 10" off of the top of the water and a total of 35" to the sandbed. I was running the blues at 75% and the royal blues at 85% until yesterday. I've had the lights since Sept 17.

[Madreefer]

So Coralgurl do you think it's a lighting issue in your situation as well?

[Coralgurl]

I'm not sure. I picked up a new T5 light last week (white 10k) as mine are now 8 months old, read that as lights age, spectrum changes and this may cause algae issues. I have not changed out the light yet however. The LED's were added in August once I started corals. I set up a HOB fuge, its been running for a week with chaeto. The algae did really get going once the tank was fallow, was fairly clean with fish. I also had issues with my canister filter (well not the filter, improper maintenance), so I have a lot of stuff going on at the moment that I am keeping an eye on and trying to correct.

The copper algae almost looks like cyano, but does not have the bubbles. I just wanted to tag along with this thread to see how lighting may be affecting yours and if I can see any similarities with what I see in my tank.

[Cal_stir]

i have some too, it's really sticky and doesn't vac up good, i have been running led for a year now but the algae started a few months ago after i switched to H2Ocean salt, my salt mix pail has the same colour residue in it

[Madreefer]

Nobody with LEDs having this issue or have any suggestions?

[wingedfish]

The fact that you are sure your problem is only do to lighting is probably keeping most from replying. Lighting plays a part, but only a part. You need to identify the problem. Pictures would help. Are there bubbles in it? Does it go away every night and build during the day? Copper in color sounds like dinoflagellates or cyano. Either way, manual removal and reduced nutrients is the proven method for either.

[Blom]

I found the same thing with my super blue... but that was when I was running power up to about 80%. I now peak at 70% with out any ill effects on coral, I may even try bringing it back to 65%. Algae growth has calmed right down.