Will Higher Mag Levels Prevent Algae Growth

**Dave66** · 01-23-2012, 02:22 PM

Cliff, there's an imbalance SOMEWHERE in your system that's causing the thread algae bloom. There has to be, since live rock/sand is so good at nutrient processing, it's a puzzle that you have nuisance algae at all. What have you been feeding the fishes/corals? Got to be a smoking gun in your system that's causing that algae.

Dave

**Miltonic** · 01-23-2012, 02:31 PM

I agree with Dave phosphates are the main cause for all the algae, do you run GFO at all?

I use GFO to control my phosphates and keep them under control since I do like to feed on the heavier side, I also do 25% weekly water changes skim a lot and run algae turf scrubber lol

**labnjab** · 01-23-2012, 02:45 PM

If I remember correctly, it was only a certain brand of mag supplement that would control algae if kept around 1500-1600. I think it was Kent, but I'm not 100% sure.

**hockeyhead019** · 01-23-2012, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by Cliff

Edit: my main goal it to try to identify what could be holding me back from growing more algae. Aside from low nitrates and phosphates, I'm thinking the Mag levels could be the reason

Dave and Milt, not sure if you caught the edit but I think he WANTS the algae to grow in his sump lol

**Miltonic** · 01-23-2012, 02:56 PM

no i didnt catch it lol

but if thats the case I suggest that you get a couple lights for the sump set them on an 18hr cycle and start feeding a lot more more!

**smaug** · 01-23-2012, 03:13 PM

I used tech m magnesium to elevate my mg to 1800 for a few weeks to kill the bryopsis. It worked,it did notbing to kill the turf algae. I have since stopped dosing tech m but still keep the mg at 1600 as my corals and verts seemed to benefit from the higher levels. I use seachem mg crystal for that. Btw,just and mg will not kill bryopsis,only tech m seems to do it.

**Cliff** · 01-23-2012, 04:03 PM

Thanks guys

I did not realize the different types of Mag supplement made a difference. I'm going to look into that.

Miltonic, I'm currently lighting the sump with a 60watt, 3000K (if I remember correctly) light bulb. It's on for close to 16 hours on a reverse lighting schedule from the main lights to help establish PH. I will trying adding a few hours to the beginning and the end of that cycle

Thanks guys

**smaug** · 01-23-2012, 04:11 PM

As for the type mg I really should say that I'm repeating what I researched on other forums. I did not try to dose heavily with seachem mg befor tryimg tech m. I wanted the bryopsis gone so I did it the way I saw recomended and many of the threads I saw stated some had tried using std mg with no luck.

**Miltonic** · 01-23-2012, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by Cliff

Thanks guys

I did not realize the different types of Mag supplement made a difference. I'm going to look into that.

Miltonic, I'm currently lighting the sump with a 60watt, 3000K (if I remember correctly) light bulb. It's on for close to 16 hours on a reverse lighting schedule from the main lights to help establish PH. I will trying adding a few hours to the beginning and the end of that cycle

Thanks guys

18hrs is what's recommended for maximum algae growth on my turf scrubber so I figure it should work for all kinds of algae and jus like you I run it on a reverse light cycle.

**labnjab** · 01-23-2012, 05:13 PM

If you trying to grow algae, why not just set-up a 5 gallon bucket with a few pieces of rock, a heater, light and a small power head and throw in some food every few days. This way you don't do anything to mess with the water quality in the display and should be able to grow a ton of algae