Lights minus algae?

1384 Views 5 Replies 3 Participants Last post by alicem, Jul 10, 2008

Hoosier Tank

Discussion Starter · Jul 5, 2008

While browsing our Library for any articles that I hadn't read yet, I came across the lighting post by Dr. Timothy A. Hovanec. In it he states "If, for seemingly no reason, your aquarium starts to grow algae, think about when was your last lamp change? If it was over 6 to 8 months, consider that the lamp's spectrum may have shifted and the lamp needs changing."
In my 29g Tang tank I do not have any kind of algae-eater. Twice I have tried plecostomus that have not made it, one being a $35 albino long fin B/N, so I quit trying... resorting to pulling the rocks / shells and scrubbing them monthly.
Is there a color temp of light that I can look for that DOESN'T grow algae? I thought any color light with descent intensity would grow brown, then if strong enough later green algea.

P.S. I have a healthy B/N plec in my Mbuna tank who works hard to keep it clean, and all of my backgrounds are painted black, just as an FYI.

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Hoosier Tank

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 5, 2008

Thanks alicem.
So sounds like stay away from blue spectrum, less than 5500k. The light in there now meets that guide. Hmmmm
I should have also noted that the tank is NOT planted, there are only plastic and silk plants in any of my tanks. Also, as you can tell by my stocklist, the Tangs are mostly black and white. Some blue edges on the Julies fins and the Occies bellies but thats about it so I guess I just need "Illumination" not something that makes colors "POP"....

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Hoosier Tank

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 9, 2008

All of my tanks have the same duration of light and only my Tang 29g has the algea in this severity. It also has a cheap standard floro tube after the original AGA unit died.
I did find this that may help others in the future...

Too much red light in combination with high nutrients will stimulate algae growth. In this case we are talking about 4000 K.

Always adjust the lighting to the natural habitat of your fish. Too much light will not blind, or fry them, but they may hide out.

Dust humidity, water turbidity and dirty vinyl or glass covers will influence the light as well.

Intense lighting in combination with high nutrients will enhance algae growth. Combined with silicates the result will be brownish algae. Combined with phosphates the result is more red and greenish algae.

You should adjust your aquarium lighting to meet the needs of your set-up and inhabitants. There are always possibilities and creative ways to shade some areas with overhangs.

Light is a catalyst. With intense lighting the need for nutrient control is increased to avoid algae problems.

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