Good lighting tip for prevention of waterborn algae in new tank set-ups..

[doug z]

I was concerned that I might have too MUCH lighting for my tank, with my 2 110w T-5 fixtures, and that I might be exceeding the light requirements of the plants to the point where I was just asking for green water and other pesky algae problems..

So I did some digging online, and in my books, and found some good tips to help prevent this from happening in a NEW tank:


Lighting with 2 fixtures:


Fixture 1 on for 8 continuous hours
Fixture 2 turning on for 4 hours in the middle of that time frame.

only use the full wattage for a few hours a day and don't go over 8 hours of total lighting for the first few months or so until the biofilter and plant mass can take care of any organics in the water column

[Drumachine09]

If you are worried about diatoms, just get a diatomic filter. They aren't too horbily expensive....I think....

[doug z]

I just want not to have to get into UV eradication, etc..

Especially with a new tank..

I like the idea of limiting the "bursts" of full-on lighting as a preventative measure....

[smaug]

you can get the diatom algae in a new tank with or without high light.Its very common and damn near unavoidable.It normally goes away as the water becomes aged and the tank becomes totally cycled and normalized.

[doug z]

you can get the diatom algae in a new tank with or without high light

If you're overfeeding or something, yeah..

But it's hardly unavoidable.. :)

[xoolooxunny]

doug, I have a piece of information that is often unknown or overlooked for high light/green water problems. You could be doing everything right, and still get it. Why? the lighting spectrum of the bulbs. What's your blue output on the spectrum? If its high, I would suggest swapping half out (in your case 1 bulb) with a bulb that has almost no blue output. High blue light can cause, and has caused uncontrollable green water.

check those bulbs!:thumb:

[doug z]

What's your blue output on the spectrum?

Zero to none, I would think..

One bulb is white (10K), the other is pink (6700-7000K)..

[PUNISHER VETTE]

Thats exactly what i've been doing. I have my regular 260w on 12hours timer.

But i got those 60w T5 grow lights that i've been turning on when i wake up and off a few hours before the regular lights go off.

I was having all the lights on for 12 hours but i quickly grew some brown algae. I stopped the grow lights for a few days and it settled down.

Only problem is i forgot one night to turn the ones not on the timer off so when i woke up they were still on... I've got another timer i just need to plug it in for those.

[xoolooxunny]

10000k puts out a lot of blue, the 6700k is fine. I think you will be alright, but, now you know if you have a crazy GW problem and nothing seems to help, keep this info in the back of your mind. One day, just maybe, it might come in handy.

[smaug]

If you're overfeeding or something, yeah..

But it's hardly unavoidable.. :)
No really,in a new tank its quite common,overfeeding or something not withstanding

[doug z]

10000k puts out a lot of blue

Does it?

Well, it is what they use for corals, i guess..

I'll for sure keep it in mind, thanks!


No really,in a new tank its quite common,overfeeding or something not withstanding

One way to find out, I guess.. :)

[Nautilus291]

Well I thought I was creating a new thread but Instead somehow I asked a new question on dougs thread!! HA I guess thats what I get for going and getting a piece of cake.

[doug z]

You know you can delete your posts within 15 minutes, right? LOL

[Nautilus291]

Ahh I forgot about that, I wouldnt have had to make myself look stupid lol.