lights causing algae

[beermutz123]

i think my lights are causing a algae issue in my tank is this possible they are led I have them set so they start out at 20% to 60% and they run for about 7 hours a day is this to long

 

[ineedhungry]

If you can adjust the color settings; try removing reds and greens. They will most certainly cause algae blooms.


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[beermutz123]

I cant change color setting

 

[duncanpate1]

I cant change color setting

Time for a new light!


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[beermutz123]

why a new light do leds go bad or because I cant adjust them ive only had them for three years and the algae started about 6 months so

 

[beermutz123]

if I need t go new lights what would you recommend

 

[slief]

If you have been running these lights for 3 years and are just now seeing algae issues, I would do some testing for phosphates and nitrates. It could be nutrients that are feeding the algae. Too might white and or red spectrum will also enduce rapid algae growth so if you have the ability to reduce your white channel, that will help some but as I said, I would start running some tests as its likely your phosphates are elevated.

 

[beermutz123]

all of my test come back good I even dipped my rock in peroxide to kill the algae and the algae came back right away I'm at my witts end i use hanna for all my test

 

[slief]

all of my test come back good I even dipped my rock in peroxide to kill the algae and the algae came back right away I'm at my witts end i use hanna for all my test

What are you using to test your Po4 and Nitrates? What is "good" as far as the results?

I will note that cheap LED fixture use cheap diodes that will shift colors over time. In fact all diodes will shift colors over time but cheap ones will do it much faster than a quality diode in a quality fixture. That shift in spectrum can result in a shift to a spectrum that will exacerbate an algae issue and accelerate algae growth. Still, I'd bet your tank is providing a food source for the nuisance algae regardless of the light quality or diode condition. The reason you may be showing good test results is that the algae is consuming the nutrients. It's the same principle that an Algae Scubber or refugium is based on. The algae consumes the nutrients and provides an optimal enviornment for the algae to flourish so as to prevent it from growing in the main display. In your case, the display is the perfect enviornment and your lights may only be a part of the issue or not even an issue at all.

Po4 would be the biggest concern and in my experience, there is only one tester that will provide consistently accurate results and that is the Hanna ULR HI736 phosphorus tester. Most color changing tests leave too much room for interpretation of the colors and that results in a greater margin of error.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Besides everything slief says to do (all good), consider dimming the white channel some and take black electrical tape (or any tape light won't shine through) and cove the red leds.

But your root problem is WAY more likely someplace other than your led fixture. The adjustments to your lighting may help some, but it's not the full picture.

 

[beermutz123]

thks for the info everyone