Old lighs and algae growth; myht?

[RudyCDX1]

True or false, old lighting will cause, enhance, encourage or otherwise improve the conditions for algae growth? Please point to reference material for further research/reading.

Thanks!!

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Theoretically, yes. The color spectrum in a bulb shifts with usage. The spectrum usually shifts to a more "yellow" tinge that ranges in the 5500-6500 Kelvin that is favored by algae.

I don't know of any research or studies that actually specifically works with algae growth and bulb age. There are a lot of articles about color shifts in bulbs with age, but none of it directly corellates to algae growth.

 

[drummereef]

Most definitely. As the color spectrum changes as the lights get old, it can trigger algae blooms. I had this happen when I was out of town. One of my lights must have been acting up and when I got home it had burnt out. I was left will loco amounts of hair algae in the tank. It grew crazy fast.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8224347#post8224347 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Travis L. Stevens
Theoretically, yes. The color spectrum in a bulb shifts with usage. The spectrum usually shifts to a more "yellow" tinge that ranges in the 5500-6500 Kelvin that is favored by algae.

That light range is also favored by corals.

Generally, its the accompanied neglect to the rest of the tank, that comes with neglecting your bulbs, that causes algae.

I ran an Aqualine Buschke 250DE 10K for 2 years on one tank, and NEVER had a speck of algae.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8224631#post8224631 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
That light range is also favored by corals.

I thought corals favored 6500-10,000 Kelvin

Generally, its the accompanied neglect to the rest of the tank, that comes with neglecting your bulbs, that causes algae.

I ran an Aqualine Buschke 250DE 10K for 2 years on one tank, and NEVER had a speck of algae.

Same issue here. I have a 250w SE 10K that is almost two years old and I still don't have algae. Now, my corals seem to be lacking, but that's another story.

 

[RudyCDX1]

All the tank parameters that I can check for are good. I am seeing an brown mat algae beginning to grow on the rock. The MH lights, 150W, are about 14 months old. I am looking for potential sources.

 

[outy]

probably phosphates wich will test 0 with most kits and the algea eats up the phos so fast it will show 0 but its still there.

yes its true about old bulbs bringing on algea. ive changed bulbs and watched it dissapear in 2 weeks myself. its common knowledge

wait till you put a new bulb not broken in yet next to your old bulb you will be stunned at the difference.

 

[mfp4073]

i had a bulb burn out recently and after replacement have seen some extra algae growth......

 

[r00onmac]

ive experienced it personally... i say yes... 8 month old halide that ran 12 hours a day promoted major hair algae growth in high flow areas until i realized what was causing it... it is all slowly dying now...