Light 6700K vs. 10000K and algae

golfproinlexky

golfproinlexky

Know just enough to be dangerous...
Dec 31, 2007
104
0
0
Kentucky
My LFS is telling me that my 10,000K CF 130W light with two actinic bulbs is causing beard and hair algae. I'm not so sure they are right. Would installing a 6700K bulb make that much difference? I need help because the algae is dominating my otherwise improving tank!

Yesterday's water test:
Nitrate 10
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0.5
PH 6.0
 
Well, a 10,000k tube is not actinic. It's bright white. Actinic is more around 12,000k and appears very blue. A 10,000k is appropriate for growing plants or for general aquarium lighting. It won't stimulate algae any more than a 6700k tube. Your LFS is mistaken.
 
there sort of right actually the actinic bulbs are producing light that the plants just don't use that much but the algea can so it is able to out comepete the plants. so i would defiantly replace the antinic with 6700K and keep the 10,000K bulbs. that should help but there are probably some other things contributing to the the algea.
 
Just to clarify there are two double tubes, each with one bright white 10,000K and one actinic. It sounds like it couldn't hurt to replace in order to remove the actinic from the equation.
 
Do your 65w PC's have square pins? If so, here's a good deal. MarineDepot.com has the Color Quest 65w 8800K square pin PC's for $4.99 each plus shipping.
http://www.marinedepot.com/65W_Powe...ct-PowerCompact-PC1651-FILTBUPCSQSWDL-vi.html

8800KColorQuestBulb.gif



They are $18.29 here: http://www.seaquestmarine.com/65w_8800K_Power_Compact_Bulb_p/cslpc_880065w.htm
 
How long are the lights on? Also, I would consider the nutrient balance of the water before the color temperature of the lamps.
 
Oh, so your tubes are half and half. You didn't make that clear. In that case I would replace them with 10,000k or 6700k. Anything in between is good, too.
 
Left C said:
Do your 65w PC's have square pins? If so, here's a good deal. MarineDepot.com has the Color Quest 65w 8800K square pin PC's for $4.99 each plus shipping.
http://www.marinedepot.com/65W_Powe...ct-PowerCompact-PC1651-FILTBUPCSQSWDL-vi.html

8800KColorQuestBulb.gif



They are $18.29 here: http://www.seaquestmarine.com/65w_8800K_Power_Compact_Bulb_p/cslpc_880065w.htm
Click to expand...

Thanks for the find - unfortunately I have straight pin bulbs. It seems like I always have the least effective most expensive possible setup when I do something. The good news is that I do have a couple of 6700K bulbs in storage, so I'll be making the switch today.

I am running pressurized CO2, but don't have a lot of control on it. It runs with my lights at a rate of 1 bubble per 2 seconds. I'm sure that has something to do with it too.
 
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