Algae, I want it.... a lot of it!
- Thread starter jcarson
- Start date
Aquarium lighting is changing constantly, the earlier 3 watt chip leds, are being replaced with cob, circuit on board, leds.
Basicly their are reds, greens, and blues in white light.
Getting the right red, is the important part.
I have had variations of leds even on the same factory chip square.
Their is a fine line between a 640 mm bright orange, and a 660nm deep red. One will grow complex plants, the other will grow algea so fast that it will smother plants.
Starting with the red, greens and blues can be added to blend out the light so it's more appealing to the eye. Kind of like painting with red blue , and yellow.
The early 3 watt, 1 watt chip led fixtures are rebuild able.
I have some leds I am currently water testing, sealed with 4 coats of flexi seal. Eventually I want to run a submerged light bar , hidden, against the top trim with all the lights pointing at the back glass of the tank. As the surface mounted lights get shaded by growth above the dim spots.
Again my biggest problem is led sourcing, it really sucks to get 50 new leds, all water proofed and installed, only to find out that the spectrum is not good for algea.
So I always jar test leds, to see what they will grow.
Typical plant grow lights will not grow algea very well.
The deep red leds, are often used in the healing medical therapy lights, and go for a premium price. So most companies are going to build with the lower prices on the 640nm.
I have a thread " algea scrubber as biofilter" that covers lights. Some.
Basicly their are reds, greens, and blues in white light.
Getting the right red, is the important part.
I have had variations of leds even on the same factory chip square.
Their is a fine line between a 640 mm bright orange, and a 660nm deep red. One will grow complex plants, the other will grow algea so fast that it will smother plants.
Starting with the red, greens and blues can be added to blend out the light so it's more appealing to the eye. Kind of like painting with red blue , and yellow.
The early 3 watt, 1 watt chip led fixtures are rebuild able.
I have some leds I am currently water testing, sealed with 4 coats of flexi seal. Eventually I want to run a submerged light bar , hidden, against the top trim with all the lights pointing at the back glass of the tank. As the surface mounted lights get shaded by growth above the dim spots.
Again my biggest problem is led sourcing, it really sucks to get 50 new leds, all water proofed and installed, only to find out that the spectrum is not good for algea.
So I always jar test leds, to see what they will grow.
Typical plant grow lights will not grow algea very well.
The deep red leds, are often used in the healing medical therapy lights, and go for a premium price. So most companies are going to build with the lower prices on the 640nm.
I have a thread " algea scrubber as biofilter" that covers lights. Some.
This is my old cube hatchery tank. I relocated it in my basement.
This is a "660nm as advertised" but it will absolutely not grow simple algea. But it will grow long strand multi cellular turf algea.
30 gallon cube, with one 3 watt led, the white light is from a 5 watt 20 000k focused on the green plant.
I started using them to build test waterproofing methods, and discovered that the turf algea grows like crazy under them.
I have a aquasky led light I think its a fluval product it grows algae like a champ lol!
Yes you will need "seeds" to get what you want. Usually get it from plants or rocks from tanks with algae in them.
Yes you will need "seeds" to get what you want. Usually get it from plants or rocks from tanks with algae in them.
My log tank, 14" pleco habitat. The red beard algea, is from a mostly 420, 453, 430 blue specturm, with one 660nn..
It also has a very old "worn out" t8 coral sun, 50/50 . 50 % actinic blue.
The red beard is part of my faux coraline algea look on my reef tank. It favors blues, as green will out compete it, under most conditions.
The red beard in my faux reef. The blue coral color is plasti coat, to highlight the red once it grows in.
This tank has about 50 blue actinic led chips.
18w. It's over a 29g housing my Schoutedeni. I have/had to scrape algae off the glass daily and it's covering the rocks and plants real and fake. I have some algaes in my tanks and I know a little is natural. I don't fight it to hard. But in the 29 it went nuts with that light. The 29 is plumbed in to the entire system like all my tanks. I have a healthy growth of mini water lettuce and frog bit so I threw in about 6 small plants and in two weeks ive got this.
WOW this is alot of info to take in all at once.
I appreciate all the responses and it has definitely been an educational experience and you have allowed me into your world and I am grateful and appreciate for your passion for what you do and your willingness to share it. Kudos... Props... Dab!! whatever the kids are saying nowadays. I will always have this post to refer to.
I had no idea of the many different types of algae there are. THANK YOU!
My first attempt will be to shop my lfs and find plants with algae already on them an hopefully the introduction of these will work. I could diy a new strip of lights but it already seems like too much of a hassle. I am by nature a diy guy but ive also reached a financial comfort level that I will attempt to purchase the needed strips.
I remember when an actinic fluorescent tube was all you needed. (EARLY 90S)
I appreciate all the responses and it has definitely been an educational experience and you have allowed me into your world and I am grateful and appreciate for your passion for what you do and your willingness to share it. Kudos... Props... Dab!! whatever the kids are saying nowadays. I will always have this post to refer to.
I had no idea of the many different types of algae there are. THANK YOU!
My first attempt will be to shop my lfs and find plants with algae already on them an hopefully the introduction of these will work. I could diy a new strip of lights but it already seems like too much of a hassle. I am by nature a diy guy but ive also reached a financial comfort level that I will attempt to purchase the needed strips.
I remember when an actinic fluorescent tube was all you needed. (EARLY 90S)
