Light bulb under the substrate

[anarekist]

Hi, i really hope someone could chime in about this, i remember reading about it on some webpage awhile back but i have been having trouble finding it on google. It's about placing a light source to illuminate the bottom of tank's substrate there by promoting nitrifying algae growth under the substrate.

 

[anarekist]

well after many hours searching on google i gave up lol. so what do you guys think will happen? since the bottom of the tank with substrate should be an anaerobic environment. whats the cause of exposing it to light? i know that usually denitrifying bacteria like to be in the dark, what type of bacteria or maybe algae will grow there instead? if exposed to a good bright light, green algae?

 

[MyGiants]

Bacteria grows better in the dark I wouldn't do it. Denitrifying bacteria doesn't just grow because of darkness. Its the lack of oxygen zero oxygen that grows the denitrifying bacteria.

 

[HarleyK]

There might be a reason why you didn't find it in Google...it's complete BS. Nitrification has nothing to do with photosynthesis.

 

[anarekist]

well, what would be the effects of light on an anaerobic environment? just curious, cause from what i remember from that website was that the dude swore by it. I think this is more of a planted tank idea.

 

[lipadj46]

what would be an interesting setup would be a algae scrubber under an under gravel filter tray then shine lights from the bottom through the bottom glass panel. You could have powerheads pump water down like in a reverse UGF setup.