algae and lights

My clam is causing GHA.

Sort of indirectly. I increased my light period for the clam by a few hours. I kind of figured this would happen.

This isn't my only fix I'm working on, but I am wondering, is the algae going to respond primarily to the main lights? or does it respond equally to actinics?

I increased the light period of both, 8 and 12 hours respectively.

Previously I had the lights at 7 and 10.


I've always known that having lights on for longer causes some GHA and I've controlled it by keeping the light period as stated. So I need to find a happy place between.

I'm thinking I need to focus on the whites period... not sure if reducing actinic period will have any/much impact.

thoughts?

 

hi Peredhil

I was always a 10 hour white and 12 hour actinic believer
but enjoy the flourescing of corals under actinics and have extended their use to up to 14 hours over last few weeks

I have not noticed any algae issues arising from this extended lighting period on the blue tubes to be honest

Steve

 

Remember good ole ROY G BIV from school.

Nuisance algaes respond to the Red, Orange, Yellow, and Green spectrum the most. That's not to say that they don't react to Blue, Indigo, or Violet, it's just less. That's why when your bulbs color shift towards the red end of the spectrum, you'll see a growth in nuisance algaes and cyanobacteria.

 

get a lettuce nudibranch "that eats hair algae"

 

very cool, thanks guys.

I think I can adjust just the white's down a hair and be fine.