Built a small aquarium light using 3 of these being underdriven at 350 mA. I am pretty happy with the results, but the algae growth is starting to get a little out of hand. More so then I expected with the narrow spectrum of LED lighting. Granted, warm white LED such as these probably contain more red then a cooler white tint, but it still should be minimal, no? And in addition, shouldn't the water have the effect of blocking more of that red light? Any thoughts on if I had used these pure white led instead?
Satistronic 3W WW and algae growth
- Thread starter VegasF6
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LEDninja
Flashlight Enthusiast
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11-14-2010 10:21 AM #2 jason 77
Originally Posted by VegasF6
Built a small aquarium light using 3 of these being underdriven at 350 mA. I am pretty happy with the results, but the algae growth is starting to get a little out of hand. More so then I expected with the narrow spectrum of LED lighting. Granted, warm white LED such as these probably contain more red then a cooler white tint, but it still should be minimal, no? And in addition, shouldn't the water have the effect of blocking more of that red light? Any thoughts on if I had used these pure white led instead?
I have a LED aquarium light I built a few years ago with 9 "1 watt" LEDs that are warm white and they are enough to have a build up of algae over time... course I solved that problem by getting a few algae eating fishes, maybe you could try that?
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11-14-2010 11:07 AM #3 VegasF6
Maybe. Do they also eat sea monkeys?
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11-14-2010 03:00 PM #4 blasterman
Won't make a difference. Contrary to urban myth, warmer colors don't contribute to algae more than cooler colors. Alage grows in the presence of nutrients, particularly nitrate and phosphate.
I'm running 10 445nm LEDs over my reef tank, and if I didn't takle care of it algae would take over.
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11-14-2010 04:31 PM #5 VegasF6
Well that is interesting. I have a 10 gallon next to that tank lit via fluorescent next to it. It seems as though the algae growth is slower in that tank, but then, I don't have any way to acurately measure that. Also, it could be more due to intensity.
So, would you say the subtle difference between warm white and cool white led isn't a factor, or are you going so far as to say wavelength has no effect whatsoever on algae growth??
Curious what 445 nm led you are using, and what is the benefit to the corals? And is that the only lighting for that tank?
I read here how you stated corals "color up" as a reaction to UV-A. I have read an article contrary to that stating the effect is due to brightness, not specifically UV of any sort. Have you posted pics of your setup either here or at nano reef? I would be interested in seeing it.
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11-14-2010 06:53 PM #6 blasterman
So, would you say the subtle difference between warm white and cool white led isn't a factor, or are you going so far as to say wavelength has no effect whatsoever on algae growth??
Both. Nuisance algaes can thrive on very low levels of light which is why people often see the problem even though they are running crappy lights, CFL's etc. There isn't enough light for regular plants or corals to compete, but enough for the nuisance algae to thrive. The flip side is a full tank black-out will often kill simple algaes while more complex plants or corals can store enough food to survive in total darkness. Regardless, there's been no proof that specific wavelengths encourage algae or discourage it. Lots of far blue light will encourage growth of bad algae, or plants, or corals. All white LED have a component of blue in them, and that's what's feeding the algae.
As for the link, SPS growers have been whining that blue LEDs aren't providing enough color as Halides or T5s because their wavelegnths don't go as short as halides. So, they've been adding UV or 420 T5 actinics to help with 'coloration'. That's their arguement - not mine. The coloration arguement, if it's valid, would have more to do with protective pigments in corals than anything else. UV sure as hell isn't rquired for growth. I stopped using cool-whites and I no longer have a color issue because the cool-whites cause most of it.
I switched to 10watt 445s because I want fewer lights over my tank - not more, and they displace two if not possibly three royals at about the same price. Plus, they were my idea for Satistronics to make - nobody else was interested in making a high powered RBs, but oddly Satistronics was happy to make them, and they seem glad they did. I use them mixed with neutrals, and they look incredible over a reef tank. This is all covered in the 'Aethestics thread' over at nano-reef near the end. Doubt if anybody here is really interested.
Last edited by blasterman; 11-14-2010 at 06:55 PM.
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11-14-2010 10:03 PM #7 VegasF6
The 10W uv I find now is speced at 400-405 nM. Did they change products or specifications since you bought them? My 445 nm laser diode is quite a bit bluer than my 405.
Oops, never mind found it.
Last edited by VegasF6; 11-14-2010 at 10:09 PM.
Please post any errors and corrections in a new post below.
-
The format is:
Date, time, old postcount#, poster;
post data
-
I will try to fix the CPF links in the next 2 weeks or until I give up in frustration. Can not do that and verify with CPF down.
-----
11-14-2010 10:21 AM #2 jason 77
Originally Posted by VegasF6
Built a small aquarium light using 3 of these being underdriven at 350 mA. I am pretty happy with the results, but the algae growth is starting to get a little out of hand. More so then I expected with the narrow spectrum of LED lighting. Granted, warm white LED such as these probably contain more red then a cooler white tint, but it still should be minimal, no? And in addition, shouldn't the water have the effect of blocking more of that red light? Any thoughts on if I had used these pure white led instead?
I have a LED aquarium light I built a few years ago with 9 "1 watt" LEDs that are warm white and they are enough to have a build up of algae over time... course I solved that problem by getting a few algae eating fishes, maybe you could try that?
-----
11-14-2010 11:07 AM #3 VegasF6
Maybe. Do they also eat sea monkeys?
-----
11-14-2010 03:00 PM #4 blasterman
Won't make a difference. Contrary to urban myth, warmer colors don't contribute to algae more than cooler colors. Alage grows in the presence of nutrients, particularly nitrate and phosphate.
I'm running 10 445nm LEDs over my reef tank, and if I didn't takle care of it algae would take over.
-----
11-14-2010 04:31 PM #5 VegasF6
Well that is interesting. I have a 10 gallon next to that tank lit via fluorescent next to it. It seems as though the algae growth is slower in that tank, but then, I don't have any way to acurately measure that. Also, it could be more due to intensity.
So, would you say the subtle difference between warm white and cool white led isn't a factor, or are you going so far as to say wavelength has no effect whatsoever on algae growth??
Curious what 445 nm led you are using, and what is the benefit to the corals? And is that the only lighting for that tank?
I read here how you stated corals "color up" as a reaction to UV-A. I have read an article contrary to that stating the effect is due to brightness, not specifically UV of any sort. Have you posted pics of your setup either here or at nano reef? I would be interested in seeing it.
-----
11-14-2010 06:53 PM #6 blasterman
So, would you say the subtle difference between warm white and cool white led isn't a factor, or are you going so far as to say wavelength has no effect whatsoever on algae growth??
Both. Nuisance algaes can thrive on very low levels of light which is why people often see the problem even though they are running crappy lights, CFL's etc. There isn't enough light for regular plants or corals to compete, but enough for the nuisance algae to thrive. The flip side is a full tank black-out will often kill simple algaes while more complex plants or corals can store enough food to survive in total darkness. Regardless, there's been no proof that specific wavelengths encourage algae or discourage it. Lots of far blue light will encourage growth of bad algae, or plants, or corals. All white LED have a component of blue in them, and that's what's feeding the algae.
As for the link, SPS growers have been whining that blue LEDs aren't providing enough color as Halides or T5s because their wavelegnths don't go as short as halides. So, they've been adding UV or 420 T5 actinics to help with 'coloration'. That's their arguement - not mine. The coloration arguement, if it's valid, would have more to do with protective pigments in corals than anything else. UV sure as hell isn't rquired for growth. I stopped using cool-whites and I no longer have a color issue because the cool-whites cause most of it.
I switched to 10watt 445s because I want fewer lights over my tank - not more, and they displace two if not possibly three royals at about the same price. Plus, they were my idea for Satistronics to make - nobody else was interested in making a high powered RBs, but oddly Satistronics was happy to make them, and they seem glad they did. I use them mixed with neutrals, and they look incredible over a reef tank. This is all covered in the 'Aethestics thread' over at nano-reef near the end. Doubt if anybody here is really interested.
Last edited by blasterman; 11-14-2010 at 06:55 PM.
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11-14-2010 10:03 PM #7 VegasF6
The 10W uv I find now is speced at 400-405 nM. Did they change products or specifications since you bought them? My 445 nm laser diode is quite a bit bluer than my 405.
Oops, never mind found it.
Last edited by VegasF6; 11-14-2010 at 10:09 PM.
