blue actinic (460nm )giving me algea

[garygonzales]

i have t5 lighting with 3 10k bulbs and 3 actinic bulbs(460nm)and i getting lots more algea with the bluer bulbs then i did with the 420nm actinc....has anybody ever had this too...if so how did you correct this

[SeanT]

The light is not giving you algae.
The algae is being fueled by a food source.
Phosphates.
It is either coming from feeing or leeching out of your rock.

Sean

[garygonzales]

i tend to believe you on that too...i checked my phos and nitrates and pretty much undetected...i just got t5 about 6 months ago and never had this problem untill i swithed over...

[garygonzales]

.

[SeanT]

The problem with the tests are that often times the PO4 is wicked up and absorbed by the algae at such a rate that it is undetectable in the water column.

I assure you, where there is algae there is a phosphate food source.

Sean

[Jefe12234]

Yes, algae absolutely require nutrients to grow. They cannot substitute light for nutrients. So if you have algae, you have excess nutrients. Work on improving whatever filtration you currently use. In particular make sure your skimmer is pulling substantial skimmate each day.