T5 HO Slimpaq 54w Bulb life??

Mcasteel · 08/14/2008, 07:49 AM

In the last 3 months, I've had a brown diatom algae outbreak in my 75 gallon aquarium. It started slow and now it's covering almost all the rocks in the tank and is starting to cover some of the larger pieces of sand / shells. My nitrate / nitrite / phosphate levels are 0. I run a skimmer and a filter sock that I change weekly. I have a refugium with Chaeto that I harvest monthly. I currently only have 2 fish in the tank and I target feed them every other day so no excess food is entering the system. My top off water is distilled / deionized water that I get from the grocery store. After troubleshooting and reading, I've come to the conclusion that diatom algae grows from bad water flow, excessive silicates in the water and bad lighting. My water flow hasn't changed and my tank has decent circulation. I assume the distilled water I add does not contain silicates. My lighting is T5 HO Slimpaq bulbs which everywhere I've looked are good for 2 years. My bulbs are just over 1 year old. After coming to a deadend, I talked to my LFS guy and he told me the bulbs should be changed every 6 months and that's my problem. Before I spend almost $200 on new bulbs, do you think lighting is the problem?

mike Brolin · 08/14/2008, 07:56 AM

What is decent circulation mean? I would try about 2,00o gal per hour. How many hours a day are lights on? Try reducing if your over 12hr/ day
I use T-5 Ho and just changed bulb after 2 years, i did not a significant increase in coral growth after change. I plan on going 12- 18 months now.

Mcasteel · 08/14/2008, 08:16 AM

I have a Mag 12 as my only circulation right now. With the 4' adjustment for height, it's around 1130 GPH.

My actinics come on 2 hours before my daylight bulbs and stay on 2 hours after my daylight bulbs go off, both are on together for 6 hours.

08/14/2008, 07:49 AM	#1
Mcasteel Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Riverview, Florida Posts: 85	T5 HO Slimpaq 54w Bulb life?? In the last 3 months, I've had a brown diatom algae outbreak in my 75 gallon aquarium. It started slow and now it's covering almost all the rocks in the tank and is starting to cover some of the larger pieces of sand / shells. My nitrate / nitrite / phosphate levels are 0. I run a skimmer and a filter sock that I change weekly. I have a refugium with Chaeto that I harvest monthly. I currently only have 2 fish in the tank and I target feed them every other day so no excess food is entering the system. My top off water is distilled / deionized water that I get from the grocery store. After troubleshooting and reading, I've come to the conclusion that diatom algae grows from bad water flow, excessive silicates in the water and bad lighting. My water flow hasn't changed and my tank has decent circulation. I assume the distilled water I add does not contain silicates. My lighting is T5 HO Slimpaq bulbs which everywhere I've looked are good for 2 years. My bulbs are just over 1 year old. After coming to a deadend, I talked to my LFS guy and he told me the bulbs should be changed every 6 months and that's my problem. Before I spend almost $200 on new bulbs, do you think lighting is the problem?

08/14/2008, 07:56 AM	#2
mike Brolin Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Waunakee Wi Posts: 57	What is decent circulation mean? I would try about 2,00o gal per hour. How many hours a day are lights on? Try reducing if your over 12hr/ day I use T-5 Ho and just changed bulb after 2 years, i did not a significant increase in coral growth after change. I plan on going 12- 18 months now.

08/14/2008, 08:16 AM	#3
Mcasteel Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Riverview, Florida Posts: 85	I have a Mag 12 as my only circulation right now. With the 4' adjustment for height, it's around 1130 GPH. My actinics come on 2 hours before my daylight bulbs and stay on 2 hours after my daylight bulbs go off, both are on together for 6 hours.