Distance from light to water?

MadSkillzMan · 09/12/2006, 01:49 PM

hi guys. Im curious here, ive been running a 2x65watt light on my FW and SW tanks (20gals each)

Growth is great!

Only on the SW tank, algae growth is also great. So today i put the legs on the light so it standa bout 5" from the glass. Ive noticed the light isnt as bright, but the blue and white bulbs mix better, rather half tank being blue, half being white.

Basically, how important is the distance? how much light is lost etc etc

all im growiing right now is sinularia, its a CF fixture with 1x65watt 1000k and 1x65watt 1400K

thanks in advance

kwiker · 09/12/2006, 04:20 PM

How long have you been running your current bulbs? It might be time to change them out. The closer you can get the lights to the water, the better. Too much light is not what is causing your algae to bloom.
How long has your tank been set up? Are you using tap water or R.O. water. Check he phosphate levels in your tank. The 2 most common reasons for algae blooms are high phosphate levels and old bulbs.

MadSkillzMan · 09/12/2006, 05:46 PM

Well, if those are the 2 highest causes, thats my problem. Tanks almost a year old, as are the bulbs, and no i dont have an RO unit yet.

I have an HOB fuge which gets tons of light. The only algae im really getting is this gross brown stuff on the bottom. i HAD green hair algae, but when i installed the HOB fuge, literally it all cleared up within a week.

09/12/2006, 01:49 PM	#1
MadSkillzMan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 282	Distance from light to water? hi guys. Im curious here, ive been running a 2x65watt light on my FW and SW tanks (20gals each) Growth is great! Only on the SW tank, algae growth is also great. So today i put the legs on the light so it standa bout 5" from the glass. Ive noticed the light isnt as bright, but the blue and white bulbs mix better, rather half tank being blue, half being white. Basically, how important is the distance? how much light is lost etc etc all im growiing right now is sinularia, its a CF fixture with 1x65watt 1000k and 1x65watt 1400K thanks in advance

09/12/2006, 04:20 PM	#2
kwiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Lafayette, LA Posts: 153	How long have you been running your current bulbs? It might be time to change them out. The closer you can get the lights to the water, the better. Too much light is not what is causing your algae to bloom. How long has your tank been set up? Are you using tap water or R.O. water. Check he phosphate levels in your tank. The 2 most common reasons for algae blooms are high phosphate levels and old bulbs.

09/12/2006, 05:46 PM	#3
MadSkillzMan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 282	Well, if those are the 2 highest causes, thats my problem. Tanks almost a year old, as are the bulbs, and no i dont have an RO unit yet. I have an HOB fuge which gets tons of light. The only algae im really getting is this gross brown stuff on the bottom. i HAD green hair algae, but when i installed the HOB fuge, literally it all cleared up within a week.