T5 vs Metal Halide

[robalv]

I have had my 120 running for a little over a week now and have noticed on one side of the tank I am running 6 T5 3 actinic and 3 10K and on the other a 250 MH 10K.
The side with the T5's has alot of algae growing where as the side with the MH has minimal anyone ever run across this and if so what is the theory behind it.

[Agent Jones]

good algae or bad?

[robalv]

its a reddish brown algae turbo love it

[justahobby]

Red algaes like lower lighting. At one time I ran 2X96w PC and left one side alone until it was completely covered in a deep red algae. And then I released a turbo in my tank (I still ask myself "why?!) and lost all the red in a couple days :angry: I've read before that Kelvin ratings are almost always off. With that in mind.... Maybe the T5's aren't matching up to their Kelvin rating where the metal halide is closer to being a true 10K?

[jrsatx20]

diatoms looks like. will go away.

[robalv]

should I dose with algaefix or let it run its course

[Gseclipse02]

how old are your bulbs on the MH??

[robalv]

not sure just bought it from kristy last week, contiplating buying a new set up
with 2 mh 250w

[jrsatx20]

run its course.

[Mr Cob]

If the bulbs on the T5 are old then that could explain the algae growth just on the T5 side.

[hobogato]

yoda? you, is that?


diatoms looks like. will go away.



run its course.

"i am not scared of red algae or diatoms"

yoda (aka ruben) - you will be..... you will be.

[jrsatx20]

sorry but huh?

[robalv]

Bulbs are about 1 month old I thank all of your input

[hobogato]

sorry ruben, i agree with what you are saying. your responses were just so choppy it reminded my of yoda - just a joke :)

sorry for the hijack rob, give it time and it should go away. i dont think you need to change your lights if you are happy with the way the tank looks.

[Europhyllia]

Do you have anything in the tank or are you waiting for it to complete the cycle first?
If you have fish in there do you have a preferred side to feed them on?
It seemed like my diatom algae sort of started in the feeding spots -now it's spread all over though...

[jrsatx20]

ace no prob. knew it as a joke just wish i got it. i was still laughing though.
sorry again who is yoda.
as for the algae most if not all tanks will get this algae. let it run its course and it will go away on its own.

[manhorsedog]

most of the time it goes away within a week or so.

[manhorsedog]

and i honestly think it is because the t-5s are giving you a better par reading throughout the tank.

I would not run the lights at all until the cycle is done, will help with unwanted algae.