algae, spectrum, light
 

Hi,

I was looking up some info about lighting in aquaria, the grow of
plants and the formation of algae.

In this search I came across an interresting, and for me new, fact.

In short it says :
"Algae use the blue side of the spectrum while plants can also grow
healthy on the red side only"

So excluding the blue side can / should reduce the growth of algae !!

This was stunning to me because special lamps for plants have both
blue AND red spectra in them.

I use the following picture for further explanation :
http://users.pandora.be/worldofbudgerigars/!spectrum1.jpg

legend :
A) TL - warm white (normal TL)

E) TL - GroLux (special lamp for plants)

I) daylight (sun)

J) spectrum used by plants for fotosynthese

What do we see ?

J is the spectrum which plants should need, so they made the lamp E
(almost identical spectrum)

But now I read that algae use mostly / only the blue side while plants
don't really need the blue side and can live with the red side alone.

So this means that a normal TL (A) should be a far better choice.

Now I can understand why sunlight (J) is so bad to our aquarium in
regard to algae growth (see how much blue there is in sunlight !)

now MY QUESTION :
Is there any scientific source (link / book) which deals with the
fact the algae use basically blue and plants need only red ?

I don't believe everything I read ;-)

TIA

PérRµ§h

--

A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on usenet?

algae, spectrum, light
 

Is there any scientific source (link / book) which deals with the
fact the algae use basically blue and plants need only red ?

I don't believe everything I read ;-)

Very smart of you. :-)

I've also heard that "blue light causes algae" thing, and there may be
something to it. But a lot of people grow plants under blueish lights (like
those 50% actinic SmartLites) just fine. I'm skeptical about the idea that you
can control algae just by light spectrum.

But if there is any solid info, I'd be interested in seeing it, too.



Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

algae, spectrum, light
 

Is there any scientific source (link / book) which deals with the
fact the algae use basically blue and plants need only red ?

I don't believe everything I read ;-)

Very smart of you. :-)

I've also heard that "blue light causes algae" thing, and there may be
something to it. But a lot of people grow plants under blueish lights (like
those 50% actinic SmartLites) just fine. I'm skeptical about the idea that you
can control algae just by light spectrum.

But if there is any solid info, I'd be interested in seeing it, too.



Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

algae, spectrum, light
 

some of the lights in stores say "promotes invertebrate growth" if we have
crabs/crayfish/shrimp do we need a special spectrum? would denying as much
blue light as possible to the tank hurt them? Also, exactly how does the
mostly red light look, if it gives a weird "satan tank" look to the thing
then I'd rather have algae :-P

(sorry for top posting but I find it easier to read since i don't have to
scroll through 5 pages of text I've already read to get to the new stuff)
"LeighMo" wrote in message
...
Is there any scientific source (link / book) which deals with the
fact the algae use basically blue and plants need only red ?

I don't believe everything I read ;-)

Very smart of you. :-)

I've also heard that "blue light causes algae" thing, and there may be
something to it. But a lot of people grow plants under blueish lights
(like
those 50% actinic SmartLites) just fine. I'm skeptical about the idea
that you
can control algae just by light spectrum.

But if there is any solid info, I'd be interested in seeing it, too.



Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

algae, spectrum, light
 

some of the lights in stores say "promotes invertebrate growth" if we have
crabs/crayfish/shrimp do we need a special spectrum? would denying as much
blue light as possible to the tank hurt them? Also, exactly how does the
mostly red light look, if it gives a weird "satan tank" look to the thing
then I'd rather have algae :-P

(sorry for top posting but I find it easier to read since i don't have to
scroll through 5 pages of text I've already read to get to the new stuff)
"LeighMo" wrote in message
...
Is there any scientific source (link / book) which deals with the
fact the algae use basically blue and plants need only red ?

I don't believe everything I read ;-)

Very smart of you. :-)

I've also heard that "blue light causes algae" thing, and there may be
something to it. But a lot of people grow plants under blueish lights
(like
those 50% actinic SmartLites) just fine. I'm skeptical about the idea
that you
can control algae just by light spectrum.

But if there is any solid info, I'd be interested in seeing it, too.



Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

algae, spectrum, light
 

some of the lights in stores say "promotes invertebrate growth" if we have
crabs/crayfish/shrimp do we need a special spectrum?

I would assume they were talking about corals.

Also, exactly how does the
mostly red light look, if it gives a weird "satan tank" look to the thing
then I'd rather have algae :-P

LOL! There is that....


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

algae, spectrum, light
 

some of the lights in stores say "promotes invertebrate growth" if we have
crabs/crayfish/shrimp do we need a special spectrum?

I would assume they were talking about corals.

Also, exactly how does the
mostly red light look, if it gives a weird "satan tank" look to the thing
then I'd rather have algae :-P

LOL! There is that....


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

algae, spectrum, light
 

On Thu, 20 Feb 2003 04:12:52 GMT, in rec.aquaria.freshwater.plants
"Christopher" verruimde onze geest met:

Also, exactly how does the
mostly red light look, if it gives a weird "satan tank" look to the thing
then I'd rather have algae :-P

**
mostly you don't see any difference at all.


(sorry for top posting but I find it easier to read since i don't have to
scroll through 5 pages of text I've already read to get to the new stuff)

**
If you cut away the lines which aren't usefull anymore and only leave
those whom you're replying to, you don't get 5 pages ...

PérRµ§h

--

A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on usenet?

algae, spectrum, light
 

On Thu, 20 Feb 2003 04:12:52 GMT, in rec.aquaria.freshwater.plants
"Christopher" verruimde onze geest met:

Also, exactly how does the
mostly red light look, if it gives a weird "satan tank" look to the thing
then I'd rather have algae :-P

**
mostly you don't see any difference at all.


(sorry for top posting but I find it easier to read since i don't have to
scroll through 5 pages of text I've already read to get to the new stuff)

**
If you cut away the lines which aren't usefull anymore and only leave
those whom you're replying to, you don't get 5 pages ...

PérRµ§h

--

A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on usenet?

algae, spectrum, light
 

On 20 Feb 2003 03:35:35 GMT, in rec.aquaria.freshwater.plants
tose (LeighMo) verruimde onze geest met:


I don't believe everything I read ;-)

**
It's not only from reading. An experienced breeder told met that
those "plant-lights" were crap, that they only stimulated algae
growth.

Then I went to the www and found the red - blue story on several
sites.


I'm skeptical about the idea that you
can control algae just by light spectrum.

**
I haven't said that you can control them ONLY by light choise, but the
light can give algae a better or a worse enviroment.

Ofcours NO3 and PO4 will influence the growth too.

ps : still looking for evidence

PérRµ§h

--

A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on usenet?

algae, spectrum, light
 

On 20 Feb 2003 03:35:35 GMT, in rec.aquaria.freshwater.plants
tose (LeighMo) verruimde onze geest met:


I don't believe everything I read ;-)

**
It's not only from reading. An experienced breeder told met that
those "plant-lights" were crap, that they only stimulated algae
growth.

Then I went to the www and found the red - blue story on several
sites.


I'm skeptical about the idea that you
can control algae just by light spectrum.

**
I haven't said that you can control them ONLY by light choise, but the
light can give algae a better or a worse enviroment.

Ofcours NO3 and PO4 will influence the growth too.

ps : still looking for evidence

PérRµ§h

--

A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on usenet?

algae, spectrum, light
 

Then I went to the www and found the red - blue story on several
sites.

But those sites often take info from each other. It's really easy to spread
false info on the net, I'm afraid.

I've never seen any actual research on this, just anecdotal claims. Which I'm
not discounting, mind, but some solid proof would be nice.

Personally, I don't worry about spectrum. I choose lights that are appealing
to my eye, and make my fish and plants look good.


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

algae, spectrum, light
 

Then I went to the www and found the red - blue story on several
sites.

But those sites often take info from each other. It's really easy to spread
false info on the net, I'm afraid.

I've never seen any actual research on this, just anecdotal claims. Which I'm
not discounting, mind, but some solid proof would be nice.

Personally, I don't worry about spectrum. I choose lights that are appealing
to my eye, and make my fish and plants look good.


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

algae, spectrum, light
 

On 20 Feb 2003 11:36:28 GMT, in rec.aquaria.freshwater.plants
tose (LeighMo) verruimde onze geest met:


But those sites often take info from each other. It's really easy to spread
false info on the net, I'm afraid.

** true ;-(

** Although many site told that special plant lamps (like GroLux)
don't work.

I've never seen any actual research on this, just anecdotal claims. Which I'm
not discounting, mind, but some solid proof would be nice.

** If I find nothing, I'll do my own test :-)

**
I found one interresting hypothesis why algae prefer blue and plants
can do with red.

You know that blue light travels easier through water than red light.

This theory stated that algae develloped mainly in the sea where much
more blue light was available than red one. When (water)plants
develloped they went out of the water and were able to receive the red
part anytime they wanted, so they became more sensitive to it.

Sound logical, but that's not enough

PérRµ§h

--

A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on usenet?

algae, spectrum, light
 

On 20 Feb 2003 11:36:28 GMT, in rec.aquaria.freshwater.plants
tose (LeighMo) verruimde onze geest met:


But those sites often take info from each other. It's really easy to spread
false info on the net, I'm afraid.

** true ;-(

** Although many site told that special plant lamps (like GroLux)
don't work.

I've never seen any actual research on this, just anecdotal claims. Which I'm
not discounting, mind, but some solid proof would be nice.

** If I find nothing, I'll do my own test :-)

**
I found one interresting hypothesis why algae prefer blue and plants
can do with red.

You know that blue light travels easier through water than red light.

This theory stated that algae develloped mainly in the sea where much
more blue light was available than red one. When (water)plants
develloped they went out of the water and were able to receive the red
part anytime they wanted, so they became more sensitive to it.

Sound logical, but that's not enough

PérRµ§h

--

A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on usenet?