H380 Grow vs Bloom Experiment?

[RobTheReefer]

I've had a H380 on my refugium for about two months. The whole time I was on the grow setting. My nitrates are undetectable (Red Sea Pro). Long ago I stopped checking phosphates with the Hanna ULR because it always measured zero...until recently. I started getting slimy snot algae all over the rocks and sand. So I broke out the Hanna ULR and was shocked to see that my phosphates were 0.055! I added enough Potassium Nitrate to get my nitrates to 0.25 The next morning my phosphates measured zero on the Hanna.

Anyway, we all know the H360 can grow Chaeto like mad and lower Nitrates to zero. But, for some like me it seems that the phosphates will rise over time.

My chaeto grows very, very dense and curly, like a green afro. I'm wondering if switching to the bloom setting will force the Chaeto to stretch out, grow more like spaghetti and possibly use more phosphates along with the nitrates in the process.

Today, I've switched to the bloom setting, but I was wondering if anyone knows of a real experiment done comparing the two settings of the H380?

I will update this thread with any anecdotal evidence I come up with. I'm no scientist, but I'll know if the bloom setting is able to keep the phosphates from rising without adding Potassium Nitrate. No other changes will be made. Let's see what happens.

 

[HippieSmell]

I've had a H380 on my refugium for about two months. The whole time I was on the grow setting. My nitrates are undetectable (Red Sea Pro). Long ago I stopped checking phosphates with the Hanna ULR because it always measured zero...until recently. I started getting slimy snot algae all over the rocks and sand. So I broke out the Hanna ULR and was shocked to see that my phosphates were 0.055! I added enough Potassium Nitrate to get my nitrates to 0.25 The next morning my phosphates measured zero on the Hanna.

Anyway, we all know the H360 can grow Chaeto like mad and lower Nitrates to zero. But, for some like me it seems that the phosphates will rise over time.

My chaeto grows very, very dense and curly, like a green afro. I'm wondering if switching to the bloom setting will force the Chaeto to stretch out, grow more like spaghetti and possibly use more phosphates along with the nitrates in the process.

Today, I've switched to the bloom setting, but I was wondering if anyone knows of a real experiment done comparing the two settings of the H380?

I will update this thread with any anecdotal evidence I come up with. I'm no scientist, but I'll know if the bloom setting is able to keep the phosphates from rising without adding Potassium Nitrate. No other changes will be made. Let's see what happens.

I'm interested in your results, as I've got the same light and growing chaeto. Yes, I also get a very dense curly mass on the grow setting.

 

[Lasse]

I do not know the H380 and its wavelengths but generally speaking – the blue wavelengths promote chlorophyll production and hence to the growth phase – red wavelengths promote the reproductive phase – flowerings and so on. Its also essential to a plants early life. This for terrestrial plants. If this is relevant for macro algae – I do not know. In my fuge I use rather much of red light and some blue light and the growth of the chaeto is perfect – but I have to add KNO3 every day in order not to go down to zero of nitrate. P and N depend of each other and both are needed for growth. If one of them read zero – the growth will be stopped.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[JollyReefer]

I've had a H380 on my refugium for about two months. The whole time I was on the grow setting. My nitrates are undetectable (Red Sea Pro). Long ago I stopped checking phosphates with the Hanna ULR because it always measured zero...until recently. I started getting slimy snot algae all over the rocks and sand. So I broke out the Hanna ULR and was shocked to see that my phosphates were 0.055! I added enough Potassium Nitrate to get my nitrates to 0.25 The next morning my phosphates measured zero on the Hanna.

Anyway, we all know the H360 can grow Chaeto like mad and lower Nitrates to zero. But, for some like me it seems that the phosphates will rise over time.

My chaeto grows very, very dense and curly, like a green afro. I'm wondering if switching to the bloom setting will force the Chaeto to stretch out, grow more like spaghetti and possibly use more phosphates along with the nitrates in the process.

Today, I've switched to the bloom setting, but I was wondering if anyone knows of a real experiment done comparing the two settings of the H380?

I will update this thread with any anecdotal evidence I come up with. I'm no scientist, but I'll know if the bloom setting is able to keep the phosphates from rising without adding Potassium Nitrate. No other changes will be made. Let's see what happens.

What came of your experiment?

 

[K Ty]

Bump!

 

[hart24601]

This will be good to know. Thanks!

 

[o00brandon00o]

I've had a H380 on my refugium for about two months. The whole time I was on the grow setting. My nitrates are undetectable (Red Sea Pro). Long ago I stopped checking phosphates with the Hanna ULR because it always measured zero...until recently. I started getting slimy snot algae all over the rocks and sand. So I broke out the Hanna ULR and was shocked to see that my phosphates were 0.055! I added enough Potassium Nitrate to get my nitrates to 0.25 The next morning my phosphates measured zero on the Hanna.

Anyway, we all know the H360 can grow Chaeto like mad and lower Nitrates to zero. But, for some like me it seems that the phosphates will rise over time.

My chaeto grows very, very dense and curly, like a green afro. I'm wondering if switching to the bloom setting will force the Chaeto to stretch out, grow more like spaghetti and possibly use more phosphates along with the nitrates in the process.

Today, I've switched to the bloom setting, but I was wondering if anyone knows of a real experiment done comparing the two settings of the H380?

I will update this thread with any anecdotal evidence I come up with. I'm no scientist, but I'll know if the bloom setting is able to keep the phosphates from rising without adding Potassium Nitrate. No other changes will be made. Let's see what happens.

@RobTheReefer Any update?

 

[ca1ore]

I have been using the H380 for over two years. Although my chaeto growth at the moment is lousy, when it was growing well I swapped a few times between the two settings and noted no difference in growth.

 

[jmichaelh7]

Is the red light (bloom) the same as the grow light ?

Thr only setting I have is bloom due to Kessil malfunctioning I was wondering if I could still use it for refugium