True, False, or somewhere in between: Does blue light limit nuisance algae?

[Peace River]

True, False, or somewhere in between: Does blue light limit nuisance algae?

Blue light limits nuisance algae - this is a recommendation that seems to come up occasionally, but is it true? Does blue light limit nuisance algae? Many of the algae in our tank flourish with white lights and high nutrients. After all this is what we feed our macro tanks and refugiums to help them thrive. However, when we lower the whites and increase the blues in our lighting does this just shift the parameters in our tanks to create the space for other types of algae to grow? Please let us know what you have found in your tank and what you think about the impact of blue lighting on nuisance algae.

Photo by @Uncle99


This QOTD is sponsored by: www.topshelfaquatics.com

“Top Shelf Aquatics helps you feel confident in the quality, reliability, and consistency of getting everything you need for a perfect saltwater aquarium. From corals and fish to inverts and aquarium supplies, you can count on us to provide you with a seamless reefing experience.”

 

[exnisstech]

Nothing scientific but I have no problem growing different types of nuisance algae with whites, reds, and greens at 0%. I can see it better under whites

 

[Troylee]

Never had an algae problem with white lighting and still don’t today. #halidesforlife

 

[KrisReef]

Even algae looks better under blues.

 

[randomfishdude]

I dunno. -\(°_°)/-

 

[thayes4147]

Blue does seem to get rid of brown algae. That or the reduced light from blue being darker.

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

Don’t ever put a Chanzon RGB COB LED over your Aquarium, grows every type of nuisance algae.

 

[TheSaltySpitoon]

I have seen various reefers claim the blue helps. But I think it's limited at best and really just "hides" the algae from being as easy to see right away compared to white lights.

 

[d2mini]

IME, i believe the difference between white and blue in the display isn't much.
If you have an algae issue, this is not the area of concern.

Refugium grow lights are always in the red spectrum. So take that for what its worth.

 

[exnisstech]

Even algae looks better under blues.

The green algae in this tanks is not at all visible under blues .I freaked out a bit when I accidentally blasted the whites one day and saw it for the first time (it was way worse then). I did what any respectable reefer would do and turned those whites back off and pretended I didn't see what I saw

EDIT forgot the photo

 

[KrisReef]

Do reefers use a Nanometer to measure the light intensity in their Nano tanks?

Edit: Asking for a friend.

 

[Dburr1014]

I don't like windex lighting. Full spectrum all the way.

Red, White, or Blue: Which color is right for you? Algae Growth under Different Colors of Light | Vasquez | Journal of Introductory Biology Investigations

 

[TheSaltySpitoon]

Do reefers use a Nanometer to measure the light intensity in their Nano tanks?

Well... do reefers use a picometer to measure the light intensity in their Pico tanks?

Sorry I couldn't resist

 

[TheSaltySpitoon]

I don't like windex lighting. Full spectrum all the way.

Red, White, or Blue: Which color is right for you? Algae Growth under Different Colors of Light | Vasquez | Journal of Introductory Biology Investigations

I like it somewhere in between. Not too blue, but enough to really make the colors pop

 

[KrisReef]

Well... do reefers use a picometer to measure the light intensity in their Pico tanks?

Sorry I couldn't resist

Thanks for asking that question for yourself

Yea, the probe wands for those other meters are so long and clumsy with these smaller reefs.

Shalom and no shame

 

[twentyleagues]

Well I have led grow lights over my fresh tanks with plants growing out the top of the tank roots submerged. The lights are blue and white for veg and red white and blue for bloom. The blue and white alone grow those plants well. I dont see how going all blue will effectively deter algae growth. Chlorophyll uses blue light, algae and plants have chlorophyll. Like others have said I think it makes it less obvious.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

IME, i believe the difference between white and blue in the display isn't much.
If you have an algae issue, this is not the area of concern.

Refugium grow lights are always in the red spectrum. So take that for what its worth.

These are my thoughts as well. I feel like there *may* be a VERY limited reduction by using blue light (due to lack of red spectrum that is present in white light), but that won't be enough of a difference to mitigate any real issues. If there's a real algae problem in a tank, changing lighting won't do enough good to be worth the trade off. As others have noted, where other factors are favorable to algae growth, it will grow just fine under blue or white light.

 

[mook1178]

IF the algal cells in coral can photosynthesize under blue lights, so can any other algal cell.

 

[JayM]

I have no idea, but this study from 2018 says that "blue light reduces photosynthetic efficiency of cyanobacteria through an imbalance between photosystems I and II".

So I assume that means blue light will at least inhibit the growth of some algae.

 

[sfin52]

True, False, or somewhere in between: Does blue light limit nuisance algae?

Blue light limits nuisance algae - this is a recommendation that seems to come up occasionally, but is it true? Does blue light limit nuisance algae? Many of the algae in our tank flourish with white lights and high nutrients. After all this is what we feed our macro tanks and refugiums to help them thrive. However, when we lower the whites and increase the blues in our lighting does this just shift the parameters in our tanks to create the space for other types of algae to grow? Please let us know what you have found in your tank and what you think about the impact of blue lighting on nuisance algae.

Photo by @Uncle99


This QOTD is sponsored by: www.topshelfaquatics.com

“Top Shelf Aquatics helps you feel confident in the quality, reliability, and consistency of getting everything you need for a perfect saltwater aquarium. From corals and fish to inverts and aquarium supplies, you can count on us to provide you with a seamless reefing experience.”

Blue light grows coral it will grow algea. Look at the blue spectrum. Blue is for growth and reds for flowering and seeds is my understanding.