Lighting colour temperature

Ive made an observation that Id like to share with you, and see what you think.

I have 2 different types of tubes over my tank at the moment, Hagen Life-Glo (6500K), and Hagen Aqua-Glo (18,000K).

I did an experiment over 48 hours each to observe how much pearling I could see depending on which combo of tube I was running.

My first setup was 2 Life-Glo tubes, running at the same time, for the same period.
At the end of the photoperiod it was really hard to spot any pearling, except for a bit on my surface Riccia.

The second set-up was 1 Life-Glo, and 1 Aqua-Glo for the same periods.
This time, pearling was considerably more on most of the plants, even the Java ferns.

Hagen do state the Aqua-Glo as a pro-photosynthesis tube, and I guess that all I've done is really confirm that.

My trouble is, is that prolonged use of the Aqua-Glo, spurs my brown algae problem into overdrive, and also I get the horrid signs of early cyanobacteria back again. Ive had an issue with unstable CO2 which is now sorted, hopefully.. so maybe thats the cause of the algae in the first place. Id really like to be able to run the Aqua-Glo full time, at the moment though it just doesnt seem possible.

 

thanks for all that info Freshhoby

Yeah, ive been trying to learn about Kelvin temps as I think its really important. Do you think that running 2 6500k instead of 6500 + 18000k will yield good growth still?

 

I find the effect of colour temp really really interesting, Id kinda like to learn the science behind what colours effect the plants and how.. obviously, its definatly the reds that are making the difference. I wonder though that if I had good substrate coverage (its getting there slowly) then things would settle massively and the algae would subside quickly.

I just added 6 Oto's which, after watching them for 24 hours are just amazing fish, the amount they consume is stunning.

The biggest thing I dont want is another cyanobacteria outbreak.. I have signs of it on the bare sand again, after about a week after blackout. But CO2 hasnt been stable in that time.. now I have it stable, Im hoping that the cyano will turn around again and go.. maybe thats wishful thinking. I need to wait it out I think and see how it goes. Its easy to do your own head in by changing things and not waiting long enough to actually see the changes.