Does old halide bulb cause algae bloom?

[dz6t]

I heard people talked about that a lot. I want to hear your own experience regarding this matter.

 

[Matt L.]

I heard people talked about that a lot. I want to hear your own experience regarding this matter.

My opinion: old bulbs can <i>help</i> an algal bloom occur, but I still believe that algae needs nutrients like phosphate and nitrate as well.

Matt

 

[scavdog]

Older bulbs shift in color temperature as well as intensity. Could this spectral shift cause an algae bloom? Possibly. But as Matt states, there needs to be a source of food. IE nitrates & phosphates. Another thing to keep in mind is the duration that you are lighting your tank. In-excess of 8-10 hrs may contribute to algal growth.

-Joe