Interpet 64l triple strip LED Aquarium lights suddenly generating loads of algae suddenly

[Siovas]

Hi All,

I'm a relative (but enthusiastic) newbie to the freshwater tropical fish world.
We were gifted a second hand Love Your Pet Panorama (Interpet?) 64L tropical aquarium a few years ago.

A few LEDs on the SINGLE strip light began to fail so I decided to replace it.
The only thing that I could find was an update from Interpet which was a Interpet 64l triple strip LED Aquarium light.
I was initially worried it would be too much for the tank but it is lovely and bright going from one strip to three.

However, after only 2 weeks the amount of green algae on the glass, pump, heater etc. has increased very apparently, and water quality is much poorer (greener).
Due to the increased light I purchase a nice background.
By the way, the aquarium is not near a window nor direct light and we do treat the water with algae prohibitor when we change the water.

I'm reaching out for some expert advice.

Does anyone know of a single light that will be compatible with my aquarium that I can purchase instead?
Or....
Given the updated triple strip was £50!, would it be possible to cover with a heart resistant membrane to 'dull' the light intensity and maybe cut down on the sudden increase in algae growth?

Any advice welcome.

Many thanks.

 

[Essjay]

Can you post a link to the light you bought? Looking on Interept's website, the only triple lights I can find are 'river reef' and 'bright white' both of which have a K rating of 10,000 K which is too high for planted tanks. 10,000 K lights have too much blue in them, which algae can use better than aquarium plants.
How long is the light on for?

 

[Siovas]

Can you post a link to the light you bought? Looking on Interept's website, the only triple lights I can find are 'river reef' and 'bright white' both of which have a K rating of 10,000 K which is too high for planted tanks. 10,000 K lights have too much blue in them, which algae can use better than aquarium plants.
How long is the light on for?

 

[Siovas]

Hi,

A bought the following
Interpet LED Bright White Upgrade... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00ITQKUDY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

After researching on Pets at Home

Love Fish Panorama Upgrade Light 64 | Pets At Home

<li>Encourage healthy plant growth without increasing the spread of algae</li><li>Perfect addition to the Panorama 60 tank</li><li>Upgrade to the standard light and easily clips into existing aquarium slots</li> is available to buy online at Pets at Home, the UK's largest pet shop with fast...

www.petsathome.com

Much appreciated.

 

[Byron]

Three strips of diodes in place of two suggests more intense light, so this is likely the issue. You can use floating plants to provide more shade, which might be all you need. Or you can reduce the photoperiod depending what it is. "Problem algae" i caused by an imbalance of light and nutrients, so getting these in sync is the solution. Another thought, can you turn off any of the lights? The white if they are of sufficient spectrum are all you need, and the blue may cause problem algae as essjay referenced. And that brings us to the Kelvin...in the range of 5000K to 6500K is as high as you want to go with spectrum.

 

[Essjay]

That light isn't listed on Interpet's lighting page, but it is given in the description of their Insight LED Aquarium as bright white 10,000 K.

Plants need around 6500K lighting, which has red, blue and green in the spectrum. Aquarium plants can't use too much blue but algae can use it and if there's too much blue in the light algae takes advantage of this.
The lower the K rating, the more red there is in the spectrum; the higher the K rating the more blue there is. 10,000K has a lot of blue which is encouraging algae to grow. Unfortunately, Interpet only seem make lights with 10,000 K and I don't know any other brand which makes lights with the same connectors.

Hopefully other members who have had the same problem can tell us how they got round it.

 

[Siovas]

Thank you Essjay and Byron for your replies and information.
I wish that I hadn't got rid of the original light now. I usually have the light on for 12 hours ish.
I will investigate methods to shade/diffuse the light or reduce the length of time the light is on, if I am unable to get a second hand or alternative light source.
I had doubts about purchasing the triple strip and I wish I had listened to my gut now. Surely it's not very responsible of the aquarium suppliers to sell lights with such a high K rating which exacerbate algae growth.

 

[Byron]

Thank you Essjay and Byron for your replies and information.
I wish that I hadn't got rid of the original light now. I usually have the light on for 12 hours ish.
I will investigate methods to shade/diffuse the light or reduce the length of time the light is on, if I am unable to get a second hand or alternative light source.
I had doubts about purchasing the triple strip and I wish I had listened to my gut now. Surely it's not very responsible of the aquarium suppliers to sell lights with such a high K rating which exacerbate algae growth.

Remember that these lights have a variety of uses. Marine tanks need high blue. Freshwater plants do not, but a more natural daylight. Freshwater without plants can use any light. The intensity is significant with problem algae, as well as the spectrum. Duration can sometimes be effective, but this is not a substitute for light that is too intense or not intense enough to begin with. Floating plants also help a lot.

 

[davros]

Are there specific blue leds you could cover to bring the colour temperature down?

 

[Siovas]

Remember that these lights have a variety of uses. Marine tanks need high blue. Freshwater plants do not, but a more natural daylight. Freshwater without plants can use any light. The intensity is significant with problem algae, as well as the spectrum. Duration can sometimes be effective, but this is not a substitute for light that is too intense or not intense enough to begin with. Floating plants also help a lot.

Yes Byron, you are of course right, these lights aren't just for my purpose.
I'm going to start with the floating plants...
I was hoping that the connectors (at my beginner level tank) would be a bit more universal and I could maybe get a generic replacement.
Thanks for your patience.

 

[Siovas]

Are there specific blue leds you could cover to bring the colour temperature down?

Are there specific blue leds you could cover to bring the colour temperature down?

Hi, Essjay above was referring to the K (Kelvin) rating i.e. light spectrum which has a high 'blue' element.
they LEDs themselves are white. I may look to cover or diffuse using plants.

 

[Byron]

Hi, Essjay above was referring to the K (Kelvin) rating i.e. light spectrum which has a high 'blue' element.
they LEDs themselves are white. I may look to cover or diffuse using plants.

Just to ensure it is understood. White light is composed of colour wavelengths. So "white light" is not all the same. If there is more red/yellow in the wavelengths, the white light will be what we term "warm" and it will have less blue. If there is more blue in the wavelengths, it will be "cool" with less red in the mix. The sun is roughly in the 6000K range, with high red, blue and green. This is ideal plant light.

There are two distinct issues, the intensity and the spectrum making up the "white" light.

 

[Essjay]

Look at light bulbs sold in the UK for use in rooms. They are all white but they come in 3 versions. Warm white is 2700 K, cool white is 4000 K and daylight is 7000 K. Our kitchen lights can do all three by moving a switch. Each colour has varying amounts of red and blue in the white.

 

[Siovas]

Look at light bulbs sold in the UK for use in rooms. They are all white but they come in 3 versions. Warm white is 2700 K, cool white is 4000 K and daylight is 7000 K. Our kitchen lights can do all three by moving a switch. Each colour has varying amounts of red and blue in the white.

Ok Essjay, and then not bother with the light in the cover of the tank?

 

[Essjay]

When I looked at Interpet's website, they only seem to sell 10000K lights. I can only assume that they don't think people buying their tanks will have live plants so it doesn't matter what the K rating is

It's difficult to know what to suggest. The fitting on the light isn't typical so you can't use another brand.