Fire hazard??! ! Getting rid of blue light algae

[KribensisLover1]

Hello! So you brilliant forum members helped me realize that my tank was producing tons of algae (and thereby never having super clear water) because of the blue lights that run concurrent to my white on nicrew classic. I checked out the light and there are not a ton of blue lights on it. Could I cover the blue light areas with the type of black tape below? It’s not the shiny electric tape it’s a diff kind. Called friction tape. It’s cotton. Would that be safe? I hope yes! Bc I would love to get a new light and had a ton of helpful recs yet am hoping to save money!

 

[KribensisLover1]

Here’s a pic. The blues are every other as you can see in the pic above. I covered those areas with three small pieces of this tape and then ran a long piece on the sides to prevent the blue lights seeping out. My research tells me that led lights get up to 107 degrees and this 3M friction tape gets up to 175. I really hope this is safe. I’m worried about the long strips of tape which I perhaps do not need as much.

 

[Maxxx]

Yes it would probably work, but there are other better options. Getting a light timer and controlling the hours the light is on, making sure to change water so excess nutrients aren't in the water. Adding plants to absorb the nutrients. I have a version of that light and it works great for growing plants. One really good plant to help would be some hornwort or some other fast growing plant which feeds from the water column.

 

[Ryngwrayth]

I have a few white blue lights, on 9am-10pm and no algae. This seems like a lot of trouble to go to when there are other parameters you can alter to cure the problem.

 

[Cody]

I don’t see this hurting anything I’d you want to give it a shot. I would see how warm it gets though and if it may cause the tape to fall off by losing the adhesive. Especially if the tank isn’t covered I would worry if anything from the tape could Leech into the water and cause an issue.

 

[KribensisLover1]

I don’t see this hurting anything I’d you want to give it a shot. I would see how warm it gets though and if it may cause the tape to fall off by losing the adhesive. Especially if the tank isn’t covered I would worry if anything from the tape could Leech into the water and cause an issue.

Some of of fell off a little but I have a glass lid. It barely got hot at all!

I have a few white blue lights, on 9am-10pm and no algae. This seems like a lot of trouble to go to when there are other parameters you can alter to cure the problem.
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I don’t see this hurting anything I’d you want to give it a shot. I would see how warm it gets though and if it may cause the tape to fall off by losing the adhesive. Especially if the tank isn’t covered I would worry if anything from the tape could Leech into the water and cause an issue.

I don’t even know what I can change much less how!

Yes it would probably work, but there are other better options. Getting a light timer and controlling the hours the light is on, making sure to change water so excess nutrients aren't in the water. Adding plants to absorb the nutrients. I have a version of that light and it works great for growing plants. One really good plant to help would be some hornwort or some other fast growing plant which feeds from the water column.

I change if every week and have a dimmer and timer. I have a few plants but need to get more. The last ones I got died but I need to try again

 

[Ryngwrayth]

Having viable fast growing plants would likely go a long way to solving this issue. Try some Brazilian Pennywort, anyone can grow that and it uses a lot of resources so it should starve the algae out.

 

[KribensisLover1]

Having viable fast growing plants would likely go a long way to solving this issue. Try some Brazilian Pennywort, anyone can grow that and it uses a lot of resources so it should starve the algae out.

Okay I’ll happily do that! I’ll have to order online. Any recs?

 

[Maxxx]

I change if every week and have a dimmer and timer. I have a few plants but need to get more. The last ones I got died but I need to try again
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Get something that grows fast and feeds from the water column. Hornwort or some type of floating plant is another option. Guppy grass also would work. It's just what you prefer and what grows well at your ph in your tank.

 

[KribensisLover1]

Thank you!