What Purpose Does Blue Light Serve?

HI guys I have a beamsworks DA pent 6500K led light fixture over my 38 gallon and currently struggling with some green spot algae on my glass and plants. I might have a tad too much light, so I was wondering if it’d be a good idea to cover up the blue light Bc my plants probably don’t use it meanwhile the algae is.

 

That won’t do anything, if I were you I’d try a UV sterilizer.

 

The blue is intended to simulate moon light.

 

That won’t do anything, if I were you I’d try a UV sterilizer.

Does it serve any purpose for my plants?

 

Blue light is mostly just to balance out the white and reds so colors are more appealing. If I were you I'd just limit my lighting to 6-8 hours a day and do a 50% water change once a week. Also, try turning the light off and keeping the tank and room dark for a couple of days. Your plants will be fine, but algae isn't as good at coping with no light.

 

Blue lighting does add to the spectrum if the correct nm, otherwise it’s just for display. Don’t use the blue too often, you can have algae issues from it.

Spots on glass and plants sounds like gsa, often due to a lack of ferts (phosphorus specifically, but dosed in relation to the other macros). What are you doising, and do you have any chemical media in your filter?

 

Plants use mostly blue and red light. Blue light for chlorophyll and stem/leaf growth, red light for roots and flowering.

Whether or not the blue light on yours is strong enough to grow plants or if it’s just there to look pretty...

 

Blue lighting does add to the spectrum if the correct nm, otherwise it’s just for display. Don’t use the blue too often, you can have algae issues from it.

Spots on glass and plants sounds like gsa, often due to a lack of ferts (phosphorus specifically, but dosed in relation to the other macros). What are you doising, and do you have any chemical media in your filter?

I’m dosing apI leaf zone one a week and flourish comp one a week with the recommended doses. I also use apI Co2 booster whenever I remember. I might switch to EI/ dry ferts

 

Both flourish and leaf zone lack nitrogen, depending on your specific plants, lighting, etc, this may eventually lead to deficiencies. if you want to stick to an all in one check out thrive by nilocg. Thrive contains a better balance of NPK plus micros
Dosed 1pump per ten gal, once a week, day or two after wc in low tech tanks.

 

I used Thrive in one of my tanks in the past and it worked amazing! Tank looked like (plant) gold!

 

Both flourish and leaf zone lack nitrogen, depending on your specific plants, lighting, etc, this may eventually lead to deficiencies. if you want to stick to an all in one check out thrive by nilocg. Thrive contains a better balance of NPK plus micros
Dosed 1pump per ten gal, once a week, day or two after wc in low tech tanks.

I have a heavy stocking and I seem too have too much nitrogen lol. I can’t seem to lower by nitrates under 30. I figured that my heavy stocking adds nitrates and phosphates and my apI leafzone covers potassium +iron. And flourish covers my micronutrients


Btw thanks for the advice, but would I be better to use Aquarium Co-Op’s Easy Green instead?

 

I have a heavy stocking and I seem too have too much nitrogen lol. I can’t seem to lower by nitrates under 30. I figured that my heavy stocking adds nitrates and phosphates and my apI leafzone covers potassium +iron. And flourish covers my micronutrients


Btw thanks for the advice, but would I be better to use Aquarium Co-Op’s Easy Green instead?

Easy green is a good option too, it's like a milder version of Thrive but still with a good macro ratio