LED'S and algae

[wombat1100]

Will the use of LED'S cause Algae growth?
I currently run my T5's 2 hrs in the morning and 7 hrs in the late arvo, 9 total hrs per day, so as not to get algae growth, but my tanks are too under lit during the day for me to enjoy them, i was thinking of running LED'S during the day. will this cause algae growth?

[joz]

Ummm??Dunno??

Sorry!

[Woodsy]

The new LED's are designed to replace existing types of lighting such as T5's and halides, and as such, you would expect photosynthetic organisms to be able to utilise them. Having said that, I would think that sheer quantity would be the important factor here. With those lights we're talking something like 250 globes per bank. Algae are pretty good at utilising any light source availiable to them, so I would say that it's a large possibility that you will get some degree of algal growth. If your system is working well though, the plants should be able to keep it at bay. I'd do some research as to what type of LED's are used in hydroponic and aquarium lighting if I was to use them.