MH lights are making water look green

[trainfever]

I bought a used MH set a while ago and never got around to using it. Tonight I mounted it and now the water looks green. Im not sure of the Kelvin rating of the bulb as it was used. Its a 175 watts. I also have 190 watts of VHO in the tank with 95 of them blue and the other 95 white. The water looked good with just the VHO in there but now with the added MH, it looks green, why is that? anyone know?

 

[meowzer]

What type of bulbs do you have? I had 250W hamilton 10K's and they made my tank look yellow all the time....I now have Phoenix 14K...AND LOVE THEM

 

[nycbob]

most mh bulbs should be replacement every 9-12 months. if u bought it used, u should really replace the bulb with something bluer, like 14-20k.

 

[trainfever]

I plan on buying new bulbs but what is causing the green? Is it too low of a kelvin rating? is it because the bulbs are old?

 

[nycbob]

its probably the mh bulb. low k bulbs tend to be very yellow, and if combine with ur pc light could possibly make things look green.

 

[beaslbob]

Originally Posted by trainfever
http:///forum/post/3239687
I plan on buying new bulbs but what is causing the green? Is it too low of a kelvin rating? is it because the bulbs are old?
Increased lighting will cause algae blooms hence the green water.
So if the water was clear before and is now green, I think it is the new lights.
Try killing all the lights for a couple of days and see if the water clears up. Then try just a couple of hours with the new lights. And increase to where the water stays clear. If it starts turning green reduce the duration.
my .02

 

[meowzer]

OK...Is the water green....or does it appear green?????
When mine looked yellow....it was due to light coloring...the water was crystal clear

 

[nycbob]

i dont think its green water, bc he said the water looks clear if only his pc light is on.

 

[trainfever]

I bought a new 20K bulb today and now it looks better. The original bulb was a 10K which I found out will give off a yellowish hue. I figured that the blue from my VHOs mixed with the yellow from the 10K MHs is problably what made the water appear green.

Who knows but all is well know.