Actinic Lighting and Hair Algae

[GMGQ]

His question was:

Originally Posted by Jaws

I'm concerned that my actinics ... might be contributing to hair algae growth.

Short answer: Yes.

In my example of cooking LR, there is no light therefore no algae. That's why HA infested LR turn bone white. Obviously you cant do that for your display tank. But theoretically you can have nutrients and no algae.

Originally Posted by TheReefGeek

I wouldn't want the hair algae to slow down because of a reduction in light, because then I wouldn't know if I am taking care of the nutrient problem or not.

In your above equation, you will always have light, so if you want no algae, you have to reduce nutrients.