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Need help with lighting, different color bulbs.

post #1 of 20
2/16/12 at 10:50am
Thread Starter 

Besides the color, what are the difference in between two?

 

My wife got me another light fixture to go with my LED lights for valentines day (Gosh, she's wonderful) and I was wondering which bulbs that  I should go with. 

 

What are the benefits of purple lights?

 

 

 

Ok so this is how it goes,

 

4 x 54w t5 fixture.

 

I'm thinking of adding 2 blue 460 and one purple light and sunwave 12000k light. What do you guys think? Too blue?

 


Edited by Siptang - 2/16/12 at 12:18pm
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post #2 of 20
2/16/12 at 1:25pm
These charts show the light that can be used by corals, plants, and algae.
Looking at the chart you see a big hole from 530 - 625 nm this light is not very helpful to corals. Light below 485 nm is very limited in the natural environment as light is filtered out the deeper and deeper it is in the ocean. Corals and plants have different ways to capture the light and even convert the spectrum to a frequency it can use. In this process of balancing the need for the right frequency of light the corals change color this color change has to do with the pigments associated with the absorption and conversion of the spectrum. To make it simple the pigments that receive light that can be used grow and pigments that do not recede.

Typical PAR action spectrum, shown beside absorption spectra for chlorophyll-A, chlorophyll-B, and carotenoids
467
224
Edited by GeoJ - 2/18/12 at 1:39pm
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post #3 of 20
2/16/12 at 1:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Siptang View Post

Besides the color, what are the difference in between two?

 

My wife got me another light fixture to go with my LED lights for valentines day (Gosh, she's wonderful) and I was wondering which bulbs that  I should go with. 

 

What are the benefits of purple lights?

 

 

 

Ok so this is how it goes,

 

4 x 54w t5 fixture.

 

I'm thinking of adding 2 blue 460 and one purple light and sunwave 12000k light. What do you guys think? Too blue?

 

So the violet lights will give a different color for corals to use and may change there colors making them look nice depending on the coral and if it can use this color of light. I would buy 2 blue, 1 purple if it is really violet, and 2 12000k full spectrum. This way if it was too much blue for you, you can switch out one. If the purple bulb is really blue with red I would not buy it as I think the full spectrum will have all the red you will need.
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post #4 of 20
2/16/12 at 1:47pm
Thread Starter 

Umm... someone please translate this for me in a dumb version please.

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post #5 of 20
2/16/12 at 2:17pm
This is the real light that is put out by the Sun Wave 12000K Super Daylight
350
You remember in art class how you can mix two colors and get some other. Well the color you see with your eye is all the colors the bulb puts out mixed together. This is the k value what you see with your eyes. You ask what was the difference between the light bulbs. The answer is the color that can be use by the corals. This is the frequency of the light spectrum the real light that is put out by the bulb.

You see how red is on one side and violet the other. If the Purple bulb has lots of red and blue light you don't need it, if it has lots of violet and no red then I would buy it.
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post #6 of 20
2/16/12 at 2:37pm
Sip,

I run two Ati blue plus, one coral plus and one purple plus on my tank. Gives it a 15k look. Since I changed my light bulbs out, my coralline algae has exploded. The purple light gives corals more spectrum for growth and coloration. I love mine.
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post #7 of 20
2/16/12 at 2:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 View Post

Sip,
I run two Ati blue plus, one coral plus and one purple plus on my tank. Gives it a 15k look. Since I changed my light bulbs out, my coralline algae has exploded. The purple light gives corals more spectrum for growth and coloration. I love mine.

+1 thumbsup.gif

I agree the ATI are better then the Sunwave
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post #8 of 20
2/16/12 at 3:15pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks GeoJ that explanation worked better for me lol.

 

I also read that lower your k the better corals will grow but more yellow it will look in your tank.

But there shouldn't be too much of a difference in between 10000k and 12000k right? I prefer the slight blue-ish tint. I think it's easier on the eyes.

For photo synthesis needed by corals, blue is the best color from your explanation right? Purple or violet is ok but pinkish hue is pretty much for show but corals wouldn't really benefit from it right?

 

Edit:

 

Got it! Ati plus bulbs it is!!

What are the break in period for these bulbs?

 

 

Edit:

 

I just heard that you don't need to replace these bulbs until you burn these suckers out. Different from the day light bulbs, is this credible information or is it full of poo?

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post #9 of 20
2/16/12 at 4:05pm

I've never heard of T5 bulbs having a break in period. That's new to me. 

 

No matter what bulb and kelvin you are using, PAR will decrease over time. ATI bulbs, I think I am going to change mine out every 12 months. Blue lighting is what a lot of corals use for growth, and it has the benefit of florescence in some corals. If you go with the bulbs I have, I suggest getting the Aquablue Special bulb if you want the more 12k look or the Coral Plus bulb if you like the 15k look. 

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post #10 of 20
2/16/12 at 4:31pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 View Post

I've never heard of T5 bulbs having a break in period. That's new to me. 

 

No matter what bulb and kelvin you are using, PAR will decrease over time. ATI bulbs, I think I am going to change mine out every 12 months. Blue lighting is what a lot of corals use for growth, and it has the benefit of florescence in some corals. If you go with the bulbs I have, I suggest getting the Aquablue Special bulb if you want the more 12k look or the Coral Plus bulb if you like the 15k look. 


Hey buddy,

 

I thought white lights were the light where corals got their growth from was it not?

also do you have to exchange even the blue and purple bulb every year?

 

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post #11 of 20
2/16/12 at 4:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Siptang View Post


Hey buddy,

 

I thought white lights were the light where corals got their growth from was it not?

also do you have to exchange even the blue and purple bulb every year?

 


Depends on the coral. Deepwater corals, like the ones most aquarists keep - (soft corals, and most LPS) really enjoy the blue lighting. Some deepwater SPS corals as well enjoy the blue light. But some shallow water corals (most SPS) and clams prefer the yellow/red/orange/green/blue spectrums... they have a wider array that they need to use. All corals use blue light, and blue light may not seem intense to the human eye, but actually have more PAR than standard daylight bulbs. .... I hope I didn't just confuse you more. lol 

 

Yes, blue and purple bulbs, even 50/50 and daylight bulbs all loose their PAR values after one year of use. If you continue to run the bulbs after one year,  you may still have blue light, but their intensity is lost (decrease in PAR) 

 

PAR = Photosynthetically Active Radiation = the amount of light available for photosynthesis

 

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post #12 of 20
2/16/12 at 4:51pm
Thread Starter 

I got it, thanks snake. :)

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post #13 of 20
2/16/12 at 5:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Siptang View Post

I got it, thanks snake. :)



Thank GeoJ too!!! 

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post #14 of 20
2/16/12 at 5:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Siptang View Post

Thanks GeoJ that explanation worked better for me lol.

 

I also read that lower your k the better corals will grow but more yellow it will look in your tank.

But there shouldn't be too much of a difference in between 10000k and 12000k right? I prefer the slight blue-ish tint. I think it's easier on the eyes.

For photo synthesis needed by corals, blue is the best color from your explanation right? Purple or violet is ok but pinkish hue is pretty much for show but corals wouldn't really benefit from it right?

 


"The lower your k the better corals will grow" this is a misunderstanding MH and florescent lighting can more efficiently make light on the red side of the spectrum watt per watt. So you would expect to see more growth in corals at 565-700 nm (yellow to red) but only because your MH and Florescent lighting is more intense with that spectrum. If you give the corals the same intensity of light but in the 380-530 nm (violet to green) You will get the same growth. Not only that most of your corals will have great coloration. You can do this by buying better made bulbs and by reading the spectrum charts above.

When you want to talk about growth you need to learn to read the charts above and use Nanometers nm. Kelvin k is a unit of measurement for temperature and only should be used to talk about the color of the light you see with your eyes. It really is a generalization and does not tell you much about how corals will grow under that color of light.
Edited by GeoJ - 2/16/12 at 6:12pm
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post #15 of 20
2/16/12 at 7:11pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 View Post



Thank GeoJ too!!! 

Ofcourse., where are my manners? Seriously thank you so much for indepth explanations and your patience.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoJ View Post

"The lower your k the better corals will grow" this is a misunderstanding MH and florescent lighting can more efficiently make light on the red side of the spectrum watt per watt. So you would expect to see more growth in corals at 565-700 nm (yellow to red) but only because your MH and Florescent lighting is more intense with that spectrum. If you give the corals the same intensity of light but in the 380-530 nm (violet to green) You will get the same growth. Not only that most of your corals will have great coloration. You can do this by buying better made bulbs and by reading the spectrum charts above.
When you want to talk about growth you need to learn to read the charts above and use Nanometers nm. Kelvin k is a unit of measurement for temperature and only should be used to talk about the color of the light you see with your eyes. It really is a generalization and does not tell you much about how corals will grow under that color of light.

Hmmm one more question for the night.
How are coralife t5 compared to ati? I'm getting them for nearly free from a buddy.
White and blue ones at least. Purple, I'm gping with ati purple plus.

Anyone with any experience with them, please let me know.
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post #16 of 20
2/16/12 at 7:14pm
laughing.gif
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post #17 of 20
2/17/12 at 12:04pm
Thread Starter 

bumpity bump. please someone let me know.

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post #18 of 20
2/18/12 at 11:41am
Thread Starter 

No one knows about coralife t5 bulbs?

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post #19 of 20
2/18/12 at 12:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Siptang View Post

No one knows about coralife t5 bulbs?



bottom of the line.....look for ATI, Aquascience, KZ  

 

 

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post #20 of 20
2/18/12 at 12:49pm
Thread Starter 

I know but I was getting the new bulbs from a friend for $7 per bulb so I thought hey why not. :/

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