Skim
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- Jan 3, 2014
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- Brantford, Ontario
Just thought some my be interested.
Another Great Video
- Thread starter Skim
- Start date
Bayinaung
Member
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- Jan 29, 2014
thanks for posting! Dana's done tons of research on photosynthesis and coral flourescence so I'm def. interested. going to watch it later.
Bayinaung
Member
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- Jan 29, 2014
conclusions: 28:40 of video.
1) (even stony) corals don't need much light for photosynthesis. this debunks typically held belief that SPS needs a lot of light. BUT... higher light = lower chlorophyll count (useful for a different discussion)
2) higher alkalinity results in higher photosynthesis; but not too high or you get tip burns.
3) higher flow = higher photosynthesis
4) #2 & #3 are synergetic.
He makes a GREAT point here, that even the shallow water species of SPS which lives in inches of depth literally, needed only 110 par for maximum photo efficiency.
point #2 is going to be troublesome for the ULNS hobbyists as that goes against what they practice.
Of course what we want to achieve in aquariums is both some growth but great colour (unless it's a grow out tank). He made passing reference early on about the inverse relationship between coral flourescence and growth as this wasn't a presentation on flourescence but on photosynthesis which = growth.
1) (even stony) corals don't need much light for photosynthesis. this debunks typically held belief that SPS needs a lot of light. BUT... higher light = lower chlorophyll count (useful for a different discussion)
2) higher alkalinity results in higher photosynthesis; but not too high or you get tip burns.
3) higher flow = higher photosynthesis
4) #2 & #3 are synergetic.
He makes a GREAT point here, that even the shallow water species of SPS which lives in inches of depth literally, needed only 110 par for maximum photo efficiency.
point #2 is going to be troublesome for the ULNS hobbyists as that goes against what they practice.
Of course what we want to achieve in aquariums is both some growth but great colour (unless it's a grow out tank). He made passing reference early on about the inverse relationship between coral flourescence and growth as this wasn't a presentation on flourescence but on photosynthesis which = growth.
Aquatic Dreams
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- Apr 8, 2016
- Location
- London, ON
Yeah I caught that as well. I'm fairly new and trying to find balances in my aquariums so this video was rather technical but helpful. But that comment made me wonder about all the pics I see on the forum with mostly blues. The blues quite often show the fluorescence which would indicate that there's not much photosynthesis going on. (If I understood that correctly.)
So wouldn't the optimal lighting conditions be to find a combination of blues and other spectrums to get some fluorescence and good growth? Although I've noticed that some people that use mostly blues also seem to get great growth so I'm still a bit confused.
Bayinaung
Member
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2014
yeah that's what we'd want. going to try a quick reply before I head out.
lots of Dana's research will show spectrum shift - spectrum received by coral, and what it re-emits back out. so the cells will receive say 470nm and re-emit 550nm. To see certain colours a certain spectrum has to be there to get that spectrum "shift" that we want to see. LEDs are too narrow in spectrum, especially the cheap ones like older gen black boxes. So check out the different spectrum or different colour diodes that the latest gen of high end LEDs have on. That'll give you a clue of what you need. And many of them mimic the best T5 combination lights out there - look at the best looking large 6 or 8 bulb covered tanks and what bulb combos they are using.
while we may see the lights as blue, especially with the T5 lighting the tubes are combinations with spikes at various spectrum points. So those are the spikes that probably provide the spectrum needed for spectrum shift to see the colours pleasing to our eyes.
so there's an inherent conflict when it comes to growing SPS corals (not so with LPS or zoas) - the conditions that will give it growth aren't ideal for colour.
i don't have the lnks right now but check out the papers he's published over the years on advanced aquarist.
lots of Dana's research will show spectrum shift - spectrum received by coral, and what it re-emits back out. so the cells will receive say 470nm and re-emit 550nm. To see certain colours a certain spectrum has to be there to get that spectrum "shift" that we want to see. LEDs are too narrow in spectrum, especially the cheap ones like older gen black boxes. So check out the different spectrum or different colour diodes that the latest gen of high end LEDs have on. That'll give you a clue of what you need. And many of them mimic the best T5 combination lights out there - look at the best looking large 6 or 8 bulb covered tanks and what bulb combos they are using.
while we may see the lights as blue, especially with the T5 lighting the tubes are combinations with spikes at various spectrum points. So those are the spikes that probably provide the spectrum needed for spectrum shift to see the colours pleasing to our eyes.
so there's an inherent conflict when it comes to growing SPS corals (not so with LPS or zoas) - the conditions that will give it growth aren't ideal for colour.
i don't have the lnks right now but check out the papers he's published over the years on advanced aquarist.
Aquatic Dreams
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- Apr 8, 2016
- Location
- London, ON
Thanks for clearing that up. OUCH ... now my brain hurts. LOL Maybe I'll get there eventually but not yet.
I use AI Primes on my tanks. They start out in the blue spectrum but throughout the day there are more whites and other spectrums added. So at HIGH NOON there's a white/purple look to the tanks. All the inhabitants seem to be doing fine but no explosive growth. As with everything in life I'm sure finding the proper balance is the goal. I hope to get there someday!
I use AI Primes on my tanks. They start out in the blue spectrum but throughout the day there are more whites and other spectrums added. So at HIGH NOON there's a white/purple look to the tanks. All the inhabitants seem to be doing fine but no explosive growth. As with everything in life I'm sure finding the proper balance is the goal. I hope to get there someday!
Skim
Active Member
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- Jan 3, 2014
- Location
- Brantford, Ontario
But don't forget most SPS Frags will not show signs of much growth, it seem once they have become comfortable and set a base/foundation down is when you tend to see that spurt that everyone is looking for.
Bayinaung
Member
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2014
Yeah AI primes look like decent lights. I like that they got real 400nm UV and that whites are only 23% of total bulbs (vs. near 50% for old gen chinese leds). Par output could be a bit better. here's a RC link with measurements
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2509079
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2509079