Inexpensive nano lighting

[TheReefGeek]

Originally Posted by AC33

I was under the impression that the proper spectrum was around the 6k region, the colour temp closest to the sun? And that we only use higher K bulbs because they are more visuallly appealing, but dont offer the same amount of growth as 6k bulbs?

Different wavelenths of light penetrate the water more/better. So as you go deeper, only certain wavelengths are present, or in high concentrations. So corals are not exposed to 6K sunlight, they get "filtered" light, with higher concentrations of blue light because it penetrates the water better.

So higher K lamps are used for coral growth, and visual appeal. Different corals, depending on where in the reef they are, will "want" different spectrums of light. They can also adapt though, and change out the symbiotic *cant remember name* and get food from different spectrums of light.

[Murminator]

Hey Bob is that you little tank?.....looks good

[Bob I]

Originally Posted by Murminator

Hey Bob is that you little tank?.....looks good

It is Red Sea wave tank. Kind of cute, but only 2.5 gallons. It probably won't be set up for very long. That is why I only used inexpensive lights.

[TheReefGeek]

Sunlight at noon at the equator is 6400K, so I believe daylight bulbs are around 6500K

Yes, that is why they call them daylight bulbs, but this is not necessarily the "proper" spectrum for corals and fish because they are underwater, not on the surface of the planet at the equator.

[Skimmerking]

nice light might try to get one for my nano good score Bob nice and cheap

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by TheReefGeek

Different wavelenths of light penetrate the water more/better. So as you go deeper, only certain wavelengths are present, or in high concentrations. .

True

Originally Posted by TheReefGeek

So corals are not exposed to 6K sunlight, .

False

Originally Posted by TheReefGeek

they get "filtered" light, with higher concentrations of blue light because it penetrates the water better. .

true but nit relevant in our tanks

Originally Posted by TheReefGeek

So higher K lamps are used for coral growth, and visual appeal. Different corals, depending on where in the reef they are, will "want" different spectrums of light. They can also adapt though, and change out the symbiotic *cant remember name* and get food from different spectrums of light.

Both true and false.. (low K is better for growth than high K but some people think high K brings out colors better), Besides this is a thread about Bob's cheap lights he found that actually look decent. If you want to know more do a search on light spectrum, lots and lots of good information

Looks good Bob.

Oh and sense Bob didn't pick it up "spectrum" is already a plural so you don't need the "S" on the end..

Steve

[TheReefGeek]

Steve, a question for you.

I know say 6500K iwasaki bulbs have great PAR, but do you know how much of that PAR gets to the bottom of a 30" tank compared to a 20K bulb?

The blue in the 20K should penetrate better, but I don't know whether 30" will make a difference or not?

And lower K is not always higher PAR. 20K XM bulbs put out more PAR than 15K XM bulbs, just wanted to point that out.

[Skimmerking]

I hope i get this right. and i wont be offended if i'm wrong but don't badh the heck of out of me...

alot of the 6500k will make its way down there its the color that pushes it to the bottom so if you look at the 20 K color its has to filter out is color to make it to the bottom. Because I believe and some one can back me up on this or help me out blues are the first color to go, when its in the water. IE as you go thur the leve lof water.

And Yellow /white hardly hasa nay color to defuse thur the waves of water.

So the lower K rating will break longer thur the water then a 50 K or a 20 K

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by asmodeus

I hope i get this right. and i wont be offended if i'm wrong but don't badh the heck of out of me...

alot of the 6500k will make its way down there its the color that pushes it to the bottom so if you look at the 20 K color its has to filter out is color to make it to the bottom. Because I believe and some one can back me up on this or help me out blues are the first color to go, when its in the water. IE as you go thur the leve lof water.

And Yellow /white hardly hasa nay color to defuse thur the waves of water.

So the lower K rating will break longer thur the water then a 50 K or a 20 K

got it back wards buddy, blue (longest visable wave lenght is the color that will go the deepest.. red will strip first, then green then finaly blue, but like I said in our 24" oceans it doesn't matter much. the trade off for having a blue bulb is lower par to start out with and corals will adapt easily to using the other colors that are with in the PAR range.

so if you like the blue look use blue bulbs, if you like the ice blue look get good 10K bulbs with VHO actinic.. if you like the white look use 10K's.

Steve

[Skimmerking]

Thanks Steve I knew it was somthing like that ..

mike