Lighting Question (1 Viewer)

[Niko5]

Do my actinic lights give my corals any energy???

 

[Guest]

I was reading that there is two sides to this argument. one for yes and one for no, bennefit, that is.

Brandon - now is the time to show us that your degree was worth a crap. actinics give energy or not.

 

[Guest]

bump

 

[AquaNerd]

the actinic lights do provide energy...as do all light sources. the only difference between light from a 10000K bulb and a 20000K bulb (or if you want to use actinics) is the color. the zooxanthellae will absorb light from the different spectrums regardless of color temp and turn it into energy. some lights will emit smaller amount of energy, but they are emitting energy nonetheless. the reason you get better color from your corals with a bluer bulb is due to the fact that the zooxanthellae that absorb light from that part of the spectrum become more frequent or grow/reproduce better in the coral at that spectrum. if you shift the bulb to a yellower color, the zooxanthellae that harness that spectrum better will outcompete the other zooxanthellae and become more abundant thereby making your coral look more brown.

the reason you get better growth though from 10000K bulbs has to do with the amount of light energy being produced. lower kelvin bulbs put out more light (or are brighter) than bluer bulbs.

 

[decimal]

this is one of the most interesting and informative threads about actinic lighting i have read in a while...

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1456513&highlight=actinics

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the quick response

 

[Tempset]

the actinic lights do provide energy...as do all light sources. the only difference between light from a 10000K bulb and a 20000K bulb (or if you want to use actinics) is the color. the zooxanthellae will absorb light from the different spectrums regardless of color temp and turn it into energy. some lights will emit smaller amount of energy, but they are emitting energy nonetheless. the reason you get better color from your corals with a bluer bulb is due to the fact that the zooxanthellae that absorb light from that part of the spectrum become more frequent or grow/reproduce better in the coral at that spectrum. if you shift the bulb to a yellower color, the zooxanthellae that harness that spectrum better will outcompete the other zooxanthellae and become more abundant thereby making your coral look more brown.

the reason you get better growth though from 10000K bulbs has to do with the amount of light energy being produced. lower kelvin bulbs put out more light (or are brighter) than bluer bulbs.

You've just like completely shined a flood light on me while I walk through the pitch black alleyway - thank you.

 

[Guest]

You've just like completely shined a flood light on me while I walk through the pitch black alleyway - thank you.[/quote]

try this one

Out of depths of darkness I see the light reflect upon the broken shards of ignorance.