Blue light for refugium?
- Thread starter Aaron
- Start date
Best bang for wattage is a full spectrum that is focused in more of the red area. Think high pressure sodium colors for algae vs netal halide for corals. It may not be very noticeable since a lot of factors go into macroalgae growth from competition in main tank to nutrient levels in the water. From a physics perspective, a blue light takes twice as much energy to create the same photon as a red light, but the each photon (assuming it is bot reflected by the pigments) produces the same amount of energy from photosynthesis. Again, there are a lot of other variables to factor in here, but from a simplified physics perspective, you will get more par out a 1W warm white bulb than a 1W royal blue bulb. A few forums at reef central recommend a 2100K bulk.
Optimists say the glass is half full. Pessimists say the glass is half empty. Engineers say the glass is twice the size that it needs to be.
Optimists say the glass is half full. Pessimists say the glass is half empty. Engineers say the glass is twice the size that it needs to be.
I have tested this theory on garden plants and a 150 W HPS had about 30% more growth by dry weight than a 150 W MH. Might be a bit different for macroalgea. I dont have two refugiums otherwise I would do a side by side.
Optimists say the glass is half full. Pessimists say the glass is half empty. Engineers say the glass is twice the size that it needs to be.
Optimists say the glass is half full. Pessimists say the glass is half empty. Engineers say the glass is twice the size that it needs to be.
