Charlie the Reefer
Well-Known Member
Hey everyone,
I've been going down a lighting spectrum rabbit hole recently. Seems there's not really a consensus on ideal, holistic, spectrum to use.... And what intensities to have varying spectrums at (although lots of good info out there).
One sub-question in the lighting spectrum discussion I've been thinking about is regarding the shorter wavelength UV-A lighting spectrum (i.e. sub 380nm...). Yes, I know that UV light can be dangerous. I also know that there is not really robust evidence on whether UV light can facilitate the biological processes of coral/zoX in any meaningful way. And that UV light from the sun is filtered out in the ocean in substantially shallower water than blue. I also know that many LEDs are marketed as UV but are actually technically Violet or do not include substantial UV light.
That said, LED technology has progressed in a palpable way. I know that functional UV-A LED lights in these spectrums are available and have seen them. Additionally, MH bulbs as I understand it emitted substantial UV-A lighting that is potentially not matched by current LEDs (although there were fixtures to mitigate the extent of this emission).
Long story short - It seems the popular LEDs on the market only go as low as ~395nm. Why is it that we are stopping there? Can you get better fluorescence / colors by having even shorter wavelength UV lighting?
Has anyone tried sticking 365 nm LED lights above acros and seeing what happens?
Appreciate any discussion. Thanks.
I've been going down a lighting spectrum rabbit hole recently. Seems there's not really a consensus on ideal, holistic, spectrum to use.... And what intensities to have varying spectrums at (although lots of good info out there).
One sub-question in the lighting spectrum discussion I've been thinking about is regarding the shorter wavelength UV-A lighting spectrum (i.e. sub 380nm...). Yes, I know that UV light can be dangerous. I also know that there is not really robust evidence on whether UV light can facilitate the biological processes of coral/zoX in any meaningful way. And that UV light from the sun is filtered out in the ocean in substantially shallower water than blue. I also know that many LEDs are marketed as UV but are actually technically Violet or do not include substantial UV light.
That said, LED technology has progressed in a palpable way. I know that functional UV-A LED lights in these spectrums are available and have seen them. Additionally, MH bulbs as I understand it emitted substantial UV-A lighting that is potentially not matched by current LEDs (although there were fixtures to mitigate the extent of this emission).
Long story short - It seems the popular LEDs on the market only go as low as ~395nm. Why is it that we are stopping there? Can you get better fluorescence / colors by having even shorter wavelength UV lighting?
Has anyone tried sticking 365 nm LED lights above acros and seeing what happens?
Appreciate any discussion. Thanks.
