CapitalO
Member
I recently changed the power compact bulbs in my refugium fixture, the caulerpa (serrulata?) went through a growth spurt before going sexual in a major way. I think I figured out the cause and I wanted to run it by this forum for some feedback.
I was using one 10k and one 50/50 bulb previously without any experience of the caulerpa going sexual for about a year. I found a good deal on some pc's at lowes so I picked them up; turns out the color spectrum is way on the red side and the bulbs have a very yellow appearance (im guessing 3000k). A week later the caulerpa was going sexual, with almost half the macroalgae losing its color, I believe the warm color spectrum was the cause. In terrestrial plants a red sided spectrum will promote the sexual stage (flowering), this is why indoor growers use HPS lighting to promote flowering. I'm not sure if this concept could be applied to macroalgae because they are vastly different organisms, but seems feasible to me... The fuge also houses chaeto which has had really good growth since changing the bulbs, so there was a likely increase in PAR, but I dont think this would initiate a sexual stage in caulerpa; but I'm not really sure. I closely monitor my parameters and there wasnt any shifts.
If spectrum does play a role in caulerpa going sexual, using bulbs with a more blue spectrum could prevent sexual events. Some feedback or any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
I was using one 10k and one 50/50 bulb previously without any experience of the caulerpa going sexual for about a year. I found a good deal on some pc's at lowes so I picked them up; turns out the color spectrum is way on the red side and the bulbs have a very yellow appearance (im guessing 3000k). A week later the caulerpa was going sexual, with almost half the macroalgae losing its color, I believe the warm color spectrum was the cause. In terrestrial plants a red sided spectrum will promote the sexual stage (flowering), this is why indoor growers use HPS lighting to promote flowering. I'm not sure if this concept could be applied to macroalgae because they are vastly different organisms, but seems feasible to me... The fuge also houses chaeto which has had really good growth since changing the bulbs, so there was a likely increase in PAR, but I dont think this would initiate a sexual stage in caulerpa; but I'm not really sure. I closely monitor my parameters and there wasnt any shifts.
If spectrum does play a role in caulerpa going sexual, using bulbs with a more blue spectrum could prevent sexual events. Some feedback or any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
