LED light for ATS

Andrew D

New member
I bought a light kind of like this for my ATS which is above a compartment in my sump. Light was great, with thick algae growth.

https://www.amazon.com/VIPARSPECTRA...id=1492382990&sr=1-4&keywords=led+grow+lights

There's not a lot of spray but of course it gets quite humid and after only 3 months it shorted out on me. When I read the finer print (not available when you buy it, only after your receive it) it says to keep it dry. Anyway, does anyone know of a reasonably priced one better made for conditions like this? Unlike other threads, I'm not interested in one with a lot of blue like those over your display, but a grow light with more yellow and red.

Thanks,
 
Last edited:
Do you really need red dominant?
As far as I'm aware red is put on for to induce bulb growth and flowering, while blue heavy for growth (taking about vascular plants here). check this out for validation:
835c1-leaf2bweight.jpg

Still, I think most of us erroneously associate red with growth for green things.

Not telling you what to do, but considering the photosynthetic makeup of marine algae, the optimal range is going to be something around here:
par_photosynthesis-wavelength.jpg


Breaking it down into photo- compounds with Chlorophyll A being most abundant of the pigments:
chlorophyll_absorption-wavelength.jpg


Of course that'll vary by species. Here is the common Ulva:
Fig7.png
 
Last edited:
Here is an example. I have no experience with coral compulsion (I just stuck a marine orbit light on my 55 algae-filled sump). That said I have been wanting to try ther goodies for so long and their fuge light looks like it covers all the bases as far as spectra are concerned: https://www.amazon.com/Coral-Compulsion-Par30-Refugium-Light/dp/B0099UK8D6

I also find these interesting: https://www.amazon.com/Osunby-Equiv...56&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=led+grow+panel&psc=1
At a thickness of one-half inch, it is easy to conceive of a water-proof yet ventable enclosure that doesn't take up space. The fixture says waterproof but who knows.
 
Thanks for the response, I might try one of these lights and post my results. I don't need red necessarily, but I'm just trying to replicate the results I've seen with the grow light that I've used. it's been incredible, phosphates have dropped from over .25 to .10 in a month and I've been able to take my GFO off line. All my bryopsis disappeared from my display as well, although there are likely other factors at play here. Until I replace, I've put an old metal halide over the ATS to keep the growth going. It's a 14K bulb which is all I had so we'll see the difference the light spectrum makes.
 
Nice man.

My last two lights were a par 38 regular home depot LED flood lamp (did.. okay) and a par 38 coral led lamp (did great, and was heavy on the blues).

Let me know what you come up with and if you like so I can bank that for future reference. It's too bad you didn't get more responses but you might get more thoughts if you post on the macroalgae sub.
 
I bought a light kind of like this for my ATS which is above a compartment in my sump. Light was great, with thick algae growth.

https://www.amazon.com/VIPARSPECTRA...id=1492382990&sr=1-4&keywords=led+grow+lights

There's not a lot of spray but of course it gets quite humid and after only 3 months it shorted out on me. When I read the finer print (not available when you buy it, only after your receive it) it says to keep it dry. Anyway, does anyone know of a reasonably priced one better made for conditions like this? Unlike other threads, I'm not interested in one with a lot of blue like those over your display, but a grow light with more yellow and red.

Thanks,



I have this light over my cheato, OMG! It's the best! Cheato grows so well, it's crazy good.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Back
Top