Running Blues Only!

[Ron Reefman]

duplicate post... I guess that make it 200% :headwally:

 

[Optionman]

The AI Hydra TwentySix[emoji769] HD utilizes the latest LED technology from leading manufacturers, arranged to provide the best performance.

6 - Cree XP-G2 Cool White (> 70 CRI)
6 - Cree XT-E Royal Blue
6 - Cree XP-E2 Blue
2 - OSRAM OSLON Deep Red
2 - Cree XP-E2 Green
2 - SemiLED 415nm
2 - SemiLED 400nm

Copied this from website.


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[BigDave]

This brings up a similar question for me then.

If corals 'see' the blue light only... then I wonder if I'm doing something wrong.

I picked up a very small blue LED light bar that I've been using as a night light. Are my corals not really seeing a 'night time' if I'm running it all night then?

If so, then I guess I should put it on a timer so it's only on for an hour before/after the T5's come in?

 

[Ron Reefman]

This brings up a similar question for me then.

If corals 'see' the blue light only... then I wonder if I'm doing something wrong.

I picked up a very small blue LED light bar that I've been using as a night light. Are my corals not really seeing a 'night time' if I'm running it all night then?

If so, then I guess I should put it on a timer so it's only on for an hour before/after the T5's come in?

Corals don't 'see' anything (I got the use of quotes). But the zooxanthellae (algae) that does the photosynthesis in your coral needs fairly bright (intense) blue light to do it. So if the new led bar is dim, as in a night light, then it's probably not bright enough to get the coral's attention.

 

[BigDave]

Cool. Thanks.

That's why I put the 'see' in quotes. I didn't feel like being PC at the time

 

[Bpb]

I don't think its been mentioned specifically but as I understand it, the AI HD lights are wired to overdrive some diodes if others are under driven. As in if everything is turned up to 100% the drivers are operating at full capacity, but if you turn any individual color down, you can apply that power to another diode to overdrive it. I am far from an expert at electronics but that is how I understand them to work.

Also to echo what everyone else has already said, the OP's original information isn't just backward it's just generally incorrect. You're right that terrestrial plants and algaes use red wavelengths more than corals do. That part IS accurate. But to say photosynthesis requires red, green, blue, AND white light just doesn't compute. White light isn't a color. It's a combination of colors. Your mind just perceives it as white. Chloroplasts don't see white light. They see available wavelengths that they've evolved to use to produce sugars and breathe.

Furthermore, enough anecdotal evidence (yes, anecdotal, but strong evidence none the less) has shown from countless hobbyists and some big time aquaculture facilities that using strictly blue and violet wavelengths and very very little to no red and green has actually produced some of the BEST growth and color results. If you run your AI, Radion, Reef Breeders, or any controllable led fixture using only the blue and violet channels, your tank will do just fine. Fish will look odd, and it'll constantly have a dark, dim, sort of unnatural appearance, but it will grow corals fantastic. Same goes if you went with a combination of only blue+ and actinic t5ho bulbs. Would grow corals fanatastic, but probably get tiresome to see such a dark tank

 

[bxbe888]

I bought my S650 right before the LEDs were included. I upgraded to 4 hydra 26 when my tank was 3 months along and they've been running for nearly a year now.

Once I saw how the corals fluoresce under blues only (reef glasses!!) I began minimizing the use of the cool white, and I (rightly or wrongly) believed running greens and reds produced algae without benefits. I began running the 3 blue spectrums at 60% and UV 30% and increased slowly over a few months to about 100% and 65% and left it there for few months. I recently slowly bumped it up to current levels. I don't want to give the impression that I never run cool white. They might run for a few days and then not for another week, and I might turn them on for an hour every few days to take photos or show visitors different looks.

My reef is packed and I've had great growth across the board with really no algae issues to speak of. None of my corals seem in any way stressed from the lights I'm providing. My nutrients run high, nitrate 50 and phosphate .4-.5. I run a CA reactor, skimmer, bagged carbon and nothing else.

I've posted numerous photos on this site of my tank and corals as well as video on my reef. Take a look.


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We have the same tank =)! Yours is amazing!

 

[bxbe888]

I don't think its been mentioned specifically but as I understand it, the AI HD lights are wired to overdrive some diodes if others are under driven. As in if everything is turned up to 100% the drivers are operating at full capacity, but if you turn any individual color down, you can apply that power to another diode to overdrive it. I am far from an expert at electronics but that is how I understand them to work.

Also to echo what everyone else has already said, the OP's original information isn't just backward it's just generally incorrect. You're right that terrestrial plants and algaes use red wavelengths more than corals do. That part IS accurate. But to say photosynthesis requires red, green, blue, AND white light just doesn't compute. White light isn't a color. It's a combination of colors. Your mind just perceives it as white. Chloroplasts don't see white light. They see available wavelengths that they've evolved to use to produce sugars and breathe.

Furthermore, enough anecdotal evidence (yes, anecdotal, but strong evidence none the less) has shown from countless hobbyists and some big time aquaculture facilities that using strictly blue and violet wavelengths and very very little to no red and green has actually produced some of the BEST growth and color results. If you run your AI, Radion, Reef Breeders, or any controllable led fixture using only the blue and violet channels, your tank will do just fine. Fish will look odd, and it'll constantly have a dark, dim, sort of unnatural appearance, but it will grow corals fantastic. Same goes if you went with a combination of only blue+ and actinic t5ho bulbs. Would grow corals fanatastic, but probably get tiresome to see such a dark tank

I greatly appreciated your info! Will UV lights help coral growth and coloring?

thanks