6500K for corals?

[LordJoshaeus]

Hi everyone! I am awaiting a 6500K LED light in the mail (it's quite powerful...it maintains 120 PAR at a depth of 19 inches, and this is a 10 gallon tank that's only 12 inches deep). Its primary purpose is to grow macroalgae and perhaps an algae scrubber in my refugium, and I am confident it will excel at growing both; however, would it also grow corals efficiently? I may try some photosynthetic gorgonians in the refugium and wanted to know if this light will be adequate. Thanks

 

[Coralreefer1]

Your 6500K will do nicely for growing macro. Algae requires light more so from the red end of the spectrum than the purple and blue end. Corals, on the other hand, will be more colorful, healthier and grow more successfully by using a full spectrum bulb that focuses more light -20K with a blue- purple color. It doesn’t mean that the other colors from the red end aren’t in their, But the blue end curbs algae growth while bringing out the most beautiful colors. Placement below your lights and weather they are displayed off to the side or directly below the bulbs will make a difference on your corals color, potential bleaching and subdued colors.

 

[LordJoshaeus]

OK! Thanks

 

[jda]

6500k will grow corals. That is about what corals get just under the water in the ocean. Lots of people 6500k when growth is the ultimate factor. 6500k can also bring out some colors that bluer bulbs oft cannot.

 

[Rakie]

Your 6500K will do nicely for growing macro. Algae requires light more so from the red end of the spectrum than the purple and blue end. Corals, on the other hand, will be more colorful, healthier and grow more successfully by using a full spectrum bulb that focuses more light -20K with a blue- purple color. It doesn’t mean that the other colors from the red end aren’t in their, But the blue end curbs algae growth while bringing out the most beautiful colors. Placement below your lights and weather they are displayed off to the side or directly below the bulbs will make a difference on your corals color, potential bleaching and subdued colors.

Battle Corals has the opposite experience. His corals grown under pure 6500k Metal Halide are extremely colorful when placed under blue light. All the spectrum's are important for corals. All of them. But only the UV/Violet, and Blue spectrums visually show off the colors to our eyes.