Any experience with Reefbrite UV-A strip lights

[Abhishek]

Hi,

Anyone have experience with Reefbrite Led UV-A strip lights in 3 inch and 8 inch sizes?

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/8-uv-a-magnum-led-reef-brite.html

I currently run 2x250 watt halides with 2 reefbrite tech leds but thinking of getting 2 8 inch UVA strip lights to bring out fluorescence in my acros .
Honestly, with 2 halides, the reefbrites hardly make a difference and hence thinking of adding 2 more.
These are 395nm which reminds me of old days VHOs .

@Dana Riddle - Any issues you foresee with blasting the acros with 2 8 inch IVA strips of 395 nm along with 14K halides and reefbrite tech led strips which are only 420 nm i think ?

Regards,
Abhishek

 

[jda]

VHO go quite a bit lower than 395nm. Most good halide bulbs are going to have 395 already in spades. If you want to duplicated UVL Super Actinic, then go lower, like 360 to 380nm.

 

[Dana Riddle]

I don't see any issues with the spectral quality. Metal halide, fluorescent, mercury vapor lamps contain the element mercury which has spectral output close to your LEDs (LED = 395nm; lamps containing mercury - closest line spectral peaks = 365nm and 405nm.) The LEDs' output should be useful for photosynthesis and showcase some fluorescent coral proteins. I'm doing some work today with a couple of UV LEDs and will try to remember to post their spectral data. A PAR sensor won't be able to 'see' energy created by these since the cutoff is usually at 400nm. Intensity of these is probably low - I'll see if the radiometer is unpacked yet. So, in a nutshell, OK to use as long as overall illumination doesn't exceed the zoox's saturation point.

 

[Abhishek]

VHO go quite a bit lower than 395nm. Most good halide bulbs are going to have 395 already in spades. If you want to duplicated UVL Super Actinic, then go lower, like 360 to 380nm.

Thanks for your inputs @jda . I run Geisemann Crustal 17.5 K halide as I like it more than my radiums . It has a huge spike at 400nm but dont knwo anything about spectrum of it below 400 nm . Sub 400 nm spectrum is one of the reasons I am a big proponent of halides . But where do I find 360-400 nm leds . Are there even UVL super actinics anymore ?

I don't see any issues with the spectral quality. Metal halide, fluorescent, mercury vapor lamps contain the element mercury which has spectral output close to your LEDs (LED = 395nm; lamps containing mercury - closest line spectral peaks = 365nm and 405nm.) The LEDs' output should be useful for photosynthesis and showcase some fluorescent coral proteins. I'm doing some work today with a couple of UV LEDs and will try to remember to post their spectral data. A PAR sensor won't be able to 'see' energy created by these since the cutoff is usually at 400nm. Intensity of these is probably low - I'll see if the radiometer is unpacked yet. So, in a nutshell, OK to use as long as overall illumination doesn't exceed the zoox's saturation point.

Thanks for your inputs @Dana Riddle ! Are you doing the research with leds below 395 nm ? If so, what are you using ? Will be very grateful and interested to read your analysis of the spectral data.

Regards,
Abhishek

 

[Dana Riddle]

Peak output at 390nm. Interestingly, some far-red output as well at about 780nm. Full width half maximum (FWHM) is about 370-405nm - in other words this is the bandwidth of half the LED's output.

 

[Dana Riddle]

I think there is another UV LED in the bundle I just built. Maybe it's my poor memory and the output is at 405nm. I'll have to check.

 

[Big E]

I don't get this push to go below 400nm............most people aren't going to be able see it visually and I doubt it's going to make a huge difference in acro coloration.

Link on what we see--

http://capone.mtsu.edu/phys2020/Lectures/Part_1__L1-L5/Lecture_1/EM_Spectrum/em_spectrum.html

If you want more visually just look to boost your 400-420 range.

The Semiled violets have the most impact as far as leds go for visual/ambient pop. This is what I have been told by several LED diode suppliers.

Nobody makes a LED strip light in dominant number of these right now................it may because they cause too much of a purple look and why they have best mixed them 3-1 with blues.

The domes on those violet leds can blacken in short order as well.

Abhishek...........that bar you posted looks to more of a low power moonlight type light. I'm not sure it would do much visually for you.

 

[Abhishek]

I don't get this push to go below 400nm............most people aren't going to be able see it visually and I doubt it's going to make a huge difference in acro coloration.

Link on what we see--

http://capone.mtsu.edu/phys2020/Lectures/Part_1__L1-L5/Lecture_1/EM_Spectrum/em_spectrum.html

If you want more visually just look to boost your 400-420 range.

The Semiled violets have the most impact as far as leds go for visual/ambient pop. This is what I have been told by several LED diode suppliers.

Nobody makes a LED strip light in dominant number of these right now................it may because they cause too much of a purple look and why they have best mixed them 3-1 with blues.

The domes on those violet leds can blacken in short order as well.

Abhishek...........that bar you posted looks to more of a low power moonlight type light. I'm not sure it would do much visually for you.

@Big E - I appreciate your inputs and expertise in this matter. I see what you are saying . With my halides , you think the UVA strips hardly gonna make any difference visually. I thought they would bring out same pop as we used to get from VHOs , not absolutely same but close to. Sadly I cant VHOs anymore in 2 feet length neither I have the real estate to put T5 actinics .

I thought of adding some more reefbrite strips but concerned with too much 420nm monochromatic light and hence thought of mixing these 395 with the existing 420 nm .

Regards,
Abhishek

 

[Big E]

Reefbrites don't have any 400-420 in them.........they are just blue.

SB reeflight actinic strips have 3-1 blue to violet..........that may be an option.

I think your basic issue is the MH are bright, so any supplementation gets drowned out and hence you don't see much of a difference visually.

Most of what you seem to be looking for is personal taste, so I can't really make any sure suggestion you're going to like. If you get more LEDs get a dimmer with them so you can have some control.

 

[Dana Riddle]

Peak output at 390nm. Interestingly, some far-red output as well at about 780nm. Full width half maximum (FWHM) is about 370-405nm - in other words this is the bandwidth of half the LED's output.

After conversations with Fluence Bioengineering and Ocean Optics, we can discount the far-red output at 780nm. It is an artifact of output at 390nm. My bad.

 

[FarmerTy]

This is very interesting. I got to see UV over my buddy's tank and the way it made the corals flouresce was amazing. Very different from just your actinic strip. He said he's noticing some colors changing in a monti he has under them... I wonder the long-term color changes that may occur under them. I know too much of the 420nm and 440nm can get pronounced oranges and pinks in acros. That's as far as my knowledge of it goes. Curious what UV might do for coloration long term and not just while its on.