full spectrum plant light good for sps?

[Alpha_and_Gec]

I realized I just posted another thread, but this probably can warrant its own posting as it’s a unique question. Can I use an LED plant light such as the one linked above as a coral light? It looks far more intense than any coral light I’ve seen upon activation, and I’m not certain if it will cause damage.

 

[Alexraptor]

Damage? Not likely, but grow lights generally don't provide the proper spectrum for corals to thrive. (Algae will absolutely love it though.)

It's also worth mentioning that grow lights can appear brighter to our eyes without actually being brighter. This is because our eyes are better at perceiving light in the red and green spectrum, and since reef lights tends to have strong blue peaks, they can appear dimmer, whithout actually being so.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Personally, I would not even use this light on my indoor plants. You see the reviews, they are not good, the price is too cheap and you always get what you pay for.

I've got a strong indoor plant light on my mangrove, which also has a neon toadstool in the tank, the neon toadstool is alive but gone completely brown. As mentioned above, plant require different spectrum than corals, it doesn't work the same.

 

[jda]

Light in the 5500k range, and up, will grow corals very well. There is more blue in a 5500k grow light than there is in a Radion Blue, but also more of the other colors, as well.

Most indoor plant lights are not really strong enough for corals.

Some of the best corals that I have ever seen were grown under 5500k and 6500k MH or T5s and then put under blue light to show them off. There is something about these lights that renders color that most heavy-blue spectrum cannot.