Led question.

occ_motorcycles · Feb 21, 2013

I know there is a specific wavelength of light that aquatic critters can't see. Does anyone know what that is ? I know it's close to 600 but is it 630? Or more of 660?

ReefLEDLights · Feb 21, 2013

I've heard of Red or 630-660nm being used for nighttime viewing

Bill

occ_motorcycles · Feb 21, 2013

Thanks. Another question I forgot of. Do you think clams can pick up on that spectrum?

Reef Breeders · Feb 21, 2013

occ_motorcycles said:
Thanks. Another question I forgot of. Do you think clams can pick up on that spectrum?

I would imagine they can. 2/3 of their chlorophyll is chlorophyll c, which has a 660nm absorption peak. 1/3 is chlorophyll a, which has a 630nm absorption peak.

occ_motorcycles · Feb 21, 2013

So for night viewing. This spectrum is not completely invisible from all aquatic critters. Just most. What else can see it?

Reef Breeders · Feb 21, 2013

occ_motorcycles said:
So for night viewing. This spectrum is not completely invisible from all aquatic critters. Just most. What else can see it?

I would reccomend 480nm diodes for moonlighting. Reds are not natural night lights, the moon is not red. Just have your tank very dimly lit by a couple blues, your fish will sleep regardless.

occ_motorcycles · Feb 21, 2013

Reef Breeders said:
I would reccomend 480nm diodes for moonlighting. Reds are not natural night lights, the moon is not red. Just have your tank very dimly lit by a couple blues, your fish will sleep regardless.

Yea not meant for moonlights.

jedimasterben · Feb 21, 2013

Reef Breeders said:
I would imagine they can. 2/3 of their chlorophyll is chlorophyll c, which has a 660nm absorption peak. 1/3 is chlorophyll a, which has a 630nm absorption peak.

Actually, even with clams, chlorophyll a is dominant - it (chlorophyll c) is present at ~60% of chlorophyll a (so a 5:3 ratio of a to c), versus ~10% in corals (10:1).

http://www.biolbull.org/content/135/1/149.full.pdf

Reef Breeders said:
I would reccomend 480nm diodes for moonlighting. Reds are not natural night lights, the moon is not red. Just have your tank very dimly lit by a couple blues, your fish will sleep regardless.

Moonlight contains far more red than blue.

Aquarium Lighting: Moonlight - A Concise Review of Its Spectrum, Intensity, Photoperiod, and Relationship to Coral and Fish Spawning — Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog

In addition, blue light can upset corals' circadian rhythms. Not too awful likely to happen, IMHO, but I'd rather not do it. I would keep moonlights, if blue, on for just a few hours, split between right after lights off to right before lights on.

occ_motorcycles · Feb 21, 2013

Guys. Talking invisible to critters. Not moonlights.

jedimasterben · Feb 21, 2013

Deep/hyper/far red.

occ_motorcycles · Feb 21, 2013

660 nm?

jedimasterben · Feb 21, 2013

That is what I use, essentially (a thin film over a flashlight). Regular red should work, as well. (630nm)

occ_motorcycles · Feb 21, 2013

Thanks

Reef Breeders · Feb 21, 2013

jedimasterben said:
Actually, even with clams, chlorophyll a is dominant - it (chlorophyll c) is present at ~60% of chlorophyll a (so a 5:3 ratio of a to c), versus ~10% in corals (10:1).

http://www.biolbull.org/content/135/1/149.full.pdf

Moonlight contains far more red than blue.

Aquarium Lighting: Moonlight - A Concise Review of Its Spectrum, Intensity, Photoperiod, and Relationship to Coral and Fish Spawning â€” Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog

In addition, blue light can upset corals' circadian rhythms. Not too awful likely to happen, IMHO, but I'd rather not do it. I would keep moonlights, if blue, on for just a few hours, split between right after lights off to right before lights on.

Whoops, must have messed up on the chlorophyll type there. If I do use moonlights, I typically do so for a few hours, what is the point of doing it at 3am anyways, when you wont be seeing the tank. Red moonlights seems interesting, I guess in this case they would not be for moonlighting.