Lighting for Sargassum and Red Macros

[YellowFinsReef]

I've been unsuccessfully keeping the darker macros such as grape caulerpa, flame, and sargassum under 10K white VHO bulbs with actinic bulbs. Any experience or suggestions? Is the lighting too high or too low?

 

[Tahoe61]

Good question!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

You would have to measure the par.
So far , as far as I can tell , about 100 par of a good spectrum is what many macros like. Many do better under much less. Dragons tongue being one that I played with. It withered when chatos and calurpas failed.

A fwiw. 10,000 can be mixed in a number of ways , so it’s also possible there’s not enough of a specific Nm of the spectrum.
I’ve alwasys had the best luck with warmer colors.
Currently I run a current orbit marine (20k) with a 55/32k Led hybred.

 

[Jose Mayo]

Red algae have photosynthetic pigments distinct from green algae (so they reflect red light); the main ones are phycoerythrin (490 to 570 nm) and phycocyanin (600 to 640 nm). Lamps suitable for the chlorophyll pigment (435 and 675 nm), for some reason do not work for the photosynthesis of red algae, although these also have carotenoids and chlorophylls among their pigments.

The following article gives good guidance on these differences:

PHOTOSYNTHETIC ACTION SPECTRA OF MARINE ALGAE *

In order to ensure the maintenance and good development of red algae, these aspects must be considered.

Best regards