Red and blue and macroalgae

[Spare time]

Does anyone know whether the bluer/violet range or the red range results in greater productivity in green macroalgaes (chaeto for example)? I am looking for actual sources on this or something because it seems people on the internet has drastically different answers on this question.

My thought was that blue/violet would be the better color as it appears chlorophyll A is most sensitive in that range but I am by no means an expert on photosynthesis. The reason I ask is I am debating what light to replace my prime hd with for my refugium since that light died and my refugium is my primary source of waste export. Ideally I would have both but I am debating a prime 16hd or a prime 16 fuge. One is heavy blue and the other is heavy red.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Hopefully Dana will follow up on this.

IMHO, in general terms, the only algae I know of that really uses the blue spectrum primarily is the zooxanthellae in marine animals. I believe other algae, like terrestrial plants use mostly red spectrum for photosynthesis.

 

[Spare time]

Hopefully Dana will follow up on this.

IMHO, in general terms, the only algae I know of that really uses the blue spectrum primarily is the zooxanthellae in marine animals. I believe other algae, like terrestrial plants use mostly red spectrum for photosynthesis.

I know that red macros that grow in slightly deeper water use blue light as red and that greens (as well as microalgae) can grow under blues. From the papers I was reading on Google scholar its seems very split depending on the species at hand. Most papers I've seen refer to phyto, ulva, or caulerpa.

 

[Spare time]

@Dana Riddle Any clue?

 

[Dana Riddle]

It is my opinion that intensity is more important than spectrum - the latter making non-statistical differences. This based on experiments I did with corals years ago.

 

[flampton]

yes and I think it's also species dependent and for certain things life cycle dependent. An herb that's popular they use varying degrees of red/blue to favor growth or budding

So complicated and intensity is the first goal.

Oh and both would be like this and you can choose. Not sure if they sell smaller models

 

[Spare time]

yes and I think it's also species dependent and for certain things life cycle dependent. An herb that's popular they use varying degrees of red/blue to favor growth or budding

So complicated and intensity is the first goal.

Oh and both would be like this and you can choose. Not sure if they sell smaller models

I would get something like that but I have not way to hang anything.