UV settings for maxspect ethereals

[swensos]

I have two maxspect ethereals over my 90 gallon lps reef. My upper areas are being saved for sps. I've been slowly ramping the lights up over the last four months or so, but I am not sure where to stop with the uv channel, which packs the greatest punch. What are other people running on these?

Below is my current setting.

 

[TroyHoot]

went to check mine just now. New app so I have to start over... But looking at some of my old screenshots my UV channel is 80. im on a 75 so a little shorter then your tank. 80, 65, 90, 90, 80 for 7 hours with couple hours of ramp up and down if my basic settings.

 

[FishyPaul]

Hi
Interesting comments on the UV channel. I’m just learning when it comes to LED lights and the Ethereals. I had read the following comment on a different forum regarding UV :

UV-A (315-400nm)
Ultraviolet light is in the 100nm-400nm range, with UV-A being the 315nm-400nm end of the spectrum. UV-B and UV-C are not even considered here, as they are damaging to tissues. UV-A doesn't get used very often either, but will be found in every fluorescent and gas arc discharge (metal halide, HID) lamp due to the mercury used. Some, including myself have speculated that UV-A can actually be beneficial for coral health and color, but hasn't been proven effectively (at least from what I have seen so far). The big detractor from UV-A LEDs, especially in the 365nm range (mercury spike) has been cost. They are outrageously expensive, and with little known benefit, are generally avoided. UV-A LEDs hovering around the 400nm range aren't really of any use, and the photosynthetic action curve falls off sharply around this point.
As for coloration in the tank, there is very little discernible difference when these are used, as the human eye isn't very sensitive to these wavelengths. When used alone though, they can bring out fluorescent colors that aren't normally seen when using light in the visible spectrum. Due to the potential health risks though, especially regarding the eyes, they aren't recommended for use.​

Based on this, I have kept away from using UV channel. have you noticed any benefits or negatives from using these higher settings for UV channel?

My current settings are 40,75,70,90,10 for 7 hours

 

[FishyPaul]

Interested comments regarding your UV settings. I bought Ethereals earlier this year and this is my first set of LEDs. I had read the following about the various color spectrums for LED on another forum site regarding UV:

UV-A (315-400nm)
Ultraviolet light is in the 100nm-400nm range, with UV-A being the 315nm-400nm end of the spectrum. UV-B and UV-C are not even considered here, as they are damaging to tissues. UV-A doesn't get used very often either, but will be found in every fluorescent and gas arc discharge (metal halide, HID) lamp due to the mercury used. Some, including myself have speculated that UV-A can actually be beneficial for coral health and color, but hasn't been proven effectively (at least from what I have seen so far). The big detractor from UV-A LEDs, especially in the 365nm range (mercury spike) has been cost. They are outrageously expensive, and with little known benefit, are generally avoided. UV-A LEDs hovering around the 400nm range aren't really of any use, and the photosynthetic action curve falls off sharply around this point.
As for coloration in the tank, there is very little discernible difference when these are used, as the human eye isn't very sensitive to these wavelengths. When used alone though, they can bring out fluorescent colors that aren't normally seen when using light in the visible spectrum. Due to the potential health risks though, especially regarding the eyes, they aren't recommended for use.​

I have reduced my UV settings due to this. Have you found any positive or negatives to having your UV settings on the 80%s ?

My current settings are 40,75,70,90,10 for 7 hours

 

[TroyHoot]

im still 75, 35, 90, 90, 80 My growth has been good. No ill effects I can see. Been lowering my white and yellow channels a little bit lately to help with a little bit of algae on sand.

Channel 5 is supposed to be a combination of 405nm UV and 425nm Actinic So I boost it mainly for the 425.

 

[jda]

Almost every species of coral can benefit from waves from 350 to 400. They are quite necessary and can provide both energy, food as well as coloration.

Most of the studies and papers than people link are from terrestrial plants. If you read enough of Dana Riddle and his sources, they all show proteins exciting well below 400nm - it is no coincidence that the best lights in the world all have a good amount of UV in them.

 

[FishyPaul]

Thanks JDA. I’ll review some of the articles from Dana Riddle and see where that leads. In my previous post I was referring to the article below from Nano Reef.

https://www.nano-reef.com/forums/topic/352618-led-colors-and-what-they-are-used-for/

It is. 3 years old and I do find that tech understanding in this hobby is a fast moving thing so maybe perceptions have changed away from this