20K Lamps Better acropora growth

[marsh]

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...a9a71d620ebf7f

Evaluation of artificial light regimes and substrate types for aquaria propagation of the staghorn coral Acropora solitaryensis

This study appears to show that under artificial lighting Acropora growth is better using a 20K light > 14 k > 10k or 6.5K.
10 K lights furthermore had significantly less survial of Acro frags.

It looks like the spectrum of a lamp may be more than just taste.

[dmilne85]

very cool. thats some nice research showing that acropora corals grow better under higher K bulbs. however it seems that many people here on RC report sps corals growing better under lower K with less coloration, and with higher k having slower growth with better coloration.

[Arthur1]

I'll keep this short Last I knew corals grew faster under a lower K down to 6500k if memory serves me right. Also I believe the survival rate under a higher K rating shouldnt be suprising to anyone since they adapt better to the blue lighting. When I first started many moons ago (cough) lol I remember having to place a lot of sps on the substrate when I first recieved them b/c the lower K bulbs would "burn" them.

[Arthur1]

Oh yes and not to be ignorant b/c I posted before reading the article, as it states, could be species specific which probably is.

[marsh]

I think it is particularly interesting given Riddle's 2002 article, using indirect fluorescence measurements of photosynthesis, which concluded essentially lamps with similar PAR would have similar photosynthesis and by inductive logic similar growth irrespective of the spectral qualities.

There are problems with the current study...but it is very interesting.

All PAR is not equal.

[marsh]

Originally posted by Arthur1
I'll keep this short Last I knew corals grew faster under a lower K down to 6500k if memory serves me right. Also I believe the survival rate under a higher K rating shouldnt be suprising to anyone since they adapt better to the blue lighting. When I first started many moons ago (cough) lol I remember having to place a lot of sps on the substrate when I first recieved them b/c the lower K bulbs would "burn" them.

Actually there is a classic study by Kinzie showing redder spectrum has lower growth in Montipora

"The in vitro cultures of zooxanthellae from M. verrucosa exhibited growth rates in light of altered spectral quality that correlated with the responses of the host coral species: blue and white light supported significantly greater growth than green light, and red light resulted in the lowest growth rate".

Kinzie III, R.A., Jokiel, P.L., York, R., 1984. Effect of light of altered
spectral composition on coral zooxanthellae associations and
zooxanthellae in vitro. Mar. Biol. 78, 239–248.

[Arthur1]

Marsh, thanks for the info I'll look for it later