Can I use a led light that grows plants for my reef tank?!

[frizzayyyyreef]

Dk if this is dumb but my Kessler lights went down after 6 years I have this huge nice viperspectra led light that Ivd used before to grow “tomatoes”... will this work? I don’t see how it can be different right? Plants and corals both grow with light ?? This light cost me a heavy penny btw any info ty! Because I’m moving in a week and bugging out things are dying quick

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

Some photos of it

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

Also 72 gallon tank mixed reef mostly lps but I plan on changing to sps after the move

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Plants and corals need totally different spectrum. I'm quite familiar with that line of grow lamps. They will grow you some awesome algea, but I wouldn't plan on it growing or supporting corals

 

[Uzidaisies]

Yeah but plant lights have a whole lot more red and a whole lot less blue. I bet some things would grow under it, but results may not be as expected.

 

[MaxTremors]

The short answer is no. Plant lights generally have a more red/yellow spectrum, while reef lights are more blue. Where corals evolved to grow, generally only the blue spectrum of sunlight penetrates that deep, so they’ve evolved to require blue spectrum lighting. Now, some corals from shallower waters will do better with whiter light (white being all spectrums), but even at 10ft, the vast majority of the lighting that penetrates that deep is blue. Using plant lights on your reef will encourage algae growth, but won’t do much for your corals (they might survive, but they won’t grow much and their color will likely brown out). I would leave the plant like for the ‘tomatoes’ and get a proper light for the reef (a reef spectrum viparspectra light is only like $100).

 

[burningmime]

You can use it for your refugium. Most corals are tuned to a different spectrum of light because the water absorbs red wavelengths faster than it absorbs blue, so marine organisms like bluer light. And also, you won't get as much flourescent "pop" with that light since it's not pushing that 450nm peak. If you turned it up, it'll grow coral, but you'll also have tons of algae issues.

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

dang that sucks since I just got my first home and legit can’t afford lights at the moment I thought that old light would of worked

 

[Uzidaisies]

Does anybody know of a case where someone has tried to do this?

 

[N.Sreefer]

Does anybody know of a case where someone has tried to do this?

Ive used 6500k halides and fluorescents but never plant leds I imagine if they're the optimal spectrum for plants they are 6500k to 5500k on the lower end. Red is important for flowering but well blended light is best for vegetative growth. 6500k is perfect for shallow water coral. I think people may be a little mislead from the makers of 1000+ dollar LED panels. At one point everyone used 5500k halides that were meant for plants.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Does anybody know of a case where someone has tried to do this?

Yeah. I've used state of the art quantum board grow lights for a few days over my fuge which had a few corals in there. Replacement couldn't come fast enough.

 

[LittleFidel]

Try it and see what happens. I have used freshwater plant LEDs for two years over softies and LPS and have had no major problems.

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

Does anybody know of a case where someone has tried to do this?

I’m just saying this light is very expensive should I just give it a shot or will everything die ?

 

[Uzidaisies]

Yeah. I've used state of the art quantum board grow lights for a few days over my fuge which had a few corals in there. Replacement couldn't come fast enough.

Three days isn’t long enough to answer anything really, except that the coral reacted to the light changing.

 

[N.Sreefer]

Yeah. I've used state of the art quantum board grow lights for a few days over my fuge which had a few corals in there. Replacement couldn't come fast enough.

Most of the quantum board grow lights are 4000k and meant for flower a 6500k for veg would be better. I imagine things would struggle under 4000k and look gross.

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

I can also put it where it’s all blue lights no other colors it has a bunch of different color bulbs

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

I think I’m gonna try it out because I have no choice I’m not buying a 1000 dollar light I can’t at the moment houses in ny will do that to you...anyways I’m gonna try and use it I hope I don’t loose 5 grand worth of coral wish me luck fellas I’ll be back in a week with update

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Three days isn’t long enough to answer anything really, except that the coral reacted to the light changing.

Melt away a few very nice mushrooms and tell me again that 3 days isn't long enough to have an opinion homie.

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

Thought I’d post this idk

 

[Uzidaisies]

I can also put it where it’s all blue lights no other colors it has a bunch of different color bulbs

Honestly, if I didn’t have another option I’d try it. Definitely better than being in the dark.