Fuge Light

[TheEngineer]

I’m getting ready to give sea lettuce a shot for controlling my phosphates. Thinking about lighting for the fuge...

I’d like to do this inexpensively, especially since it is an experiment. I have two options already in house:

1. 6x 3W UV LEDs
2. AI Sol Blue

Think either of these are worthwhile? One better than the other?

 

[AlgaeBarn]

I’m getting ready to give sea lettuce a shot for controlling my phosphates. Thinking about lighting for the fuge...

I’d like to do this inexpensively, especially since it is an experiment. I have two options already in house:

1. 6x 3W UV LEDs
2. AI Sol Blue

Think either of these are worthwhile? One better than the other?

What Wavelength are the UV LEDs? Are these starpad LED's that you need to mount to a heatsink + wire to a driver?

 

[TheEngineer]

What Wavelength are the UV LEDs? Are these starpad LED's that you need to mount to a heatsink + wire to a driver?

Yep, two star pads with three on each. They’re 430nm

 

[AlgaeBarn]

Yep, two star pads with three on each. They’re 430nm

430nm likely wont do much for most macros. I would recommend looking at royal blues (455nm), reds (660nm), and 6500k Chips. Do you already have a CC driver for those and a heat sink?
What are your restrictive parameters here? Cost? Fun? DIY content for the blog? Insurance liability?

 

[TheEngineer]

430nm likely wont do much for most macros. I would recommend looking at royal blues (455nm), reds (660nm), and 6500k Chips. Do you already have a CC driver for those and a heat sink?
What are your restrictive parameters here? Cost? Fun? DIY content for the blog? Insurance liability?

Is cheap a good answer? :)

I have a bunch of royal blue LEDs laying around too. Nothing red though. I have drivers too. Do you think the AI sol blue is worth using? I’m looking for something the will be relatively contained in terms of light spill.

 

[AlgaeBarn]

Cheap is fine.

Royal blues will work, but I think throwing some red(630nm to 670nm) in there would be good, along with some white light (6500k). If you are planning on purchasing the sea lettuce from us, I think I do have some old 3W LED's in these spectrums I can throw into the box (For legal reasons, we will not warranty, guarantee, or endorse using these starpad 3W LEDs). Be sure to leave a comment if you want them.

If you look at the photosynthesis spectrum for Chlorophyll a and b, there is quite a bit in the red spectrum(630nm to 670nm). NOTE: This graph does not show the relative content of chlorophyll (b to a) in the macroalgae.

I think you will have some success with the AI sol blue, but I think you would have better luck with a full spectrum COB unit off of amazon (if you are okay with Non UL/ETL/CSA approved fixtures). If you want an approved fixture, one designed for saltwater environment and tuned for macroalgae, I would try to sell the AI sol blue and purchase the AI FUGE light (released at the end of the month).

Chlorophyll Image Credit:
By Chlorophyll_ab_spectra2.PNG: Daniele Pugliesiderivative work: M0tty - This file was derived from: Chlorophyll ab spectra2.PNG:, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20509583

 

[TheEngineer]

Cheap is fine.

Royal blues will work, but I think throwing some red(630nm to 670nm) in there would be good, along with some white light (6500k). If you are planning on purchasing the sea lettuce from us, I think I do have some old 3W LED's in these spectrums I can throw into the box (For legal reasons, we will not warranty, guarantee, or endorse using these starpad 3W LEDs). Be sure to leave a comment if you want them.

If you look at the photosynthesis spectrum for Chlorophyll a and b, there is quite a bit in the red spectrum(630nm to 670nm). NOTE: This graph does not show the relative content of chlorophyll (b to a) in the macroalgae.

I think you will have some success with the AI sol blue, but I think you would have better luck with a full spectrum COB unit off of amazon (if you are okay with Non UL/ETL/CSA approved fixtures). If you want an approved fixture, one designed for saltwater environment and tuned for macroalgae, I would try to sell the AI sol blue and purchase the AI FUGE light (released at the end of the month).

Chlorophyll Image Credit:
By Chlorophyll_ab_spectra2.PNG: Daniele Pugliesiderivative work: M0tty - This file was derived from: Chlorophyll ab spectra2.PNG:, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20509583

Thanks for all that and your generous offer!

Selling the AI Sols is probably a good idea. I have a pair and the director controller. Could probably get enough for the fuge light and maybe some left over for corals :)

I’ve been holding on to them for a still unstarted 72x10x10” tank I picked up a while ago. Bird in the hand, right?

That Prime light looks to still be preorder only. Wonder how it compares with the Kessil H80. Do you know?

 

[AlgaeBarn]

Thanks for all that and your generous offer!

Selling the AI Sols is probably a good idea. I have a pair and the director controller. Could probably get enough for the fuge light and maybe some left over for corals :)

I’ve been holding on to them for a still unstarted 72x10x10” tank I picked up a while ago. Bird in the hand, right?

That Prime light looks to still be preorder only. Wonder how it compares with the Kessil H80. Do you know?

The prime light will likely be released around the end of the month. Full disclaimer, we will be selling the FUGE light. Rumor has it they are going to retail for $209.

The AI FUGE light will be comparable in light output to the Kessil H160, but comes in at about $30 cheaper. I talked with the AI guys about this light, and they said they have been working on it a long time and are finally happy with how they have tuned it for macroalgae growth.

The Kessil H80 works (its 18W at full power), but if you have intense display tank lighting, the macro growth tends to be only decent. We see a lot more success with the H160 or H380.

 

[fermentedhiker]

This is what I ended up trying on my new fuge and it's growing chaeto like crazy so far. It does get a bit hot though. I ended up adding some thermal adhesive heat sinks(off of the bay) to help it run cooler(added about 6$ to the price of the unit)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F25G5BD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[reelredfisah]

Old thread but the AI Fuge seems to be working great for me. Was not thinking about spending that much on a fuge light but sure glad I did.