Importance of UV-A and Infrared Radiation

[Dana Riddle]

This thread will examine the importance of UV-A and IR radiation the photosynthetic process as well as color coloration.
Let's start with a new device from Apogee Instruments:

Quantum (PAR & ePAR) Sensors / Meters - ePAR Sensors - Apogee Instruments, Inc.

www.apogeeinstruments.com

 

[Dana Riddle]

This paper touts the possible benefits of UV. Also states the amount of UV seen at depths of 1 to 2 meters (20.5 w/m2 UV-A and 1.2 w/m2 UV-B.)

 

[oreo54]

UV radiation was provided by
two UV-340 fluorescent lamps (Q-Panel Lab Products),
giving a UVA fluence of about 20.5 W m2 and a UVB
fluence of about 1.2 W m2 (Shick, 2004). These levels are
similar to those measured in the field at 1–2 m depth.
................................
The bleaching susceptibility of
corals therefore depends on their previous history as well as
on the capacity for upregulating their defenses.
Results obtained in this study show that there is a complex
set of interactions between the environmental factors
that can lead to different coral responses to a stress. An
abrupt increase in seawater temperature can have a negative
impact on coral photobiology when it is combined with an
acute exposure to UV radiation, but long-term exposure to
ambient UV radiation at nonstressful temperatures may also
protect corals from an acute thermal stress. Moreover, different
coral species do not have the same physiological
response to changes in their environment.

 

[phillygeeks]

I am interested in what has to be said about IR. I did end up going Radion g4 pros with T5 supplements but I really entertained the idea of the Orpheks.

I ended up not going the way of Orpheks due to the issues I saw popping up with the IR LEDs going out and having to do your own repairs with equipment they supplied (fwiw I have my own soldering gun and I have no issue using it for many years). I toyed with the idea of just going with those anyway and who cared is the IR LEDs go out. This thread would make it interesting to see if the IR and other LEDs are more valuable than thought

This is an interesting topic and I will follow this and thanks for looking into this.