red as a color for moon lighting

[fragmatic]

I posted recommending that a fellow reefer not use red. However, I can find nothing to support my statement. I since posted an edit to that effect.

Question, is there any reason not to use red as a moon color? After a google search I am on the fence, and totally clueless.


The comment was made that they thought the fish and other tank life could not see the red light and therefore it made it easy to watch what was going on at night.

I have no data to support either way. But that idea is interesting IF it is not doing any harm.

?????????????

 

[mainereefer]

red promotes algae growth
you can use green plants cant use green light

 

[fragmatic]

oh yeah, that is true, I now recall that. I knew there was some reason my brain had filed it as a no-no.

 

[bct15]

Red spectrum is the preferred spectrum for most plant growth. However, I have seen red lighting on a switch used over nocturnal tanks and low light fish tanks because of what you mentioned earlier, the fish don't see this light and will be active. When I did see the red lit tanks, the lights appeared very dim and were only switche on when viewing the tank. When the the red lights are switched on the nocturnal stuff doesn't freak out and scatter like other color lighting. I imagine the technology now, you can use like mentioned earlier, one or two low power green or any othe color LEDs to get the same effect just leave then in all night like moonlights so you don't startle anything when switching it on. The main thing I seen red lights in was octopus tanks and I only seen it in two tanks and it was a good while ago (when I was a kid). I also seen red lighting used a couple times over specific aquariums at public aquariums like the aquarium at the smokies has red lighting over a tank with (can't think of what they are called) but they look like squids with shells.


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