Visparspectra: Are the green/red/white lights necessary for coral growth?

[Uncle99]

In my lighting, violet/blue is one channel, green/red/white is the other.
I understand the need for corals for the violet/blues spectrum, but what about this second channel, are these colors required as well.
I have been running 70% blue - 35% other for 3 years and six months ago I reduced the green/red/white down to 1% which created good intense colors in my corals.

So the question is simple.....Do corals ( or anything else in the DT) require green/red/white to thrive?

 

[Ron Reefman]

Yes.

White and red are important. Not for photosynthesis, but for other chemistries within the coral. In fact even red can help with some photosynthesis.

 

[Uncle99]

Thank you Ron.

 

[SteveEreef]

I had that same question. I run a viparspectra over a small frag tank and had just blues on since December as the whites are just too bright for my taste. I have added the whites at 1% for three hours and plan to increase the time period over a couple of months. Do you think 8 hours whites is fine? Also what is the minimum photo period of whites that corals in general require. Thanks

 

[14 foot reef]

Watch this series, i think there are 4 or 5 of them. Very informative

A new concept in tank lighting? The 5-Minute Guide to Lighting Like a Pro!

This is the first of a multi-part video series focused on lighting as part of our 5 Minute Saltwater Aquarium Guide. In this first episode, Ryan shows you how to master light spread, spectrum and PAR to dial-in and acheive perfect lighting each and every time regardless of the type

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Uncle99]

Watch this series, i think there are 4 or 5 of them. Very informative

A new concept in tank lighting? The 5-Minute Guide to Lighting Like a Pro!

This is the first of a multi-part video series focused on lighting as part of our 5 Minute Saltwater Aquarium Guide. In this first episode, Ryan shows you how to master light spread, spectrum and PAR to dial-in and acheive perfect lighting each and every time regardless of the type

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Perfect, thank you

 

[Ron Reefman]

I had that same question. I run a viparspectra over a small frag tank and had just blues on since December as the whites are just too bright for my taste. I have added the whites at 1% for three hours and plan to increase the time period over a couple of months. Do you think 8 hours whites is fine? Also what is the minimum photo period of whites that corals in general require. Thanks

The only photo period I'm familiar with is zooxanthellae and photosynthesis. And it's probably the most important. Like everything in this hobby all corals are different. But in general, corals need strong midday type light to do photosynthesis. Out on a reef that's typically from 10am to 2pm as a minimum. And 8am to 4pm as a maximum. So peak lighting for 4 to 8 hours will provide a good amount of light for photosynthesis. And that's very likely enough to cover other things corals use light for.

In general, longer strong light will not hurt corals, but it doesn't help either. Once the zooxanthellae has done all the photosynthesis it can do, it shuts down even if the light remains strong. And most zooxanthellae require about an hour of strong light to prepare to do photosynthesis. And the less intense sunrise and sunset lighting really doesn't do anything for the coral. It's just for our human sensibilities.

 

[SteveEreef]

Thanks so much. That’s very helpful!