What is full spectrum lighting

[PharmrJohn]

Example:

https://webbtelescope.org/contents/media/images/01F8GF8WYBCQVKTGPX3MA58182

And those main sequence stars of said color have a HUGE difference in Lifespan. A blue giant can last only 10 million years. A yellow, 10 billion. A red Dwarf 10 trillion! There. A meaningless piece of trivia!

 

[Reefering1]

I’m not understanding your argument. Is the argument that as long as there’s every wavelength presented in the visible spectrum, it’s full spectrum? In that case, unless there is a complete filter of a certain wavelength, almost every light currently being used in reefing is full spectrum, as there is a measureable amount of photons over every single wavelength between the visible area. This is definitely true.

I think we agree though, the term is used way too vaguely for even the typical user of the term to really know what they’re trying to convey.

Some might argue that full spectrum requires complete coverage from uv to ir. It might lean more one direction than the other and still be full spectrum. A led hitting certain chosen nm is not full spectrum. By that standard almost all led lights are not full spectrum. Whereas halides hit the entire spectrum and some have added peaks in the uv/blue area for visual appeal

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’m not understanding your argument. Is the argument that as long as there’s every wavelength presented in the visible spectrum, it’s full spectrum? In that case, unless there is a complete filter of a certain wavelength, almost every light currently being used in reefing is full spectrum, as there is a measureable amount of photons over every single wavelength between the visible area. This is definitely true.

I think we agree though, the term is used way too vaguely for even the typical user of the term to really know what they’re trying to convey.

My statement is that full spectrum can technically have any color temperature. I posted graphs of 3 full spectrums, with three different color temps. Those are more full spectrum than any light source used by reefers.

That is the scientific definition of a full spectrum.

Reefers distort the meaning in lots of different ways to suit their purposes.

 

[buruskeee]

My statement is that full spectrum can technically have any color temperature. I posted graphs of 3 full spectrums, with three different color temps. Those are more full spectrum than any light source used by reefers.

That is the scientific definition of a full spectrum.

Reefers distort the meaning in lots of different ways to suit their purposes.

I believe we are in agreement here.

 

[buruskeee]

Some might argue that full spectrum requires complete coverage from uv to ir. It might lean more one direction than the other and still be full spectrum. A led hitting certain chosen nm is not full spectrum. By that standard almost all led lights are not full spectrum. Whereas halides hit the entire spectrum and some have added peaks in the uv/blue area for visual appeal

Ok, litmus test … is this “full spectrum”? Why or why not?

 

[Reefering1]

Ok, litmus test … is this “full spectrum”? Why or why not?

Tricky.. I guess it depends on how much "smoothing" was done to the chart. I want to say yes because it goes into uv and touches ir but it is very weak on the ends.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ok, litmus test … is this “full spectrum”? Why or why not?

I personally would not make that statement for my purposes, but in a world of vague definitions, very little is demonstrably wrong.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

https://atinorthamerica.com/blog/combos-6-bulb-fixtures/
Above
This shows how little full spectrum lights you need for a white looking reef.

Below is ATI's whitest light. As you can see it is mostly blue. If you ran a tank full of these it would not be a very pleasing look to most people.

 

[zheka757]

Ok, litmus test … is this “full spectrum”? Why or why not?

Based on this i would say no it's not full spectrum, as this only favors blue end of the spectrum, this whole spectrum debated started off not by OP but reefers in general, due to people comparing artificial reef lights to natural sunlight. Here is one example of full spectrum where all the spectrum relieves equal amout of different colar of light.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I would just add to this discussion that the idea that some organisms from shallow water may benefit from full spectrum lighting (such as some anemones), does not necessarily imply any problem if there is full spectrum lighting like the above PLUS extra blue.

The blue isn't necessarily hurting them, they may just do better with the other wavelengths as part of the overall package being intense enough.

The fact that anemones can thrive even with the blue boosted is well established by many reefers who discuss it in the anemone section.

 

[reefchi]

Thanks @Randy Holmes-Farley and everyone else for your input on this. It’s helped me better understand the term and in regards to the tank I’m currently building.