The adventure of the 125gal tank

[kien]

Originally Posted by Fishgirl

what does it mean by it offers 420/460nm, 700+ nm not sure what those numbers mean or what nm stands for????

Bulbs come in different wavelengths of light. If you look on the box for a T5 light it will typically show you a graph of the light spectrum from blue to yellow/red. That bulb will output light somewhere on that chart and that is its output wavelength.



Actinic lights, for example, produce only light at a specific wavelength--420 or 460 nm (nm stands for nano meters - the measure of wave length). This peak wavelength value, which produces a very blue light, was chosen because during photosynthesis chlorophyll a absorbs light near this wavelength. These blue lights also help to augment the fluorescence of corals. That is, it makes them glow

Hey Kien!

First I want to say your tank is beautiful! simply wow I love your aquascaping. Anyway Thank you so much for explaining this to me I was clueless when I read that part about the 420-460nm and 700+nm I was like huh ok. lol.

So what would be the best combination in a 12 light fixture? How many of each bulb so I do? and what kind? I know the stock ones are probably what I will keep in there for the first little while, just to save money for other stuff as I won't be getting corals right away.

Jenn

Originally Posted by kien

Bulbs come in different wavelengths of light. If you look on the box for a T5 light it will typically show you a graph of the light spectrum from blue to yellow/red. That bulb will output light somewhere on that chart and that is its output wavelength.



Actinic lights, for example, produce only light at a specific wavelength--420 or 460 nm (nm stands for nano meters - the measure of wave length). This peak wavelength value, which produces a very blue light, was chosen because during photosynthesis chlorophyll a absorbs light near this wavelength. These blue lights also help to augment the fluorescence of corals. That is, it makes them glow