It seems that halide/T5 units have advanced in the last couple of years, with Hamilton Cebu Sun having some compelling features (e.g. active cooling and legs holding the unit above the tank). I have also heard from users that the ferocious heat from the halides are mainly blown from unit. In addition, there is reason to expect crazy high PAR. Right now many of these units are sold out and will be for another month. If you can access one, I'd love to see the readings. PS: magnetic ballasts are the default, and kits contain everything including bulbs.
Considering the known spectra for chlorophyll A & B, you'd think these manufacturers could tune a "fuge" light to the proper spectrum. Seems they missed big time on the chlorophyll B blue part of the spectrum, most of the light seems to be between 440 and 460nm which a stronger bias towards 460, and there was supposed to be a violet channel in there? the violet looks non existent on your spectrum, maybe it's your equipment that can't pick it up properly? Be interesting to turn the other channels to zero and see how much violet peeks through. But I guess it does enough with the red to grow chaeto?
yeah I agree... the weed lights on Amazon and Ebay are almost perfect for us if you pick the right ones, they put out substantial wattage in lighting, and cost a fraction of these fish fuge LEDs
@Infinite Loop Right but for the amount of money you spent (assuming you bought new) you could have bought a weed LED on Amazon or Ebay for equivalent price but have like triple the wattage, plus a better spectrum then just blue + red for plants.
