| Aqua-Bar LED Grow Light, Experiments With Coral and Other Aquatic Organisms by Matt G. |
| “Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand.” Chinese proverb The following is based on the experience of a high school student who came to us in October of 2008 with interest in the SolarOasis Aqua-Bar LED grow light for use in his independent science project. SolarOasis made the donation of four Aqua-Bars and the result is that you are now able to learn about LED grow lights right along with him. Thank you to SolarOasis, Matt, and his parents for allowing us to share his work with you. |
| Matt is using a 70 gallon tank for his coral which has the dimension of 36" by 18" by 24" (20" with 4" sand bed.) |
Matt G-november 17, 2008
Thank you for putting up with all my questions. The tank is almost full and I will add salt to it in the next couple days, fire it up for a dry run, and have it set up
and coral ready by mid December. Want any pictures?
Thank you for putting up with all my questions. The tank is almost full and I will add salt to it in the next couple days, fire it up for a dry run, and have it set up
and coral ready by mid December. Want any pictures?
Matt G. -November 20, 2008
Even though you say you can't find PAR on these fixtures, do you have the capability to get those numbers anyway? I mean, if these lights are good for
plants, they should register well in PAR by using a Quantum Light meter anyway. PAR is not just white light, it measures the spectrums plants need and this
number needs to be at a certain level for them to work. Can you get this number for these lights? If not, do you know where I can get such a meter to use
myself? Thanks
Even though you say you can't find PAR on these fixtures, do you have the capability to get those numbers anyway? I mean, if these lights are good for
plants, they should register well in PAR by using a Quantum Light meter anyway. PAR is not just white light, it measures the spectrums plants need and this
number needs to be at a certain level for them to work. Can you get this number for these lights? If not, do you know where I can get such a meter to use
myself? Thanks
SolarOasis- November 20, 2008
PAR is white light based and as such will produce little to no reading when used with SolarOasis lights. However, if you go to our website and click on the link
“Innovation” you’ll see a thermogradient table developed by researchers at Virginia Tech for a client. A thermogradient table is used to grow nearly anything
under a strictly regulated temperature. In the past these devices had been designed using fluorescent lights and therefore had a limited amount of success
due to lack of light and heat emissions. The table prototype pictured is the latest version of a new frontier in scientific research using SolarOasis lights. The
following is an email clip between the lead researcher and our science liaison to the university.
"we can generate intensities as high as 210 microeinsteins per meter squared per second. The approach we took is to reflect most of the light off the lid's
reflective surface. The overall light intensity is from 170 to 210 microeinsteins per meter squared per second. The intensity falls were the lid sections come
together"
The above readings were taken by the scientist at the university using the same light bars you have. The measured light intensity was done using a standard
quantum sensor, so it is about 17% lower than the actual light intensity due to errors in silicon sensors when used to measure LED light of these wavelengths.
Here’s some information to Google on the subject of quantum sensors and LED lights.
Quantum sensors commonly used to measure light output, such as the Li-Cor and Skye product lines, are known to be very inaccurate at measuring light
output from artificial light sources, and have even greater errors when measuring light output f from LED arrays (See Accuracy of quantum sensors measuring
yield photon flux and photosynthetic photon flux. Barnes C, Tibbitts T, Sager J, Deitzer G, Bubenheim D, Koemer G, Bugbee B. Department of Plants, Soils,
and Biometeorology, Utah State University, Logan 84322-4820)
By weighing output wavelengths according to their relative ability to promote photosynthesis (KJ McCree, The action spectrum, absorbance and quantum yield
of photosynthesis in crop plants. Agricultural Meteorology, 1971/72, Vol 9, pp 191-216) LED grow lamp light emissions can be better compared to traditional
plant grow lights.
PAR is white light based and as such will produce little to no reading when used with SolarOasis lights. However, if you go to our website and click on the link
“Innovation” you’ll see a thermogradient table developed by researchers at Virginia Tech for a client. A thermogradient table is used to grow nearly anything
under a strictly regulated temperature. In the past these devices had been designed using fluorescent lights and therefore had a limited amount of success
due to lack of light and heat emissions. The table prototype pictured is the latest version of a new frontier in scientific research using SolarOasis lights. The
following is an email clip between the lead researcher and our science liaison to the university.
"we can generate intensities as high as 210 microeinsteins per meter squared per second. The approach we took is to reflect most of the light off the lid's
reflective surface. The overall light intensity is from 170 to 210 microeinsteins per meter squared per second. The intensity falls were the lid sections come
together"
The above readings were taken by the scientist at the university using the same light bars you have. The measured light intensity was done using a standard
quantum sensor, so it is about 17% lower than the actual light intensity due to errors in silicon sensors when used to measure LED light of these wavelengths.
Here’s some information to Google on the subject of quantum sensors and LED lights.
Quantum sensors commonly used to measure light output, such as the Li-Cor and Skye product lines, are known to be very inaccurate at measuring light
output from artificial light sources, and have even greater errors when measuring light output f from LED arrays (See Accuracy of quantum sensors measuring
yield photon flux and photosynthetic photon flux. Barnes C, Tibbitts T, Sager J, Deitzer G, Bubenheim D, Koemer G, Bugbee B. Department of Plants, Soils,
and Biometeorology, Utah State University, Logan 84322-4820)
By weighing output wavelengths according to their relative ability to promote photosynthesis (KJ McCree, The action spectrum, absorbance and quantum yield
of photosynthesis in crop plants. Agricultural Meteorology, 1971/72, Vol 9, pp 191-216) LED grow lamp light emissions can be better compared to traditional
plant grow lights.
Matt G.- November 21, 2008
Is that meaurement of 210 microeinsteins with the sensor right by the fixture or under water (and if under water, how much)? Thanks.
Is that meaurement of 210 microeinsteins with the sensor right by the fixture or under water (and if under water, how much)? Thanks.
SolarOasis-November 21, 2008
The 210 measurement is open air with the sensor mounted inside the thermogradient table space at Virginia Tech. Measurements in undisturbed water at
20” run about the same, however something interesting happens in agitated water. In a typical tank setup the water surface is ever changing due to aeration
and return currents from the filter. This effect was the base for our fourth patent on the light bars. The surface effect creates an ever changing magnifying
effect that sweeps the tank volume. The result of this effect is a continuous variance in light intensity from -40% to +60% of the still water reading. Just like in
nature, the light intensity is ever changing. You’ve probably seen in person or on TV that shadows and bright areas are always sweeping the bottom of the
ocean in shallow areas of less than 100 feet.
The 210 measurement is open air with the sensor mounted inside the thermogradient table space at Virginia Tech. Measurements in undisturbed water at
20” run about the same, however something interesting happens in agitated water. In a typical tank setup the water surface is ever changing due to aeration
and return currents from the filter. This effect was the base for our fourth patent on the light bars. The surface effect creates an ever changing magnifying
effect that sweeps the tank volume. The result of this effect is a continuous variance in light intensity from -40% to +60% of the still water reading. Just like in
nature, the light intensity is ever changing. You’ve probably seen in person or on TV that shadows and bright areas are always sweeping the bottom of the
ocean in shallow areas of less than 100 feet.
Matt G.-November 21, 2008
Well, with that said, in my tank with the 20 inches depth and four of these things on it, I should be good if these are true readings.
Well, with that said, in my tank with the 20 inches depth and four of these things on it, I should be good if these are true readings.
| Fluorescent Lights vs LEDs Growing Aquatic Organisms |