[APD] Kelvin/coloromitry

[Lief Brittan Youngs <liefy at yahoo_com>]

So if the Kelvin scale and coloromitry is not the way to choose an aquarium bulb the how does every one rate bulbs for plant groth? What is the best "rating" to loook for when getting bulbs for planted aquariums?
Lief Youngs

To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift. -- Steve Prefontaine

My objection applies to most other colorimetric units. I have found it 
useful to look for the lowest lumens/Watt in a tube to get best plant 
growth (e.g., "daylight" vs "cool white"). Our eyes are 10X as sensitive 
to green as to red or blue, but plants reflect away most green light and 
absorb the most only in the red and blue chlorophyll absorption regions. 
Colorimetry (lux, lumens, ft-Lamberts,candles etc.) would be great for 
aquaria if our eyes responded like the plant action spectrum. They don't 
though, so some adjustment in thinking often is needed.

Colorimetry and its units were developed primarily for merchandising. 
Does the dress look good in the store window? Does the meat in the tray 
look bright and fresh? Is it a good reading light? It is all (and only) 
about how humans perceive light and lighted objects. We just need to be 
cautious about their use in situations where human perception differs 
from the true needs of the aquarium.

Lecture Mode <OFF>

Wright

-- 
"I'll keep my freedom, my guns, and my money; you can keep 'THE CHANGE'." 

Wright Huntley - 805 Valley West Cir., Bishop CA 93514 
whuntley at verizon_net 760 872-3995. Cell 760 937-2276



      
_______________________________________________
Aquatic-Plants mailing list
Aquatic-Plants at actwin_com
http://www.actwin.com/mailman/listinfo/aquatic-plants