UV vs Kelvin = Color

[alexdmg]

How much does the amount of UV a coral gets contribute to the color of a coral or is it just the higher Kelvin rating that makes the difference. I know the higher the Kelvin rating the slower the growth and the more color a coral suppse to get, but I guess what I'm asking is where UV comes into play or is UV out of the equation when it comes to color?

[CoryDude]

Good question! I know that the corals pigmentation is a result of ultraviolet light. UV-A and UV-B can penetrate water and damage coral tissue. So the coral tissue develops different pigments to filter out these rays.

I'd also assume that the Kelvin plays a part in how the coral color is perceived to our eyes.

[alexdmg]

Good question! I know that the corals pigmentation is a result of ultraviolet light. UV-A and UV-B can penetrate water and damage coral tissue. So the coral tissue develops different pigments to filter out these rays.

I'd also assume that the Kelvin plays a part in how the coral color is perceived to our eyes.

Sweet, that's exactly what is was trying to ask, but didn't know if my question was clear.

I know MH produces slight amounts of UV and didn't know if the higher Kelvin ratings produces more UV and maybe that's why they color up more? Also wondering if mogul or DE produce the same amount of UV? I know some manufactures add glass to help filter UV from these bulbs. Thanks for your response!

[CoryDude]

Since color is really just the resulting wavelengths that reach our eyes, it sounds like these two items would be interrelated. The uv light determines which pigments the corals develop, and therefore determine the different wavelengths the tissue will absorb and reflect. Then the kelvin rating would come into play because of the differing wavelengths that are being produced by the bulb and reflected by the coral.

[CoryDude]

I know MH produces slight amounts of UV and didn't know if the higher Kelvin ratings produces more UV and maybe that's why they color up more? Also wondering if mogul or DE produce the same amount of UV? I know some manufactures add glass to help filter UV from these bulbs. Thanks for your response!

That's exactly where my line of logic was leading me too. Do bulbs with different color temps emit more or less of these uv wavelengths?

I know that uv light is a shorter wavelength than the visible light spectrum and that blue light is on the shorter end of the visible light spectrum. So then wouldn't bulbs that are in the 14-20K range produce more uv light since more of the emitted light is in the shorter wavelength range?