Tested: PUR & the Quality of Light. How Will Our 50+ Reef Tank Lights Fare?

[@SparkyHelper]

What an incredible resource. THX

[@ronaldlambertson2624]

Again, next level information. Ryan has done more to advance the hobby than anyone else.

[@BRStv]

Thanks for the kind words :)

[@lauraholmes9353]

I'm sure it's not just him, props to the whole team as well. 😊 👏

[@jamisonjamison1]

The major "advance" Ryan has done is to use youtube as an effective way to market reefing gear. What has he done to advance the hobby?

[@danielf9052]

You can’t be serious.

[@BrianLKL222]

I love the scientifc approach, appreciate the effort making the video!

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Such good data!

[@lucamartino3007]

I think the blue biology band is a great idea for the industry. More info is needed on UV-A and UV-B, and this will be partially driven by hobbyists and the science community.

[@dusk1947]

Good Job Ryan. Great overview of how to conceptualize this.

[@BRStv]

Got to make it digestible to the masses so we can move forward :)

[@TommyG0]

Amazing work! Thank you!

[@ProducerReef]

Love this Ryan. Thank you.

[@madreef1767]

Would love to see the AI Grow + AI Glow data together.

[@franzyy89]

I would like too see them with a xr15 aswell

[@ryanwalters6184]

Been reefing since reef central days. Upgraded from t5 to the new Philips Coral Care Gen 2 and had explosive growth running at just 50%. There's a reason everybody's copying what they're doing. It is honestly overbuilt and that is rare in light fixtures these days.

[@tmarkuk1]

The AI Blade recommendation is a two to one mix of Grow to Glow, would love your thoughts on that as I've expecting to swap out some very old XR30s for this setup when they release.

[@BrianRaspino]

@BRStv As part of the experiment did you happen to get the optimal settings needed to match up with the optimal shape? For example, just recently bought the Aquamaxx Prism II, and would love to understand what mix of channels A-D would be needed to most closely simulate the curves we are shooting for in this video

[@AlexGhostDragonUK]

Have you tested the budget fluval 3.0 sea/marine lights?

[@dmorse2121]

I know this isn't your business model, but would love to see the cheapest way to achieve the optimal results

[@lauraholmes9353]

Check out their "Price per PAR" video, similar comparison, so choose your favourites, then maybe check back here to see the PUR of your top three choices. Hope this helps!

[@dmorse2121]

@@lauraholmes9353 I was thinking cheaper than the lights they sell. Would something in the $100-$200 range give decent results? I understand they can't test and sell everything, but would be interesting to see

[@OneMoreTank]

Yeah, would be cool to see some black boxes and cheap Amazon lights like the Nicrew, Lominie, and Hipargero tested. Pretty much all the lights BRS sells right now are too rich for my blood. The profit margins on them must be huge, because there's no way slapping 30 diodes on a PCB and a heatsink costs $1000

[@OneMoreTank]

Maybe showing off the cheaper lights would light a fire under the a** of name brands and get them to compete better on price

[@pleasureduma9693]

My Amazon lights have been shitting on my friends radions ect so I’m happy for 150$ wireless controllers ect ect

[@goreyboggs]

Would be cool if you could include Nicrew lights in these reviews. I would like to see how they compare.

[@pleasureduma9693]

They will never use cheaper things they don’t sell that work just as well if not better than the 2,000$ lights they sell

[@goreyboggs]

@@pleasureduma9693 they did reviews on black box before. I wish they carried Nicrew I stress of current

[@kyleharen8051]

Would like to know BRS opinions on the Lux Engine pick upgrades for AI prime and hydras

[@alanjulian3051]

Can you get the same spectrum with the radion g5’s as the 6 by turning down the blue as you did in the video? Thanks

[@fmmrz5]

So if I have a 3’ tank with two reefled 90s which AI blades should I add? One 30” glow and one 30” grow? They’re modular so can you swap the middle module making them grow/glow/grow and glow/grow/glow?

[@lisafoster4468]

Would one or two Grow Blades give me the lovely pink on the male Bartlett's Anthias? Big factor for me, because they're my dream fish....I'm considering getting a Grow and and Freshwater....is this unsafe spectrumwise?

[@Rvh1]

Could you guys do a review and test on the chinese Gako 54watt leds and if they are in your opinion suitable for corals? I would love to know some of the PAR readings amd such.

[@lisafoster4468]

I was just having a thought. Some have reported issues with their LEDs turning rainbow micro lords red. I never heard anything about why. What if there wasn't enough red light in it, so the coral increased its red fluorescence to replace that?!

[@BRStv]

it's likely the violet light . more about that here kzbin.info/www/bejne/jF7XY4SNnN-rfbc

[@malinoisnation9392]

Meso blue bar. Best blue on the market!

[@Scott_Davis]

Because these graphs are all relative, how can one compare one graph to the other? Also it would be nice to see the graphs overlaid with a combination of all three, chlorophyll A, chlorophyll C2, and peridinin.

[@sunnygoold9449]

EPIC - the most important episode

[@gcarroll1969]

Agreed, but sad that it was too complex for a select few.

[@sunnygoold9449]

@@gcarroll1969 Really? Maybe they should have said "for all but hard core SPS nuts stick to the blue band and your lighting won't be an issue" Personally every episode tells me I need to get T5 hybrid on my upcoming build (but I will only run the bulbs for 2 hours each per day). This one got me thinking I should get one extra actinic bulb

[@BRStv]

​@@sunnygoold9449 I wish it was as easy as coming out and saying "do this" . Everything requires a healthy amount of discussion an exploration to identify the "why" it should be done this way. No way around it T5 lamps get the job done well and have been part of many of our most successful tanks. Also no way around 95% of reefers just don't want to buy dated tech. I think it is part of the DNA who do this. Reefing is a complex thought leading hobby so tech that is nearing global obsolescence is not a common choice by those doing it. If my grandma asked me what's the easiest way to know she got this lighting thing done, i'd send her an aquatic life t5 hybrid with aqua blue special and actinic bulbs with a kessil 360x. Looks great. Lighting will never be your issue.

[@sunnygoold9449]

@@BRStv For sure - my reply was meant to be that I'm surprised that it would be too complex for anyone ;) You showed the blue band and showed why that is important. There is then this discussion out on the fringes about UV and (I would say) far red (like the 740nm Orphek has) but I fail to understand what that discussion has to do with 90% of reefers. I'm yet to notice any actual criticisms of this episode but I may - and then there is the tiniest chance I may change my mind on this one :D The next one on color is something I am really interested in... that will be hard not to be complex because everyone likes different aesthetics... I just can't believe anyone found this difficult

[@harrywthomasaba]

So which is best for an SPS dominant, mixed reef? If it’s between Radions, blue, or pro?

[@BRStv]

I like the warm white in the pro's

[@independentblue]

So we should run our lights at 100% on all channels to achieve this?

[@jpguppy08]

Quanta Pro Meso blue would dominate this test.

[@lucamartino3007]

Completely agree. Working on getting the data out.

[@kaldenkyulo4100]

So what’s the best light?

[@thomasturbato7021]

mh

[@staceynicholas3430]

Is the fluval nano sea trash?

[@d.waller9722]

I wish you had both the AI Grow and Glow together as an option of wide spectrum.

[@luckyday4134]

I like when Ryan is spitting facts .but when he's done I'm still wondering.

[@chrisurman6192]

I don't know about the importance of UV. UV is a high-energy wavelength unlike red, which means it penetrates deep into the water column like blue. Furthermore, all the important biological factors from Chlorophyll A to Peridinin have deep reaches into the 380nm range and beyond. My theory is that it's more important than we are led to believe here. Why be adequate when you can be better.

[@BRStv]

That’s basically the reason. We have to agree on the foundation before we get get lost in the pursuit of perfection . UV is still a debate with some reasonable assumptions but not a lot of supporting science or compelling anecdotal evidence. It’s very common for the edge case improvements to distract from the real challenge. let’s find something that works for the 90% , 90% of the time and Perfect from there.

[@chrisurman6192]

@BRStv - Saltwater Aquariums & Reef Tanks That is 100% reasonable. However, we had the technology!!! I remember when Metal Halides ruled the SPS scene, they produced UV-a/b/c wavelengths. Just like in nature, the corals would produce their blue, purple, or pink pigment to protect themselves. They provided such a beautiful range of colors.

[@zulu09]

How has nobody caught on that t5’s have and always will be best and leds are just meant to add pop/shimmer. They literally compare every led light to t5’s every episode

[@Poseidonsreef]

The real question here is my g4 xr15w better than most of these lights for my 26 gallon

[@russeladams2003]

All the teletubbies in this comment section be like, buy this other light it's the gift from the reefing god, our lord and savior telegram. 😂

[@hurricaneaquatics]

UV is needed for Vitamin D production which is essential to humans and any living organism including Coral and fish. LED produces zero UV-B UV spectrum. LUX is also extremely important in Coral growth and health. LED lacks the LUX of Metal Halide and T5. LED will never be Metal Halide and T5. The reason LED works well with metal Halide and T5 is that it's simply supplemental lighting. Metal Halide is the BEST lighting you can provide your fish and corals. T5 is the second best and a very close second at that. LED simply does produce the wide spectrum, nor the LUX needed to compete with MH and T5. Reefing his going back to MH anf you should get on the band wagon sooner rather than later as results speak for themselves. LED Is incredible for supplemental or lighting for just coloring. It will never grow Coral like Metal Halide. Go get your Reef Brite or Hamilton Caymun Sun and a 14k or 20k bulb and grow Coral and enjoy your tank. Forget the LED as they'll never reach what MH is capable of.

[@danielf9052]

Ryan can’t make as much money though selling Metal halide…..

[@zulu09]

You can also the dramatic effect halides/compacts have on reptiles as well. LED's cannot replicate the same uv these options have period. Led's can grow Coral but their skeletons and flesh is much much weaker compared to grown under t5's/halides.

[@jmdelira87]

Ryan keeps adding an extra “in” in peridinin. Should probably google how to pronounce it properly.

[@BRStv]

Say peridinin three time fast. it's a tongue twister for sure :)

[@russeladams2003]

Yet another blade infomercial. I took notes and the only thing that mainly stood out are most lights have the "biology band," and if I want more I buy some blades. Aperture owns you. Aperture owns Ecotech who make blade. Pull back the curtain. BTW. Who thought of the "biology band?" I've not found any scientific research papers on the "biology band." Another marketing term like "near ultra violet" which was "near UV?"

[@Whosever]

"Biology band" it's a therm they make to simplify overall evaluation of a light for corals as most of the useful light will be within that range, it's just for the sake of simplicity, and "near UV" means near UV but not actually UV XD, as they said it's better to talk in nanometres rather than common names of the spectrum .... And yeah this could be marketing for the blades, but they are good still XD

[@PatrickJewellTheGreat]

Yeah 400 to 500 nanometers is fine to call it a biology band. For simplicity sakes.

[@-Wreckanize-]

Dozens of lights but yet its a blade infomercial. 😂

[@russeladams2003]

​@@-Wreckanize- Yup! Gotta show which lights you need to buy a blade for.

[@13LA]

Such a shame. BRS used to be a trustworthy source of reefing info. Now it's just about promoting their latest sponsor. Wonder if this is why Randy left? 🤔