Opinions on Plasma Arc Lighting

[Ocean's Edge]

I was wondering if I could get opinions on Plasma Arc lighting for a 48x30x30 reef aquarium. Should it be combined with a different light technology (t-5, led)? Should it be hooked up to a controller of some kind? I am looking at starting a new project for my tank, and would like all opinions.

[theatrus]

Whats the spectral plot of the light?

If you do get it set up, be sure to grab some PAR readings

[AcroporAddict]

The thing with plasma lighting currently is that you have to dim the plasma light way down to get any kind of Kelvin rendition in the 14K + spectrum, anywhere from 50-75% dimmed down. Seems ridiculous to pay the kind of money you have to for these just to have to supplement with additional blue lighting.

Plasma fixtures are very expensive right now. If you don't care about cost, or just want to experiment, or love 10K lighting, then that is your choice. But I think they have a log way to go before they become mainstream reef lights.

IMO, they need to develop specific Kelvin ratings for these (14K,15K, 20 K etc) that can operate at the specific Kelvin rating at full power before they'd be a viable mass produced reef light option.

[Ocean's Edge]

Originally Posted by AcroporAddict

The thing with plasma lighting currently is that you have to dim the plasma light way down to get any kind of Kelvin rendition in the 14K + spectrum, anywhere from 50-75% dimmed down. Seems ridiculous to pay the kind of money you have to for these just to have to supplement with additional blue lighting.

Plasma fixtures are very expensive right now. If you don't care about cost, or just want to experiment, or love 10K lighting, then that is your choice. But I think they have a log way to go before they become mainstream reef lights.

IMO, they need to develop specific Kelvin ratings for these (14K,15K, 20 K etc) that can operate at the specific Kelvin rating at full power before they'd be a viable mass produced reef light option.

That is the reason for the additional LED lighting. The Plasma bulb operates in the 6700-7000K range, and with the additional blue and or possibly white LED's -- I should be able to bump it up to the 9000-12000K range. It would also give it much more control when it comes to sunrise/sunset lunar lighting with the additional LED's... Any replies to my thoughts ??

[twiggyb]

Sounds like you gotta add on more then what the lights worth. You could do the sunrise sunest with LEDs only, but I'm not too sure on expenses either way. Just sounds like too much money to blow on something you have to keep adding on lighting and still not reaching a high kelvin.

[Ocean's Edge]

Originally Posted by twiggyb

Sounds like you gotta add on more then what the lights worth. You could do the sunrise sunest with LEDs only, but I'm not too sure on expenses either way. Just sounds like too much money to blow on something you have to keep adding on lighting and still not reaching a high kelvin.

This again is true... On the other hand.. at 30" a plasma bulb is offering close to 200 PAR... the beneficial spectrum for growth is in the 6000-7000K range, the main reason for the higher K ratings in the hobby is because of "ease of viewing" I believe... I could be wrong... thoughts -- ideas... ??? :-)

[blasterman789]

Spectral Plots > PAR readings.

the beneficial spectrum for growth is in the 6000-7000K range

If that were true you'd be seeing a lot more daylight T5's on reef tanks. :-)


Corals want massive amounts of energy in the ~440-460nm range. Current Plasma lamps work by emitting an extremely broad energy band that populates pretty much the entire PAR range similiar to daylight, so they can't miss. By 'salting' the plasma jacket with various metals you'll see more specialized higher CCT plasmas start to hit the market for reefing. When this happens I'm predicting you'll see plasma rapidly displace halides because the technology is far more mature than people realize. LED is simply sucking up a lot of investment dollars right now due to mostly hype in the lighting industry, and that's really sad. At least in terms of general lighting you'd need to be pretty visually impaired to prefer a 65-70CRI cool-white source to a +90CRI plasma.

I would be less concerned about PAR readings with plasma than actually liking the look it provides. A high CRI, broadband light source is something entirely different than our spikey halides and LEDs, and most people I know who went plasma did so because of the aethestic. Also, plasma doesn't dim well.

[Roland Jacques]

Originally Posted by blasterman789

Spectral Plots > PAR readings.



If that were true you'd be seeing a lot more daylight T5's on reef tanks. :-)


Corals want massive amounts of energy in the ~440-460nm range. Current Plasma lamps work by emitting an extremely broad energy band that populates pretty much the entire PAR range similiar to daylight, so they can't miss. By 'salting' the plasma jacket with various metals you'll see more specialized higher CCT plasmas start to hit the market for reefing. When this happens I'm predicting you'll see plasma rapidly displace halides because the technology is far more mature than people realize. LED is simply sucking up a lot of investment dollars right now due to mostly hype in the lighting industry, and that's really sad. At least in terms of general lighting you'd need to be pretty visually impaired to prefer a 65-70CRI cool-white source to a +90CRI plasma.

I would be less concerned about PAR readings with plasma than actually liking the look it provides. A high CRI, broadband light source is something entirely different than our spikey halides and LEDs, and most people I know who went plasma did so because of the aethestic. Also, plasma doesn't dim well.

Plasma lighting sounds very exciting i read 140 lumen's per watt is the norm:eek
Are there folks selling these for aquariums? or is there a good source for more info...?
1:
90 Plus CRI and 140 Lumens/watt Wow!!!

[Anemonebuff]

Go to Sray Light optical's site: http://straylightoptical.com/

The light at full power is at 5300K. Also it only produces 58 lumens/watt. The Monteray Bay Aquarium is using them on a display.

It is better than MH and gives LED a contender. It run cooler than MH and gives off more light per watt if run at full power, but once you dim it to the bluer range you loose PAR.

For me $1000 is too expensive for just one.

[Ocean's Edge]

Originally Posted by Anemonebuff

Go to Sray Light optical's site: http://straylightoptical.com/

The light at full power is at 5300K. Also it only produces 58 lumens/watt. The Monteray Bay Aquarium is using them on a display.

It is better than MH and gives LED a contender. It run cooler than MH and gives off more light per watt if run at full power, but once you dim it to the bluer range you loose PAR.

For me $1000 is too expensive for just one.

I have seen their site before -- and the basic reason i wanted to do a DIY is to see what the actual cost of building is -- i figure -- it cant be any more then a $2700 fixture from acan....

[theatrus]

Originally Posted by Roland Jacques

Plasma lighting sounds very exciting i read 140 lumen's per watt is the norm:eek
Are there folks selling these for aquariums? or is there a good source for more info...?
1:
90 Plus CRI and 140 Lumens/watt Wow!!!

Note that the 140 lumens/watt is generally specced from RF energy to light. They don't count the magnetron or solid state RF power amp into it, which drops that number significantly. LEDs are rated in a similar fashion (power after conversion) but the losses aren't nearly as high.

[Anemonebuff]

Originally Posted by Ocean's Edge

I have seen their site before -- and the basic reason i wanted to do a DIY is to see what the actual cost of building is -- i figure -- it cant be any more then a $2700 fixture from acan....

The $2700 Acan or AI also includes controllers. Add the controlling device for the LIFI Plasma and you will trump it without a problem.