Designing a system of mesocosms to study the effects of water quality and temperature on coral reef health necessitates much more planning than at first glance. However, graduate student Allie Shatters has been making steady forward progress. The twenty, 40 gallon mesocosms that will be used in this experiment will attempt to simulate certain parameters at the St. Lucie Reef in Stuart, FL. LED lights will be used to light the tanks as they are extremely energy efficient while still providing the light spectra and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) levels necessary for the coral fragments that will be housed in the mesocosms. A series of LED light fixtures were tested and compared taking into account light quality, quantity, and spread. Based on the findings from this comparison, a final decision has been made to use the HydroGrow Sol™ LED lights for the system. This light showed the most consistent readings across the entire 40 gallon tank.
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