Recommended lighting for vertical tube reactors?

[alsetn]

I have been reviewing high output fluorescent lights, T5HO, as a controllable light source. Any other recommendations or spectrum preferences?
Thanks.

[rlantis]

Based upon your post, I'm assuming that your PBR is not intended to be solar-based.
So, while various algal species can be characterized by differing PUR as a function of wavelength, none-the-less you'll find that your quasi-broadband sources (such as you mentioned) are usually less efficient in terms of electrical costs. For optimum electrical and biomass yield efficiencies, one requires a consideration of the best photo-absorption band for your particular species of interest. Based upon this information, then choose the light source that can best deliver those (usually narrow) wavelengths. There are always a multitude of trade-offs that effect the bottom-line of any PSII biomass production process, and the selection of light source is arguably one of the more important.