Stronger lighting for algae cultures

Hardware, PWM, and Optics
1

Hi, :slight_smile:

We recently install LEDs on the holes of the incubators to test the growth of algae, and it turns out the light is too weak to support their photosynthesis. They grows much slower comparing to growing in regular incubators (~40-100 μmol m-2 s-1). I’m wondering if you guys have stronger lighting solutions of any suggestions on this!

Thank you in advance!

2

Hi @greenfavor, what LEDs / hardware were you using previously?

3

This was the LED we used:

amazon.com/dp/B01AUI4VSI?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

4

Those LEDs seem okay. You can maybe get slightly brighter 5mm LEDs, but not much more.

In the v1.5 Pioreactor models, we introduced a new position on the vial holder for a PCB that can contain brighter SMD LEDs. For example, you can use LEDs like these LED Boards – IO Rodeo

If you’re not using the v1.5 model, you can add more light be using the white LED on the adafruit spectrometer (Adafruit AS7341 10-Channel Light / Color Sensor Breakout [STEMMA QT / Qwiic] : ID 4698 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits), plus your 5mm LEDs. I’ve also seen some custom vial-holder designs that add more LED spots.

  • Also, you’re using ~100% LED intensity I’m guessing?
  • If you are also doing an OD reading, you’ll notice that the LEDs turn off whenever a snapshot is taken. If using the sampling rate of 5s, then this reduces your LEDs effectiveness by ~20%. You can change the sampling rate to lengthen the time between snapshots. See the config entry samples_per_second.