Led bulb choices need input.

[zeddy55]

Hi,

I'm ordering a custom LED fixture from China for my 30 gallon mixed reef tank. I need a light to have the full spectrum needed for good coral growth and over all look of the light. I've been looking out there for info on the best combination and most of it is outdated (or I'm looking on the wrong spots). I'm in need of a little advice on my combination and what's the newest on led bulbs for the best coral growth and look.

Here's what I got so far.

Channel1: 12 Royal blue 455nm+10 blue 430-440nm+2 blue violet 420nm+2UV400nm+1 red 660nm
Channel2: 8white 6500k+10 white 10000k+6white 3000k+2 red 660nm+2 green 525nm

Tell me what you think and how I can improve it. Should I be going with higher then 10000k on the top end of the spectrum or do I have enough of my bases covered? Also is the blue range 430nm-440nm needed for better visable color or is all royal blue 455nm enough.I found that just royal blue LEDs at night time don't show any of the reds or oranges in the corals, that's why I added a red in the blue channel to bring that back. I'm trying to cover all my bases. Also I have a cyan 495nm bulb available, haven't heard much about it but would it add to the spectrum needed?

Thanks,
Matt

[Seth81]

I would say ditch the red, and add more TV and UV

[WarDog]

If it were me I would;
lose the 3000k,
double (even tripple) the UV,
and only have 1 red per 18" of tank.

[nrosdal]

I have tried many different combinations and this is what i have ended up with that keeps most people happy.

Channel 1 is as follows: 11 7500K cool whites, 4 4500k neutral whites, 2 520nm green, 4 480nm blue, 4 420nm violet, and 2 660nm deep reds.

Channel 2 is: 28 450nm royal blues


i do warn that any more then 2 reds in a unit this size makes for a pinky look that is not all that attractive.

[Seth81]

Honestly everything I have read says stay away from red, if you have neutral whites, then you should have enough of the red spectrum covered.

I do agree that UV is not utilized nearly enough.

I am upgrading my DIY LED build right now, and I'm adding more UV and TV LED's.

I have tried many different combinations and this is what i have ended up with that keeps most people happy.

Channel 1 is as follows: 11 7500K cool whites, 4 4500k neutral whites, 2 520nm green, 4 480nm blue, 4 420nm violet, and 2 660nm deep reds.

Channel 2 is: 28 450nm royal blues


i do warn that any more then 2 reds in a unit this size makes for a pinky look that is not all that attractive.

[zeddy55]

So this is what im thinking after your input.

Channel 1 is: 11 7500K cool whites, 4 4500k neutral whites, 2 520nm green, 4 480nm blue, 4 420nm violet.

Channel 2 is: 26 450nm royal blues, 2 660nm deep reds, 2 400nm UV.

I really want to have red on the second channel to bring out the reds and oranges when channel one is off. Do you think I need just one red and another uv or violet on that channel, Will just one red look like a spot light? I am planning on getting 90 degree lenses.

[nrosdal]

The idea of having the UV with the blue might be nice for night viewing and give a bit of extra pop. I can't say that i think the red in there will be a good look with just blues on(but ya never know).


With the above layout it looks very similar to a unit that we sell like crazy. So your color should be just fine and if you end up getting the reds on the wrong channel, it is pretty easy to switch LEDs around(depending on what brand you are getting).

Good luck

[zeddy55]

So this is what I'm thinking for the final combination.

Channel 1 is: 12 7500K cool whites, 4 4500k neutral whites, 2 520nm green, 4 480nm blue, 4 420nm violet.

Channel 2 is: 22 450nm royal blues, 4 430-440nm deep blues, 1 660nm deep reds, 2 400nm UV.

Here is the layout I'm thinking.

[zeddy55]

Updated picture.

[zeddy55]

Messed up last post. It didn't attach the picture.

[Seth81]

If it were me I would not have the 480 nm Blues and greens on the same channel as your whites. You are going to want independent control of them.

Also I would go with 4 UV's instead of 2. All of the reading I have done also suggests that UV has a huge role in SPS coloration. I am going to be doubling the UV LED's in my existing build.

[zeddy55]

What would you channels and combination look like if it was yours?

[Seth81]

Channel 1: Whites: 12 7500K cool whites, 4x4500k neutral whites,
Channel 2: Actinic: 22 x 450nm royal blues, 2 x 430-440nm deep blues, 4 x 420nm violet, 2 x 4 400nm UV.
Channel 3: Accent: 2 x 520nm green, 4 x 480nm blue, 1 x 660nm deep reds (if you insist on having these)

Also What currents are you running these on? I have independent control of my neutral and cool whites, when I shift the light to the warmer side of the spectrum (like what your red LED will do) it honestly makes the tank look like garbage.

[WarDog]

+1

[zeddy55]

The previous company didn't have enough channels so I have found another distributor with up to 4 channels. This fixture has 36 spots which equals out to 108 watts. I've changed up the combination and channels, tell me what you think?


Channel 1 Whites: 4 4500k warm white, 8 7500k neutral white
Channel 2 Atinics: 8 450nm royal blue, 2 430-440nm deep blue, 4 420nm violet, 4 400nm uv
Channel 3 green accents: 2 520 green
Channel 4 blue accents: 4 480nm blue

Channels 3 and 4 are still up in the air not sure the right combo here. I would like to skip the red like you were mentioning. I can adjust the 4 480nm channel to get the orange and reds to pop when just the atinics are on. I was wondering if the UV and violet already get those colors to pop (I haven't played with these spectrums yet?

Thanks,
Matt

[Seth81]

If you can have 4 channels I would suggest slipting your NW and CW so that you have independent control. Also whatbis thr dimensions of your tank.

I dont have any experience with green or plan blue. But the true violet and uv really make the greens pop.

[Seth81]

I posted a pic on my diy thread showing what uv does.UV helps to bring out that iridescent glow in sps. Also UV helps with coral coloration. The effect is not super noticable with the whites on. At night my RB TVs and UVs start off at 100% then slowly the RBs fade leaving the TVs and UVs sty at 100% the tank turns purple and the very subtle iridescent colors stand out. Its so cool to see.:biggrin:

[Seth81]

I posted a pic on my diy thread showing what uv does.UV helps to bring out that iridescent glow in sps. Also UV helps with coral coloration. The effect is not super noticable with the whites on. At night my RB TVs and UVs start off at 100% then slowly the RBs fade leaving the TVs and UVs sty at 100% the tank turns purple and the very subtle iridescent colors stand out. Its so cool to see.:biggrin:

[zeddy55]

My tank is 30 gallons the diamensions are 32"x18"x20".

So is this the scheme your thinking of?

Channel 1 Whites: 4 4500k
Channel 2 Cool whites: 8 7500k
Channel 3 Atinics: 8 450nm royal blue, 2 430-440nm deep blue, 4 420nm violet, 4 400nm uv
Channel 4 blue accents: 4 480nm blue 2 520 green

Or this one is a little different but might allow for more adjustment.

Channel 1 Whites: 4 4500k, 2 520 green
Channel 2 Cool whites: 8 7500k,
Channel 3 Atinics: 8 450nm royal blue, 2 430-440nm deep blue, 4 480nm blue
Channel 4 UV/violet: 4 420nm violet, 4 400nm uv

[zeddy55]

Just wondering if you guys have looked into the Ocean Coral White ratio?

[Seth81]

I like the first scheme, but I have a tiny concern that you will only be able to achieve a bright MH type intensity and color, I think you'll have a very cooler (K) type of a look at a good intensity though, but maybe thats what your trying to acheive. I also don't know any detials of your leds. So it's hard to say.

I did just google Ocean Coral White leds, which is a 3 led pcb, but gives no detials on the type of led's they use. just that they are 500ma and the PCB takes 8.6 volts, which tells me that they are probably cheaper LED's.

I guess I should say I am a bit of a Cree snob, they publish every technical detial about there led's. Before I had made my LED arrays I had calculated the total luman output.


My tank is 30 gallons the diamensions are 32"x18"x20".

So is this the scheme your thinking of?

Channel 1 Whites: 4 4500k
Channel 2 Cool whites: 8 7500k
Channel 3 Atinics: 8 450nm royal blue, 2 430-440nm deep blue, 4 420nm violet, 4 400nm uv
Channel 4 blue accents: 4 480nm blue 2 520 green

Or this one is a little different but might allow for more adjustment.

Channel 1 Whites: 4 4500k, 2 520 green
Channel 2 Cool whites: 8 7500k,
Channel 3 Atinics: 8 450nm royal blue, 2 430-440nm deep blue, 4 480nm blue
Channel 4 UV/violet: 4 420nm violet, 4 400nm uv

[daplatapus]

I've used the ocean coral white on all 3 of my heatsinks. It basically a red, green, blue. They do make a difference in a full spectrum build. I centered 1 surrounded by my NW, RB, TV, and CW. You can see my layout in my Jarduino build thread in the DIY section.

[zeddy55]

What do you suggest to fix scheme 1. It seems to be balanced but open to what ever will make it better(I'm a LED noob lol).