LEDs, which set is better

Silvergryphon · 04/10/2013, 10:10 AM

So I'm trying to compare two different LED fixtures that are set up differently to see which one is better, but when it comes down to it, I can't figure it out. Both use 3w Bridgelux LEDs. I'm not naming either fixture other than A or B so I don't get any brand hate going on.

Fixture A has 55 LEDS: 16x 12K White, 2x 6500K White, 2x 420nm Violet, 27x 450nm Royal Blue, 2x 480 Blue, 2x 520 Green, and 2x 660nm Red. 3

Fixture B has 55 LEDS: 13x 4500K neutral white, 4x 480nm Blue, 6x 420nm Violet, 30x 450nm Royal Blue, and 2x 660nm Red

Both have the same dimension.

Thoughts?

noles198355 · 04/10/2013, 10:29 AM

A looks to have more color spectrum

PrangeWay · 04/10/2013, 10:42 AM

I'd go for the one with the most violets, unless Fixture A can be customized to add more.

ontop27 · 04/10/2013, 10:45 AM

I'd go with b just cus i like to have my a higher blue to white ratio

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

Silvergryphon · 04/10/2013, 10:46 AM

Do the whites matter much between the two?

Dave Thebrewguy · 04/10/2013, 11:07 AM

B is an easy decision.
Whites over 5000K are very short on spectrum and look "odd" to many users, I'd avoid any fixture that uses these CW LEDs and absolutely avoid LEDs over 7500K under all circumstances.
Green LEDs are a waste, Green light not used in photosynthesis and more than enough green light is provided by all white LEDs. The 12000K LEDs put out nothing but blue and green light, that fixture does not need more green.
People are used to looking a color temperature numbers on MH and fluorescent lamps and seeing numbers like 14000K or 20000K, this is not the same as the numbers used for a combination of LEDs. MH and fluorescent fixtures don't usually have a giant actinic bulb and a suplimental 14000K white. LED fixtures have large quantities of RB emitters so you can even get a blue tank from 2800K warm white LEDs if you want. The warmer the white, the wider the spectrum, warm whites don't put out as much RB, but you have RB LEDs for that.
I'd consider "A" to be a worthless piece of junk, "B" is a lot better but could use more violet.

Silvergryphon · 04/10/2013, 09:22 PM

Ok, now that I've had some input on this, I'll reveal the fixtures!

Fixture A is an Evergrow D120 that a local store gets in and "custom tunes". $219.99
Fixture B is the Value Fixture (Evergrow again) from ReefBreeders. $179

Both look exactly the same, only thing that is different is the LEDs installed.

Ron Reefman · 04/11/2013, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Thebrewguy

Whites over 5000K are very short on spectrum and look "odd" to many users, I'd avoid any fixture that uses these CW LEDs and absolutely avoid LEDs over 7500K under all circumstances.

I'd consider "A" to be a worthless piece of junk, "B" is a lot better but could use more violet.

Questions:

1) White is the combination of all colors. And I understand 3500K vs 6500K vs 10K etc. But they are all more or less 'white'. So how do you say one has more or less spectrum than another? I thought they all run from UV to infra red, just some have a bit more yellow, or red or blue. And please explain how an led over 5K white looks 'odd'? It's white!

2) Why more violet? Corals don't need more if they are already getting enough shades of the blue spectrum (420nm-460nm). And most led suppliers have issues with 400nm and 410nm leds burning up. So why go for more?

To the OP: It's a tough choice without knowing which brand of led is being used. The same mix of white and blue in Cree leds will look different with Bridgelux or Epistar.

Silvergryphon · 04/11/2013, 07:46 AM

Both are Bridgelux from the same supplier.

PrangeWay · 04/11/2013, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Why more violet? Corals don't need more if they are already getting enough shades of the blue spectrum (420nm-460nm).

The problem is royal blues provide 0 400-420.

The UV range of light is what most research points at stimulating coral pigments the greatest. Not for photosynthesis, but pigments for blocking the uv, which ends up coloring the coral.

Silvergryphon · 04/11/2013, 10:38 AM

Do you think it'd be worth it to mod in some UV LEDs? I found some bridgelux at $8 a piece, but I think they were 395nm, I'll have to look again.

Timber77 · 04/11/2013, 02:59 PM

I have pretty much choice "a" on my frag tank...if the light is close to the surface of the water i really dont like the red/green in the mix, it makes a pinkish hue to the top couple inches of the water, when i raise it up 6 inches this disappears.

if picking again would pick choice b... because i like the blue look

04/10/2013, 10:10 AM	#1
Silvergryphon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Seattle, Wa Posts: 540	LEDs, which set is better So I'm trying to compare two different LED fixtures that are set up differently to see which one is better, but when it comes down to it, I can't figure it out. Both use 3w Bridgelux LEDs. I'm not naming either fixture other than A or B so I don't get any brand hate going on. Fixture A has 55 LEDS: 16x 12K White, 2x 6500K White, 2x 420nm Violet, 27x 450nm Royal Blue, 2x 480 Blue, 2x 520 Green, and 2x 660nm Red. 3 Fixture B has 55 LEDS: 13x 4500K neutral white, 4x 480nm Blue, 6x 420nm Violet, 30x 450nm Royal Blue, and 2x 660nm Red Both have the same dimension. Thoughts?

04/10/2013, 10:42 AM	#3
PrangeWay Duke of Monte Fisto Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 722	I'd go for the one with the most violets, unless Fixture A can be customized to add more. __________________ Dumbest Quotes Ever..... "Great color, great growth" closely followed by "all water parameters fine"

04/10/2013, 10:29 AM	#2
noles198355 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 20	A looks to have more color spectrum

04/10/2013, 10:45 AM	#4
ontop27 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 150	I'd go with b just cus i like to have my a higher blue to white ratio Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

04/10/2013, 10:46 AM	#5
Silvergryphon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Seattle, Wa Posts: 540	Do the whites matter much between the two?

04/10/2013, 11:07 AM	#6
Dave Thebrewguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: NJ Posts: 489	B is an easy decision. Whites over 5000K are very short on spectrum and look "odd" to many users, I'd avoid any fixture that uses these CW LEDs and absolutely avoid LEDs over 7500K under all circumstances. Green LEDs are a waste, Green light not used in photosynthesis and more than enough green light is provided by all white LEDs. The 12000K LEDs put out nothing but blue and green light, that fixture does not need more green. People are used to looking a color temperature numbers on MH and fluorescent lamps and seeing numbers like 14000K or 20000K, this is not the same as the numbers used for a combination of LEDs. MH and fluorescent fixtures don't usually have a giant actinic bulb and a suplimental 14000K white. LED fixtures have large quantities of RB emitters so you can even get a blue tank from 2800K warm white LEDs if you want. The warmer the white, the wider the spectrum, warm whites don't put out as much RB, but you have RB LEDs for that. I'd consider "A" to be a worthless piece of junk, "B" is a lot better but could use more violet.

04/10/2013, 09:22 PM	#7
Silvergryphon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Seattle, Wa Posts: 540	Ok, now that I've had some input on this, I'll reveal the fixtures! Fixture A is an Evergrow D120 that a local store gets in and "custom tunes". $219.99 Fixture B is the Value Fixture (Evergrow again) from ReefBreeders. $179 Both look exactly the same, only thing that is different is the LEDs installed.

04/11/2013, 07:46 AM	#9
Silvergryphon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Seattle, Wa Posts: 540	Both are Bridgelux from the same supplier.

04/11/2013, 10:38 AM	#11
Silvergryphon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Seattle, Wa Posts: 540	Do you think it'd be worth it to mod in some UV LEDs? I found some bridgelux at $8 a piece, but I think they were 395nm, I'll have to look again.

04/11/2013, 02:59 PM	#12
Timber77 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 754	I have pretty much choice "a" on my frag tank...if the light is close to the surface of the water i really dont like the red/green in the mix, it makes a pinkish hue to the top couple inches of the water, when i raise it up 6 inches this disappears. if picking again would pick choice b... because i like the blue look