What color leds are used now ?

Chipie · 12/25/2015, 11:16 AM

I've been out of the hobby for a few years and want to come back. I still have my setup and i have some diy led fixtures. They look really good with plexiglass . I have a few burned leds. I'm wondering what's the best combiation of colors to use now. I'm pretty sure reefers like youwho have experienced leds the last few years and have learned what works best.
So any help choosing the new leds would help.

Thanks and Merry Christmas to all.

powderblue1 · 12/25/2015, 02:50 PM

Hello Chip,
I use 12000k daylight and 460nm blue in my tank. I think most of those rainbow looking fixtures are more for show than actual functionality. Keeping a reef well lit with leds is a bit easier now with the higher PAR options, but the observed color is overrated. Those Christmas light looking fixtures are usually not as good as quality 12k / actinic (50/50) LED strips from companies such as truelumen. These are what I would recommend for a properly lit reef.
Merry Christmas!

dartier · 12/25/2015, 05:01 PM

Chip, if you have been out of the hobby for awhile, than you have some reading to do!

LEDs have come along way in the last few years. Most of the name brand manufacturers have moved to full spectrum lights. The main purpose is for aesthetics (cause uniform blue light does not make for realistic colours). The growth and / or health benefits of full spectrum lights are still being debated.

The "Christmas Lights" that powderblue1 was dismissing are probably referring to the Chinese black box LEDs that are common today. Depending on the coral that you are wanting to grow, they work fine as well. In fact they are so affordable that you can buy *a lot* of them and run them at low power (with the lenses removed) to counteract the shadowing that LEDs struggle with.

The most recent changes in LEDs have been around the inclusion of 400-430nm range LEDs in the fixtures. Older generations tend not to have those.

The other thing that is becoming apparent is that the LED manufacturers all seem to under estimate the number of LED units you require to get adequate coverage. Probably has something to do with the "kings ransom" most manufacturers want for their latest generation of LEDs.

Best thing you can do is read all the LED threads that you can.

Dennis

12/25/2015, 11:16 AM	#1
Chipie Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Shippagan,New-Brunswick, Canada Posts: 1,116	What color leds are used now ? I've been out of the hobby for a few years and want to come back. I still have my setup and i have some diy led fixtures. They look really good with plexiglass . I have a few burned leds. I'm wondering what's the best combiation of colors to use now. I'm pretty sure reefers like youwho have experienced leds the last few years and have learned what works best. So any help choosing the new leds would help. Thanks and Merry Christmas to all. __________________ Lobster fisherwoman. Current Tank Info: 90g rimless reef

12/25/2015, 05:01 PM	#3
dartier Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Brampton, ON, Canada Posts: 958	Chip, if you have been out of the hobby for awhile, than you have some reading to do! LEDs have come along way in the last few years. Most of the name brand manufacturers have moved to full spectrum lights. The main purpose is for aesthetics (cause uniform blue light does not make for realistic colours). The growth and / or health benefits of full spectrum lights are still being debated. The "Christmas Lights" that powderblue1 was dismissing are probably referring to the Chinese black box LEDs that are common today. Depending on the coral that you are wanting to grow, they work fine as well. In fact they are so affordable that you can buy a lot of them and run them at low power (with the lenses removed) to counteract the shadowing that LEDs struggle with. The most recent changes in LEDs have been around the inclusion of 400-430nm range LEDs in the fixtures. Older generations tend not to have those. The other thing that is becoming apparent is that the LED manufacturers all seem to under estimate the number of LED units you require to get adequate coverage. Probably has something to do with the "kings ransom" most manufacturers want for their latest generation of LEDs. Best thing you can do is read all the LED threads that you can. Dennis __________________ 560G Miracles tank in process making a DIY DyMiCo style filter (for 560G) Current Tank Info: 560G Miracles tank in progress, 80Frag Temporary

12/25/2015, 02:50 PM	#2
powderblue1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 83	Hello Chip, I use 12000k daylight and 460nm blue in my tank. I think most of those rainbow looking fixtures are more for show than actual functionality. Keeping a reef well lit with leds is a bit easier now with the higher PAR options, but the observed color is overrated. Those Christmas light looking fixtures are usually not as good as quality 12k / actinic (50/50) LED strips from companies such as truelumen. These are what I would recommend for a properly lit reef. Merry Christmas!