Want more Blue and Purple color from lights

sabbath · 01/23/2012, 08:20 PM

I have a 4' x 2' 120g. I'm looking to see if Im able to add more Blue and Purples to my lighting.

My lighting has
2 x 250w DE Phoenix with Ice Cap electronic ballasts
1 Blue plus T5 lamp &
1 Purple plus with Ice Cap 430 ballast
1 4' 24 Blue Led Reef Brite light

I like the greens and reds but what could or should i do to make colors pop more.
I can add more leds but out of room for t5s.

Thanks

Sent from mobile

kotu100 · 01/23/2012, 08:58 PM

Maybe try a Ecoxotic stunner LED strip, you can get a blue and uv mix.

Mark Bianco · 01/23/2012, 09:30 PM

What kelvin or color are you metal halides bulbs? The higher kelvin the more bluer You could always go to 20 kelvin bulbs. That might give you what you are looking for. Other then that you could always make a 36" long diy led strip with 12 to 14 led's of cyan (aqua marine green) and warm whites (A slight touch of red) Blue and red make purple. I also like the dimmable version that way you can adjust the intesisty or the added color bar / accent lighting.

Mark

sabbath · 01/24/2012, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Bianco

What kelvin or color are you metal halides bulbs? The higher kelvin the more bluer You could always go to 20 kelvin bulbs. That might give you what you are looking for. Other then that you could always make a 36" long diy led strip with 12 to 14 led's of cyan (aqua marine green) and warm whites (A slight touch of red) Blue and red make purple. I also like the dimmable version that way you can adjust the intesisty or the added color bar / accent lighting.

Mark

My Metal Halides are 14k.

Do you know of a good 20k 250w de mh?

Sent from mobile

Mark Bianco · 01/24/2012, 06:08 AM

" Do you know of a good 20k 250w de mh? "

Hmm without starting a war here. LOL I had a current fixture and always used current bulbs. Most people will say that Radiums are the best, but there is something about radiums burning out quickly if you use a certin type of ballast. Not sure what that is. Just search radiums.

sabbath · 01/24/2012, 08:14 AM

Thinking about this... I would like to diy and could fit in a 24 led strip.
What would you guys think would give me the most improvement in colors to what I have? Maybe a few colors?

aandfsoccr04 · 01/24/2012, 09:38 AM

I see the ecoxotic stunner strips recommended often. You might want to try one or two of those and see what you think.

Mark Bianco · 01/24/2012, 04:25 PM

With what you have so far, and you stating you want more blue then think about 8 neutral whites, 8 royal blues, and 8 cyan I reall like the cyan it adds aqua marine green to the mix. I will also make the suggestion seperate dimable drivers for all three colors. That way you can control the intenist and color you want. A little more expensive but there is something to said for dialing in the color you want..

Just an old mans opinion. LOL

Mark

sabbath · 01/24/2012, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aandfsoccr04

I see the ecoxotic stunner strips recommended often. You might want to try one or two of those and see what you think.

Hmmm, Are they bright enough?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Bianco

With what you have so far, and you stating you want more blue then think about 8 neutral whites, 8 royal blues, and 8 cyan I reall like the cyan it adds aqua marine green to the mix. I will also make the suggestion seperate dimable drivers for all three colors. That way you can control the intenist and color you want. A little more expensive but there is something to said for dialing in the color you want..

Just an old mans opinion. LOL

Mark

Interesting idea.

Help me out. Am I not seeing this right?
It is appearing to me that the blue bulbs give me everything but blue. It makes my reds and greens really pop. But the blues don't stand out any more then before I turn it on.
What do I go by to know what colors I need to add?

Thanks

Sent from mobile

davocean · 01/24/2012, 07:09 PM

The stunners most likely will not cut through the lights you have already enough to notice any real difference.
Something stronger like the truelumen pro's or panorama pro modules may add what you want, but you might be able to get that just using a different brand of MH than what you have right now.

Mark Bianco · 01/24/2012, 07:35 PM

" Help me out. Am I not seeing this right?"

Think about it this way if you would shine a old fashion Black Light its a 70's thing but anyways it is strong blue light. It will make oranges greens and yellow pop. Now shine that same light on a blue surface. What do you see? hardly nothing at all. So if you want your blue color in your corals to pop you need to accent them with a different color. At least that is the best sumarry I can come up with. And once again its just my opinoin. I could be totaly wrong.
Mark

karsseboom · 01/24/2012, 09:14 PM

Get some VHO bulbs and they will cut through your lighting with ease. Also radiums are the best mg bulb and last for a full year when YOU RUN THEN ON THE PROPER BALLAST.

sabbath · 01/25/2012, 10:48 AM

Ok looking at the MH bulb change option.

What is a great mh bulb with the most violet (400-420) and blues. Not too worried about par. That will run on my 250w DE Ice Cap ballast. The radiums don't appear to be DE

. I only have room for the spider reflector.

Do you know any links of reviews and color graphs.. I thought Sanjay had one but I don't see it anymore.
Thanks

Sent from mobile

01/23/2012, 08:20 PM	#1
sabbath Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Twin City's Mn. Posts: 1,771	Want more Blue and Purple color from lights I have a 4' x 2' 120g. I'm looking to see if Im able to add more Blue and Purples to my lighting. My lighting has 2 x 250w DE Phoenix with Ice Cap electronic ballasts 1 Blue plus T5 lamp & 1 Purple plus with Ice Cap 430 ballast 1 4' 24 Blue Led Reef Brite light I like the greens and reds but what could or should i do to make colors pop more. I can add more leds but out of room for t5s. Thanks Sent from mobile

01/24/2012, 09:38 AM	#7
aandfsoccr04 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 3,561	I see the ecoxotic stunner strips recommended often. You might want to try one or two of those and see what you think. __________________ 120 gallon mixed reef

01/24/2012, 07:09 PM	#10
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	The stunners most likely will not cut through the lights you have already enough to notice any real difference. Something stronger like the truelumen pro's or panorama pro modules may add what you want, but you might be able to get that just using a different brand of MH than what you have right now. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

01/25/2012, 10:48 AM	#13
sabbath Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Twin City's Mn. Posts: 1,771	Ok looking at the MH bulb change option. What is a great mh bulb with the most violet (400-420) and blues. Not too worried about par. That will run on my 250w DE Ice Cap ballast. The radiums don't appear to be DE . I only have room for the spider reflector. Do you know any links of reviews and color graphs.. I thought Sanjay had one but I don't see it anymore. Thanks Sent from mobile Last edited by sabbath; 01/25/2012 at 11:39 AM.

01/23/2012, 08:58 PM	#2
kotu100 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: easton, ma Posts: 75	Maybe try a Ecoxotic stunner LED strip, you can get a blue and uv mix.

01/23/2012, 09:30 PM	#3
Mark Bianco In Memoriam Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Infinity and Beyond Posts: 2,445	What kelvin or color are you metal halides bulbs? The higher kelvin the more bluer You could always go to 20 kelvin bulbs. That might give you what you are looking for. Other then that you could always make a 36" long diy led strip with 12 to 14 led's of cyan (aqua marine green) and warm whites (A slight touch of red) Blue and red make purple. I also like the dimmable version that way you can adjust the intesisty or the added color bar / accent lighting. Mark

01/24/2012, 06:08 AM	#5
Mark Bianco In Memoriam Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Infinity and Beyond Posts: 2,445	" Do you know of a good 20k 250w de mh? " Hmm without starting a war here. LOL I had a current fixture and always used current bulbs. Most people will say that Radiums are the best, but there is something about radiums burning out quickly if you use a certin type of ballast. Not sure what that is. Just search radiums.

01/24/2012, 08:14 AM	#6
sabbath Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Twin City's Mn. Posts: 1,771	Thinking about this... I would like to diy and could fit in a 24 led strip. What would you guys think would give me the most improvement in colors to what I have? Maybe a few colors?

01/24/2012, 04:25 PM	#8
Mark Bianco In Memoriam Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Infinity and Beyond Posts: 2,445	With what you have so far, and you stating you want more blue then think about 8 neutral whites, 8 royal blues, and 8 cyan I reall like the cyan it adds aqua marine green to the mix. I will also make the suggestion seperate dimable drivers for all three colors. That way you can control the intenist and color you want. A little more expensive but there is something to said for dialing in the color you want.. Just an old mans opinion. LOL Mark

01/24/2012, 07:35 PM	#11
Mark Bianco In Memoriam Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Infinity and Beyond Posts: 2,445	" Help me out. Am I not seeing this right?" Think about it this way if you would shine a old fashion Black Light its a 70's thing but anyways it is strong blue light. It will make oranges greens and yellow pop. Now shine that same light on a blue surface. What do you see? hardly nothing at all. So if you want your blue color in your corals to pop you need to accent them with a different color. At least that is the best sumarry I can come up with. And once again its just my opinoin. I could be totaly wrong. Mark

01/24/2012, 09:14 PM	#12
karsseboom Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 2,183	Get some VHO bulbs and they will cut through your lighting with ease. Also radiums are the best mg bulb and last for a full year when YOU RUN THEN ON THE PROPER BALLAST.