DIY LED fixture color combination

[C-Reefer]

Hello! I have a DIY light fixture that came with my JBJ nanocube. It has a white string and a blue string. The white string has 1 white and 1 royal blue LED out. The blue string has 2 Royal Blue out. I would like the fixture to be more blue, constantly. I love the royal blues and overblued tanks but a tank thta you can take pictures of and actually see into.

I was thinking of this combo. Replace 2 of the LED's that are out with Royal Blue, 1 LED that is out in the center with lime, to cut the purple and brighten it, as the white and royal blue will make it hard to take pictures, and then another blue led. It already has one but from what I;ve read blue helps bring out reds and yellows. Is this the best combo? I can add more LED's. What is the best color combo? Is UVA at 390-400 nm make a difference?

Here is the light. The two colored in LEDs are the 2 bulbs in the blue string that still work. Its a blue and a Royal Blue. The other four are open, and I can put more in if I need to.

@Dana Riddle

 

[Dana Riddle]

Personally, I'd add two aqua LEDs (505-515nm.) If I'm seeing the picture correctly, that would be 5 whites, 9 blues, and two aquas.

 

[Dana Riddle]

I should have mentioned - there is no best lighting for coloration (and I assume you mean what spectrum induces coral coloration.) I'm researching this subject now, and fluorescent proteins (many of which can shift in color) can be manipulated by spectrum.

 

[C-Reefer]

I was looking at it today and it appears that the one blue already quite overpowers a lot. I think I may replace it with the cyan/aqua/turqoise whatever its called as I've read it brings out colors others won't and it will take out the purple. What's your thoughts on Red? I've heard its good for coral growth but can throw color off.

I think I may just simplify it, replace the current blue LED with an aqua, put another aqua on the other side, and then fill the rest in with Royal Blue. I'll probably even replace two of the whites with Royal Blue. I have a friend who uses a black box and it completely blues his tank out and I love it. Will that work just fine?

Does UVA (390-400nm) or UV Violet (400-410 nm) do anything?

 

[Dana Riddle]

I was looking at it today and it appears that the one blue already quite overpowers a lot. I think I may replace it with the cyan/aqua/turqoise whatever its called as I've read it brings out colors others won't and it will take out the purple. What's your thoughts on Red? I've heard its good for coral growth but can throw color off.

I think I may just simplify it, replace the current blue LED with an aqua, put another aqua on the other side, and then fill the rest in with Royal Blue. I'll probably even replace two of the whites with Royal Blue. I have a friend who uses a black box and it completely blues his tank out and I love it. Will that work just fine?

Does UVA (390-400nm) or UV Violet (400-410 nm) do anything?

Some red is OK and I wouldn't anticipate any problems if you want to add a red one. Either of the UV/violet LEDs are OK spectrum-wise but be aware they will, over time, degrade many plastics, causing them to 'fog.' In addition, UV will cause *some* yellow corals to turn red. Long story.

 

[C-Reefer]

I think I'll end up with just replacing the blue with cyan, adding another cyan on the other side, and replacing all the rest of the dead bulbs with Royal Blue. I'll also replace one white LED's with Royal Blue. The site I'm buying the rest of the LEDs from don't carry soldered cyan LEDs, only solderless. So I'm buying from another place the cyan. The nm is 505. Will that work?

So, the cover box is acrylic and I don't want it breaking. I think I'll skip the UV.

Another question. Right now they have no optics. Can create some hotspots. Would it help to get some optics that spread it to help mix it a bit?

 

[oreo54]

Optics usually work the other way.. More hot spots not less.
Normal lens already attached to the LED is around 120 degrees..

Diffusion plates and raising the light are the 2 most common hot spot eradicators.. Both cost you "PAR"

 

[C-Reefer]

Optics usually work the other way.. More hot spots not less.
Normal lens already attached to the LED is around 120 degrees..

Diffusion plates and raising the light are the 2 most common hot spot eradicators.. Both cost you "PAR"

ohhh see. Optics focusthe light.

I think I will be changing this light up quite a bit. I'll be adding a dimmer to the white string, taking the whole heat sink, wires and lights out and putting into a black box style think so I can ditch the hood as it looks dated and is a PITA to get into the back, also I can raise it to get good light diffusion.

I think this is the best lighting combo I've come up with. Thoughts? Green/blue is aqua, blue is Royal Blue, and then a red. Will this be a good combo for picture taking as well as coral growth and color?