Lighting help

ktaylor660 · Nov 18, 2012

We have Ecoray 60D's on our 65g and Ecoray 112D's on our 120g. We love the lights, but think that we need some supplementation to make the colors pop a little more. When just the blue lights are on, almost every color except greens look washed out. Even a green with pink tipped frogspawn looks colorless under them. Would adding some purple or red LEDs help? When we had T5's we used white and royal blue bulbs and had all colors popping. We hadn't really noticed it until last night, when we put a purple with red polyp monti and some of the Evil Mel blue zoos in the tank and the only thing that popped was the green skirts of the Evil Mel's. All ideas are welcome.

revsgirl · Nov 19, 2012

:bump2:

nickjr000 · Nov 19, 2012

I heard adding the stunner strips work well for supplementing. Purple lighting brings out the red colors more for sure

ktaylor660 · Nov 20, 2012

ok, so I have done alot of reading and searching. I found this supplementary setup that I think would be good for me. It will run around $200 for 2 with heat sinks shipped, which would give me 20 LEDs. My question is...do I go all 420nm Violet Actinic, 5/5 420nm and UV, or 8 420nm and 2 UV? Let me know you thoughts.

420nm violet UV supplement 10 LEDs Dimmable DIY LED kit

I have read alot of good reviews on these kits and as a supplement I don't think it's a bad investment, just to see my colors pop.

Dapple · Nov 21, 2012

Not to be a stick n the mudd . But I invested $900 in leds on my tank and everything grows but a lot of it is brown . You can't beat a metal halide and that's why I'm switching

k2parkstar · Nov 21, 2012

Dapple said:
Not to be a stick n the mudd . But I invested $900 in leds on my tank and everything grows but a lot of it is brown . You can't beat a metal halide and that's why I'm switching

He's only referring to supplemental lighting. I use stunner strips for supplemental blue. I'd go all actinic

Engloid · Nov 23, 2012

Dapple said:
Not to be a stick n the mudd . But I invested $900 in leds on my tank and everything grows but a lot of it is brown . You can't beat a metal halide and that's why I'm switching

That's part of what worries me about LED's. You really don't know what you're going to get until you buy them and put them on your tank. At the frag swap, some of the guys had some nice LED's, but you still don't know how they will look on your tank. I also have wondered if they may grow corals under halides, then use LED's at the swaps so they can change the color and bring out the best color for the sale.

Have you seen the Kessel LED's that the Aquarium bought? Two HUGE led's are all that's on a 180g tank. Intensity and color are adjustable. Two things I don't like are: 1) Having all light come from just two small sources (compared to a 4" long halide) makes the shimmering effect very exaggerated looking, almost too busy, like a strobing. 2) Cost...at about $375 each.

I need to find a place I can get a good price on 20k 250watt DE bulbs. I was able to find a place that sold two 14k's for about $30, but they don't do 250w in 20k. I'm just not digging these 14k's. Any suggestions?

billyhalloween · Nov 23, 2012

Have you checked 1000bulbs.com or hellolights.com? I have had some great success with hellolights, but you will probably pay a little more than $30 a bulb. I have also bought on ebay, but the cheapies are usually extremely bright and looked washed and dull. You can't go wrong with some 20k ushio bulbs, but they are rather expensive. Name brand is always going to give you some great quality. Just my 2 cents.

Rob.D · Nov 23, 2012

I have used Ushio and hated them, for me there is no bulb better than HexArc Phoenix.

OurReef · Nov 23, 2012

Lawmanrob said:
I have used Ushio and hated them, for me there is no bulb better than HexArc Phoenix.

That's funny, ushio is all I will run on my tanks. 2x20k 250w DE for qt tank and 3 x20k 400 on my DT. I like the fact that the 20k isn't as blue as other 20k bulbs.

Too each their own though.

billyhalloween · Nov 23, 2012

I am definately a fan of the phoenix bulbs. I never felt like they were blue enough over my tank. The ushios were a little bluer. It is all about the ballast and bulb combo I think.

I am currently running 2 TaoTronic LED panels. The leds have done pretty well on my mixed 55. Can't complain for 300 bucks.

SLUF681 · Nov 23, 2012

+1 on 1000bulbs

ktaylor660 · Nov 24, 2012

I also found some violet and other color LEDS on ledgroupbuy.com I think I'm gonna look at doing some 420nm Violets, some greens, some reds, and some turquoise.