UV LEDs Worth it?

[baseballfanatic2]

Are UV LED's worth adding to an led fixture? I was thinking about adding 4 (400-410nm) and 4 (410-420nm) for a total of 8 UV. This addition will be about $70 if you include the driver I need to buy fr them. My question is, is it worth it?

 

[Kungpaoshizi]

Absolutely. You'll see colors much better. (I hate the term pop, but ya)
Also it will give you a better gauge on coral health as fluorescence is the best indicator imo.

Used to use stunner strips myself, couldn't imagine setting up a tank without dedicated ~405nm lights.

 

[Roboson]

I'm building my own LED array. I was gonna do 1/3 cool white, 1/3 blue, and 1/3 Uv. Would that be a weird look or bad for the corals?

 

[baseballfanatic2]

I'm building my own LED array. I was gonna do 1/3 cool white, 1/3 blue, and 1/3 Uv. Would that be a weird look or bad for the corals?

Here's what I am doing
Channel1: 15 royal blue
Channel2: 10 cool white and 4 lime
Channel3: 4 (400-410nm) and 4 (410-420nm)

 

[Roboson]

Why the lime?

 

[baseballfanatic2]

Why the lime?

Heard the lime makes the white much more crisp.

 

[twilliard]

Contact bill at @ReefLEDLights he is an awesome guy for diy

 

[Roboson]

I would love to see what that looks like. I have some ectoplasm mushrooms from my LFS that may look crazy good under lights like that.

 

[baseballfanatic2]

I would love to see what that looks like. I have some ectoplasm mushrooms from my LFS that may look crazy good under lights like that.

What heats ink are you using?

 

[Roboson]

They're e27 socket bulbs. So they have aluminum heat sink around them. They're made by bridgelux and 54w each.

 

[baseballfanatic2]

They're e27 socket bulbs. So they have aluminum heat sink around them. They're made by bridgelux and 54w each.

What did you end up going with

 

[Roboson]

I haven't yet. I've been focusing on building my stand and looking at more options.

 

[ZoaReefer]

Yes, that is a very, very good idea. I run 8x 400nm 3w leds retro fitted into a chinese black box with the other leds.

If you can get them on their own, that's best because they make a great moon light. Some corals and rock flower anemones will show you colors you've never seen before with just 400nm light on them.

 

[seaweed88]

Is there any information out there on the lime LEDs and there use?

 

[Marc.The.Shark]

Is there any information out there on the lime LEDs and there use?

I won't have a light without Lime LED's after adding them to my current array. Here's a link to some pics & Par #'s for Lime from NR - jedimasterben. They don't add any benefit to coral, but add hugely to the brightness controllability of the array. For the cost of a few diodes, it made a huge difference in my enjoyment of the tank, has a crisp halide look. Doesn't effect fluorescence of coral as RB or V do, just brightens everything up where the whites lack.

http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/346477-luxeon-rebel-es-lime-pics-and-par/

 

[baseballfanatic2]

I won't have a light without Lime LED's after adding them to my current array. Here's a link to some pics & Par #'s for Lime from NR - jedimasterben. They don't add any benefit to coral, but add hugely to the brightness controllability of the array. For the cost of a few diodes, it made a huge difference in my enjoyment of the tank, has a crisp halide look. Doesn't effect fluorescence of coral as RB or V do, just brightens everything up where the whites lack.

http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/346477-luxeon-rebel-es-lime-pics-and-par/

So would you suggest replacing half whites with limes?

 

[Marc.The.Shark]

So would you suggest replacing half whites with limes?

I'd personally go 60/40 white/lime, but my current is 50/50 & it's fine. The limes are bright! But I don't use cool whites either. I have NW, which gives me the small red wavelength that I need without needing red LED's. Ideally the lime is on its own channel & you can customize it to your liking. My current array has them with the white channel & it's still awesome, I'm just a tweaker & wish I could adjust seperately! Lol

 

[baseballfanatic2]

I'd personally go 60/40 white/lime, but my current is 50/50 & it's fine. The limes are bright! But I don't use cool whites either. I have NW, which gives me the small red wavelength that I need without needing red LED's. Ideally the lime is on its own channel & you can customize it to your liking. My current array has them with the white channel & it's still awesome, I'm just a tweaker & wish I could adjust seperately! Lol

Do you by any chance keep rainbow acans?

 

[Marc.The.Shark]

Do you by any chance keep rainbow acans?

No rainbow. I have a couple colonies of more red/white/some orange. It's on my livestock list for my tank upgrade tho, love the rainbow acans. I have a pretty colorful coral set tho, reds, greens, orange, white, yellow.




Sorry for the crappy cellphone pics, I'm no photographer! Lol

 

[baseballfanatic2]

No rainbow. I have a couple colonies of more red/white/some orange. It's on my livestock list for my tank upgrade tho, love the rainbow acans. I have a pretty colorful coral set tho, reds, greens, orange, white, yellow.




Sorry for the crappy cellphone pics, I'm no photographer! Lol

Grest pictures Marc. Quick question, which UV leds do you run?

I'm stuck between 2.

Solderless SemiLEDs True Violet UV LED (400-410nm)
And...
Solderless SemiLEDs Violet UV LED (410-420nm)

or a different one? or both?