Viparspectra and coral color

[Jonathan Troutt]

hey guys and gals, first let me start by saying I know that you really cannot compar a sub $200 led light to $700 light.

I have a viparspectra 165w while it is doing its job and I am seeing growth in my tank the color of corals could be better. I was a gentleman’s house this past weekend that had radions over his drag tank. The coloration of his corals and the rainbow bubble tip anemones he was selling was spectacular. And while the colors in my tank under my lighting are decent they do not pop or have the vibrancy that they had under his lights.

So my question here is what makes the higher $$ lights cause the differenc in vibrancy. I am assuming it’s about wavelength of the light being emitted. But what wavelength. I am considering modifying my box. I do feel like there is to much white but even with the whites off the colors are still not where I would like them to be.

I couldn’t find much information on my regarding my question, I’m sure it has been discussed before. Probably and issue with my search terms.

 

[peterj66]

I think the pop you are looking for comes from Royal Blue (450nm) and the violet ones around 400 and 420. Warm whites will cause the corals to look duller. That said, it is also important that the corals have stable waterparameters to look their best

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

Yes no issues with stable parameters and the color is there just not the glowing pop. I have noticed that the light I have had a lot more whites than most of the higher dollar fixtures. I might look at a way to swap some whites out for blues. Plus I am going to change the enitre blue channel over to royal blues as well.

 

[Bobothegreat]

Yes no issues with stable parameters and the color is there just not the glowing pop. I have noticed that the light I have had a lot more whites than most of the higher dollar fixtures. I might look at a way to swap some whites out for blues. Plus I am going to change the enitre blue channel over to royal blues as well.

Curious if you had any update to this I actually just got mine in today and was thinking the same about the white lights.

 

[Ron Reefman]

IMHO coral color has as much to do with water quality, water movement, feeding and nutrients in the water as it does with the lights. Yes, better lights and the right spectrum do make corals look better. But I don't think a $700+ led fixture necessarily is better than a $200 Viparspectra... depending on what you are looking for.

The 3 and 5 watt leds in most fixtures (high end and el-cheapo) are not all that different. They emit light and light that we can see only comes in 400nm to 700nm band. A $100 MarsAqua fixture 460nm led is not very different than a very expensive fixture's 460nm led. I've owned a wide variety of led fixtures over the last 8 years and 8 tanks (usually 4 tanks at one time). That includes basic Chinese Black Boxes from EverGrow and TaoTronics to EcoTech Radions. In terms of coral health, growth and coloration, I just didn't see much difference. But how a fixture can make corals look can be a big difference.

Where the differences come into play is features. Some features are just fun for us humans to play with, like sunrise/sunset ability which your corals couldn't care less about. And other features are also fun for us, but may also allow us to make our corals look better, like having more than two channels of color control, or the ability to populate your fixture with leds that make the color spectrum you want. The fact that my 6 channel color control led fixture (I use Reef Breeders Photon V2, but any 6 channel system will work) allows me to remove or increase spectrum the way I want can make a HUGE difference in how corals look. I have 5 basic looks that don't do sunrise/sunset and one custom set up that does. But then people come over to see my tank, the custom setting may be running at a level that is good for the coral, but not the greatest look to our eyes. Si I can flip to a different setting and make my corals look so different it almost looks like a different tank!

It isn't about the quality of the leds or the spectrum of the leds, it is about the control of the spectrum. Basic 2 channel led fixtures can grow very healthy and good looking coral, probably just as good as a 6 channel led fixture. But with the extra control of colors a 6 channel fixture can make corals look better. Especially if you are into corals that fluoresce! Under all white light the two different sets of coral would probably look very similar.

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

Curious if you had any update to this I actually just got mine in today and was thinking the same about the white lights.

Hey so what Ron Reefman has said is what I have discovered. So I changed out the white leds in my fixture for colder white leds. I thought the change was what was causing my issue. Well then I read about how low nitrates can cause some issues.

Then I remembered I was running my chaeto grow light 24/7. Tester my nitrates and they were zero. Not even the lightest of pink tinge from my salifert kit. So I began shutting my fuge light off for the most of the day only running it about 5 hours a day now at night. I have been able to get my nitrates up to about 5ppm and literally everything in my tank is a night and day difference. Colors are much better and have more pop. Corals are looking fuller and more plump. I recently put my first piece of acropora echinata in there and it is even looking fantastic! First time owning a sps.

 

[baldbrah]

i was wondering with the mods you made to your viparspectra, did it ultimately make your corals pop like the radions?

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

No unfortunately it did not. I’m now sure what is missing and without being able to measure wavelength I cannot compare and find out.

 

[baldbrah]

i'm trying to do the same thing but i don't think its possible. i honestly think it's just that radion uses Cree LEDS and thats what make them pop. I have a DIY cree led strip and they make corals pop more than the dull blues emitted by the viparspectra

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

Um the blues are far from dull. My fuge light I built is 7 royal blue and 8 red crew led. And if I turn the red off and shine that light into my tank I don’t notice a huge difference between the corals.

I honestly think there is a missing wavelength somewhere in the 380-420 nm range. I have some leds in order currently with leds in that range. I am going to see if it makes a difference. I will let you know.

Also I purchased some name brand royal blue leds that fit on that board. I do not see a difference but then again I need a wavelength sensor/meter to measure but they look the same to me.

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

Hey so a quick update I have received another viparspectra box brand new. And am comparing the the color difference between the one I have had and did all the diode swaps on and the new untouched unit. I will say that now seeing them side by side I feel I put to many cold white diodes in my original unit. I will swapping some out. My iPhone has a horrible time capturing color from led reef lights but I will try. All settings are the same. Blue 95 white 50.

The bubble coral is under the modified box the Duncan and rbta is under the factory box!