What K lighting spectrum do you prefer?

[skinz78]

Over the years I've seen preferences in what kelvin lighting spectrum people tend to prefer and I'm thinking there has been a bit of a change lately in people's likings just based on viewing pic's here on R2R. So I thought it would be cool to see where everyone was at at this time with their own tanks.

Please cast your vote in the poll and then add any comments you may have.

 

[jedimasterben]

I like a crisp blue, around 14k, made up of 4000k LEDs and royal/cool blue supplementation.

 

[Pappy]

20k all the way baby!

 

[skinz78]

I like a crisp blue, around 14k, made up of 4000k LEDs and royal/cool blue supplementation.

I'm the same way, love my 14k, always have, always will!

 

[k2parkstar]

20k for my eyes

 

[Liquid360]

Here's my tank with a 250w halide at 20k...

and with my current LEDs... For comparison not a recommendation

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[Rob.D]

20k for me, IMO it shows corals off the best and still has a "natural" look.

 

[Zack]

20k for me, IMO it shows corals off the best and still has a "natural" look.

Yep, true that! Nothing colors up acros like a radium.

 

[Liquid360]

I dream of the day when an acro isn't judged by the color of it skin but by the strength of its character!!


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[redfishbluefish]

I go with 20K, but you should know I'm partially colorblind, so that could be why I like it this blue.

 

[Mason Dixon]

I have a diy led build on my tank, 4500k and RB leds mainly. I've never seen a 20k radium bulb....approx what ratio of white's to Royal blue leds equal 20k? 14k?

 

[reefjunky24]

i like 20k but that is because i like that look on a reef tank tho i can say that 14k def is up there

 

[Liquid360]

Everyone loves the 20k. It's almost like having a black light... makes everything fluoresce, but 14k is much more practical and everything will still pop.


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[cdness]

14K for me. If it is all so blue it just looks weird to me.

 

[Davesgt]

Im stuck between 14k and 20k. Ive seen so many tanks with these 2 setups and look amazing, plus i use both setups on different tanks and i love them.

 

[larangcon]

Love that blue look in my tank, 20K for me...

 

[jedimasterben]

I have a diy led build on my tank, 4500k and RB leds mainly. I've never seen a 20k radium bulb....approx what ratio of white's to Royal blue leds equal 20k? 14k?

Depends on what LEDs you have. If you're using name-brand chips, a 1:3 ratio is getting close to what I see as 20K, but if you're using knockoffs (Aquastyle and the like), you're on your own. Their whites and royals are so inconsistent in their output that it's the luck of the draw what color you get, as even their 4500K are still more like 6500K.

Everyone loves the 20k. It's almost like having a black light... makes everything fluoresce, but 14k is much more practical and everything will still pop.


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20K is not like having a black light. 20K, like a Radium, is a very crisp blue but is still a 'daylight' look, as in you are not slapped in the face with blue. You're thinking of vendors that all seem to only want to sell their product under blue LEDs only, which is only blue and very dark looking because of it. In addition, most cameras that do not have a good control over white balance cannot take pictures of LEDs that aren't completely oversaturated with blue.

 

[AZDesertRat]

I prefer the 14-15k range myself. When I was using 10k MH and super actinic supplementation I had crazy coral growth but it still did not look as good as the 14-15k MH without the actinics. I tune my AI Sol Blue LEDs so they approximate the photos i had of my previous MH set up and everything seems happy and I like the looks.

 

[Liquid360]

Here's my tank with a 250w Radium 20k
Vs my razor 16k both photos taken with same camera.. and for the record I can honestly say these photos are exactly what they looked like in reality
Halide 20k 250w

LED 16k 160w

Depends on what LEDs you have. If you're using name-brand chips, a 1:3 ratio is getting close to what I see as 20K, but if you're using knockoffs (Aquastyle and the like), you're on your own. Their whites and royals are so inconsistent in their output that it's the luck of the draw what color you get, as even their 4500K are still more like 6500K.


20K is not like having a black light. 20K, like a Radium, is a very crisp blue but is still a 'daylight' look, as in you are not slapped in the face with blue. You're thinking of vendors that all seem to only want to sell their product under blue LEDs only, which is only blue and very dark looking because of it. In addition, most cameras that do not have a good control over white balance cannot take pictures of LEDs that aren't completely oversaturated with blue.

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[Pappy]

Here's my tank with a 250w Radium 20k
Vs my razor 16k both photos taken with same camera.. and for the record I can honestly say these photos are exactly what they looked like in reality
Halide 20k 250w

LED 16k 160w

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Really?!