Which LED for Actinic supplement?

[DesertReefT4r]

I am lookimg to add some LED actinics to provide some pop and supplement to my MHs. Thinking either a LED bar or a couple of PAR38 bulbs. My tank is a 4ft 75g. What is the hive minds thoughts on this?

 

[landlubber]

I am lookimg to add some LED actinics to provide some pop and supplement to my MHs. Thinking either a LED bar or a couple of PAR38 bulbs. My tank is a 4ft 75g. What is the hive minds thoughts on this?

pretty much impossible to compare the cost or visual result of a PAR38 to it but I love my reefbrite 48" bar for supplemental lighting.

 

[Backreefing]

Here is something cheap and super brite and dimmable the atomic LEDs are @430
https://www.ebay.com/itm/12-24-36-4...Full-Spectrum-Lamp-Marine-Plant-/291933422193

 

[Backreefing]

Atinic not atomic

 

[ReeferReefer]

SBar from SB Reef Lights would do a good job.

 

[Stickboy15]

reef brites have been used forever on mh set ups id say they are they best imo.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Here is the led strip i am look at.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Aquarium-L...281159388162?var=580220753462&redirect=mobile

 

[RCS82]

Reef brites are a little more money but the xho blue is just so nice. I picked up an Orphek Uv bar and it is a little too much on the black light gimmicky side. I've never tried an Sbar so may just put my reef brite back on.
Would be great to hear from people who have ran an Xho blue and a Sbar.

 

[Kampo]

Here is the led strip i am look at.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Aquarium-L...281159388162?var=580220753462&redirect=mobile

don't bother with these. don't have the punch your looking for. tried 2 as actinic for a nano right above the water line. not near the amount of light. I'm running 66% of the wattage now in real leds and way more light.

 

[Staggs]

The sky blue orphek did the trick for me... I stayed away from their UV bar for the reasons that @RCS82 mention.

 

[Daniel Waters]

I am lookimg to add some LED actinics to provide some pop and supplement to my MHs. Thinking either a LED bar or a couple of PAR38 bulbs. My tank is a 4ft 75g. What is the hive minds thoughts on this?

I have an orphek actinic led bar ordered. You can customize their bars if needed.

I decided to customize mine and swapped out some of the 410 nm LEDs and added in some 460 nm blues. This should make it a little more balanced and less severe in that violet range. But I've never seen the original actinic bar nor my custom one yet to be able to provide more definitive feedback on how this turns out!

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Well I went ahead and ordered that led bar. I hope it works out ok. Im not looking for much just that blue in the am and pm and some pop.

 

[Mono]

Well I went ahead and ordered that led bar. I hope it works out ok. Im not looking for much just that blue in the am and pm and some pop.

Did you end up buying the reefbar? How are they working out? Been looking at them myself.

 

[Reefpuck]

+1 on sbreef actinic sbar

 

[paal]

I have an orphek actinic led bar ordered. You can customize their bars if needed.

I decided to customize mine and swapped out some of the 410 nm LEDs and added in some 460 nm blues. This should make it a little more balanced and less severe in that violet range. But I've never seen the original actinic bar nor my custom one yet to be able to provide more definitive feedback on how this turns out!

That sounds great. Was not aware they did custom orders. Their two standard blue bars have always seemed miss the mark in my opinion. One too cyan, other too violet.
I just requested a quote on a custom white bar with an even distribution of 410,430,460. Fingers crossed!

 

[Daniel Waters]

That sounds great. Was not aware they did custom orders. Their two standard blue bars have always seemed miss the mark in my opinion. One too cyan, other too violet.
I just requested a quote on a custom white bar with an even distribution of 410,430,460. Fingers crossed!

Good to hear, @paal
I was worried about being too violet also, and I knew the sky blue was not what I was looking for. What ratio did you do for your 410, 430, and 460 LEDs? I removed 8 of the 410 mm and added 8 of the 460 mm. So my ratio was 20:8:8 (36 leds). I hope it's a good blend

 

[paal]

Good to hear, @paal
I was worried about being too violet also, and I knew the sky blue was not what I was looking for. What ratio did you do for your 410, 430, and 460 LEDs? I removed 8 of the 410 mm and added 8 of the 460 mm. So my ratio was 20:8:8 (36 leds). I hope it's a good blend

I simply asked them for an even 1/3 mix of each of the three.


EDIT:
Just found the Orphek OR Series Light Bars thread, with Orphek saying this in post 26:

"We also offer customized LEDs with extra an cost. For example, many clients ask for UV/Violet combined with blue. We offer 385nm ,400nm , 410nm ,420nm,430nm,440nm,450nm,460nm,470nm, 490nm, 500nm, 520nm - this renders a very wide blue light spectrum."

So many options! I need to do some thinking now

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/orphek-or-series-light-bars.389389/page-2

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Did you end up buying the reefbar? How are they working out? Been looking at them myself.

Yes I did. Still waiting to get it. I will report back once I have it over the tank.

 

[T-5unsystem]

+1 for Reef Brite XHO

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Reef Brites would be my top choice but budget has me limited right now. I did get the Reef Bar but I cant give any feed back at this point because it does not work! I ordered the power supply for it and the power supply lights up but the LED bar does not. Even tried another power supply. So I am waiting to hear back from the seller. So far Ebay LEDs have not gone well for me.