skidoctor
New member
Although I don't have much experience in the subject, I might have some insight to offer as I have just had a similar setup built by Adam for my 90g.
I have 36 Cree LEDS total- 8 cool white 5w, 6 uv 3w and 18 rb 3w. The last 4 are lunars at 1w. I was contemplating addidng reds and greens, but for whatever reason, mainly the fact that I can always add a strip if I wanted to, I decided to go traditional.
As far as coloration- I don't know if my reds could pop more. Mushrooms, zoas, acans all look like they are plugged in- an absolutely amazing flourescent. Yellows like my tang and yellowtail damsels tend to turn a deep red. Perc clowns look like maroon ones. Greens like a neon hammer or torch tips could light my living room by themselves.
My only complaint is that blues and purples get washed out, but duh, should've figured that.
In retrospect I would have liked some reds and greens but not for coloration. The only improvement visually I can see would be in the blue and purple coral range, which is not a big deal to me since I am just starting sps and have many choices in the colors that do pop in my tank. I don't think I'd run them with my atnics, so it wouldn't make a difference anyway.
On the other hand though, I would add them to my white cycle. I think that the red and green might be lost to sight at certain depths of our tank, but wouldn't the light remaining (visual or not) create a white in a broader spectrum than just a white led? Cool whites do create quite a yellow tint, but it seems washed out by the uv- which is clearly visible at sand depth. I think red and green might add a nice subtle color, but I think it may be more benficial .than just one type of white LED. I might have swapped a couple of cools for natural or warm
WOW- a month in and I'm already thinking about the next build!
I have 36 Cree LEDS total- 8 cool white 5w, 6 uv 3w and 18 rb 3w. The last 4 are lunars at 1w. I was contemplating addidng reds and greens, but for whatever reason, mainly the fact that I can always add a strip if I wanted to, I decided to go traditional.
As far as coloration- I don't know if my reds could pop more. Mushrooms, zoas, acans all look like they are plugged in- an absolutely amazing flourescent. Yellows like my tang and yellowtail damsels tend to turn a deep red. Perc clowns look like maroon ones. Greens like a neon hammer or torch tips could light my living room by themselves.
My only complaint is that blues and purples get washed out, but duh, should've figured that.
In retrospect I would have liked some reds and greens but not for coloration. The only improvement visually I can see would be in the blue and purple coral range, which is not a big deal to me since I am just starting sps and have many choices in the colors that do pop in my tank. I don't think I'd run them with my atnics, so it wouldn't make a difference anyway.
On the other hand though, I would add them to my white cycle. I think that the red and green might be lost to sight at certain depths of our tank, but wouldn't the light remaining (visual or not) create a white in a broader spectrum than just a white led? Cool whites do create quite a yellow tint, but it seems washed out by the uv- which is clearly visible at sand depth. I think red and green might add a nice subtle color, but I think it may be more benficial .than just one type of white LED. I might have swapped a couple of cools for natural or warm
WOW- a month in and I'm already thinking about the next build!
