LED build - Ratio suggestions please

[BugiSti]

Greetings RC,

I created this post in the DIY as well so mods please delete if I am breaking the rules - after I posted there I thought I may get more help here.


This is my first led build and I am trying to figure out what ratios I need to achieve a good LED build for keeping SPS,LPS, and some clams while also being aesthetically pleasing. I would prefer no disco effect. This will eventually become 2 units and most likely hung above an 80g Rimless shallow (48x24x16) controlled by a storm x or bluefish controller..

Any advice on LED ratio/placement would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[Ron Reefman]

I assume you are doing 2 channel control?

I'd suggest 60% to 70% blues, as long as the blue and white leds have the same wattage. You don't need red and green and NOT having them resolves the disco effect.

The fixtures sold now have roughly the same blue/white ratio, i.e. 50:50. A few are now doing a bit more blue than white. But most reefer still run them at much higher power on the blue than on the white, like 50% to 100% higher. I run my fixture at 90% blue and 40% white.

If you do a 2:1 blue to white led ratio you can run both channels at roughly the same power level.

That's my 2 cents worth.

 

[jayball]

My fixture is three channels, the deep blue channel is 2 405, 1 420, 2 450. Bright blue channel is 1 450 and 4 470. White channel is 4 cool white and 1 warm white. The only thing I would change is some 470 blue to Royal.

At full power it is a nice crisp white with slight violet undertones


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[BugiSti]

The fixture will be 3 channels - blues (2:1 ratio) , whites, and uv/green/red.


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[Bpb]

If I could offer a suggestion. Maybe reconsider having your violets paired with your green and reds. That will force you to run that color lower than it should be. It should be run up at the same intensity as blues


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[jayball]

The fixture will be 3 channels - blues (2:1 ratio) , whites, and uv/green/red.


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I would personally skip the green, any white over 3500k (or so) will have more than enough green. If you include red be sure to use no lens and consider diffusers.

If I could offer a suggestion. Maybe reconsider having your violets paired with your green and reds. That will force you to run that color lower than it should be. It should be run up at the same intensity as blues


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Agreed, the violet give fluorescence without making the tank "windex". Win-Win.

 

[BugiSti]

Sounds great! Thanks for the suggestions. If you were to replace the red and green, what would you go with?


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[Bpb]

Philips PC amber and Philips rebel es Lime


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[xssx]

The fixture will be 3 channels - blues (2:1 ratio) , whites, and uv/green/red.


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Why don't you put each color on a separate channel?

 

[BugiSti]

Why don't you put each color on a separate channel?

I have. This has been a learning experience.

Thanks for all the input everyone! I went with the BlueFish mini controller so i can use up to 6 channels. I also switched to the RapidLED boards.

I will be changing out some colors but this is why i am glad I went this direction. Its so easy to change things to suite my needs.

 

[BugiSti]

Philips PC amber and Philips rebel es Lime


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Why philips over Cree?

 

[Bpb]

Because Cree doesn't make a comparable diode. The Philips pc amber is a broad spectrum red diode with zero blue phosphor, and the lime is a broad spectrum green with zero red and zero blue phosphor. Both basically look white but the benefit to the lime is you can crank it to improve visual brightness without negatively impacting par.

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[BugiSti]

nice! thanks for the info/suggestion!

 

[gus6464]

Just get all your diodes from steves led except the violets. Skip the Cree and go all Luxeon. Get your violets from rapidled. They have some nice binned semileds right now.

 

[Bpb]

Agree. I'd go all Philips diodes


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