LED color - reef breeders vs ebay led layouts

[DavidinGA]

I have a Reef Breeders Photon 32 that seems to produce a more purple look than some generic ebay led boxes and I was wondering if you someone could enlighten me on which diodes are producing the more purple color?


From Reef Breeders site this is the breakdown on the Photon LED:

Channel 1
48 450nm royal blue

Channel 2
22 4500K neutral whites
10 480nm blues
4 660nm reds
12 410-420nm violets.

Channel 3; 3 480nm blue moonlights




The eBay box doesn't list the exact diodes but says:

There are 2 different dimming channels, controlled by knobs on top of the fixture.

Channel 1:
Cool white(10000-14000K)
Neutral whites(6500-7500K)
Warm white(3500-4500K)
Violet 420nm
Green 520nm
Deep red 660nm.


Channel 2:
Blue 460nm
Royal blues 450nm.
for a 14k output with both channels at maximum intensity.

eBay Box from seller "topledseller"

The eBay box has a much crisper/brighter white look while the RB has a softer white look. Is it the cool whites in the eBay box that is causing that?

The eBay box is much more blue dominate while the RB maintains a more purple look; whats the difference there?

I prefer the RB look and was wondering if I can swap out some diodes to match the RB look...thoughts?


Thanks

 

[dillct]

I'm far from being a led expert, but like you I prefer the RB look. I've found when the blues and royal blues are on the same channel the blue washes the royal blue out. I like how on the photon all the royal blues are on one channel, plus it's the royal blue that give most of the pop..which is that "purple" color I think you're referencing. This makes adjusting to this look tons easier.

 

[DavidinGA]

Also, where can you buy bridgelux (or equivalent) diodes to use in the eBay led boxes should I want to change up some colors?

 

[Bpb]

It's the royal blue + neutral white + red that causes the purple look, which is pronounced in pictures especially. In the eBay units the green and cool white diodes help balance this a little whiter. I like reef breeders as a company, but I think they're too heavy handed with the Reds. You could swap those reds out with some warm whites and relieve a touch of the purple hue and brighten it up a bit. They really hype the fact that neutral whites are better for growth and that greens are useless, but to a point...you're not par limited by any stretch, especially with optics. The greens aren't there for par, they're there to make the tank look a little better and more balanced color wise. Same reason some of the boutique builders use the Philips rebel es lime diodes. They're a broad spectrum green-white diode with almost no PUR but appear super bright white. Toss in a couple and you really liven up the look of the tank without torching it

 

[OceanRevive]

check out our layout, we had that purple hue issue at the beginning and resolved it with tons of different layout studies.

 

[zachfishman]

It's the royal blue + neutral white + red that causes the purple look, which is pronounced in pictures especially. In the eBay units the green and cool white diodes help balance this a little whiter. I like reef breeders as a company, but I think they're too heavy handed with the Reds. You could swap those reds out with some warm whites and relieve a touch of the purple hue and brighten it up a bit. They really hype the fact that neutral whites are better for growth and that greens are useless, but to a point...you're not par limited by any stretch, especially with optics. The greens aren't there for par, they're there to make the tank look a little better and more balanced color wise. Same reason some of the boutique builders use the Philips rebel es lime diodes. They're a broad spectrum green-white diode with almost no PUR but appear super bright white. Toss in a couple and you really liven up the look of the tank without torching it

I'm been thinking about this too. I like RB products but like the OP says the look is a little purple for me. Just 4 or so limes displacing some RB diodes might make for a more pleasing output.

 

[DavidinGA]

To switch leds I need to buy just the led diodes, right? It seems like all the led sights only sell leds on star boards...what's the story with that?

 

[rimless75g]

To switch leds I need to buy just the led diodes, right? It seems like all the led sights only sell leds on star boards...what's the story with that?

I believe so, you should only switch the LED Diodes.

 

[DavidinGA]

check out our layout, we had that purple hue issue at the beginning and resolved it with tons of different layout studies.

Your Photon 32 version looks like this, right?


Red 660nm 4pcs
Green 520nm 4pcs
Blue 470nm 32pcs
Royal Blue 450nm 19pcs
Violet 420nm 4pcs
Cool White 12000K 24pcs
Neutral White 7500K 12pcs



So you basically got rid of a ton of the royal blue diodes my RB has but your running a ton of blue 470nm instead. So I take it the 470nm blue isn't nearly as purple looking as the royal blues then?

 

[DavidinGA]

I believe so, you should only switch the LED Diodes.

So who sells just diodes?

 

[DavidinGA]

Another question....

I'm fairly certain that the Cool Whites on the eBay box is the color I don't like (I prefer a softer white/yellow look and those are too crisp) and I'm thinking about replacing those with neutral whites (4k). Any idea how I can identify which diodes are the Cool whites?


Here is the white channel of the eBay box:

The warm whites are obvious, but I can't see any difference between which diodes are the cool vs neutral whites...can you?

 

[DamonG]

So who sells just diodes?

Reefbreeders does..

 

[Wesus]

So who sells just diodes?

Search ebay for 3W led chip

 

[DavidinGA]

Search ebay for 3W led chip

I found these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOT-10-50-100pcs-1W-3W-High-Power-COOL-Neatral-Warm-White-LED-Beads-Lamp-diodes-/351394544493?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item51d0bf3b6d


They are selling 10 4K 3w diodes for $3.80 shipped from China. That sounds dirt cheap, right?

 

[dillct]

Your Photon 32 version looks like this, right?

So you basically got rid of a ton of the royal blue diodes my RB has but your running a ton of blue 470nm instead. So I take it the 470nm blue isn't nearly as purple looking as the royal blues then?

I've posted this same question in other threads, curious why some lighting manufacturers have reversed the royal blue to blue ratio. I don't like it and then to throw cool whites on top...it's just way too harsh a white for my likes.

I thought it was possible to request a custom mix of colors from some of the Chinese manufacturers or at least it used to be, have you tried this route?

 

[DavidinGA]

I've posted this same question in other threads, curious why some lighting manufacturers have reversed the royal blue to blue ratio. I don't like it and then to throw cool whites on top...it's just way too harsh a white for my likes.

I thought it was possible to request a custom mix of colors from some of the Chinese manufacturers or at least it used to be, have you tried this route?

If I were buying a new box I would request a custom layout, but alas I'm not and am stuck with my existing boxes....

That's the word that I would use too...harsh! I don't like it...gotta fix it :hammer:

 

[fraggin corals]

If I am not mistaken Reef Breeders allows you to make custom layout and diode selections.

 

[zachfishman]

I found these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOT-10-50-100pcs-1W-3W-High-Power-COOL-Neatral-Warm-White-LED-Beads-Lamp-diodes-/351394544493?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item51d0bf3b6d


They are selling 10 4K 3w diodes for $3.80 shipped from China. That sounds dirt cheap, right?

There can be a lot of variability in diode quality control. Cheap diodes can mean they don't have good uniformity (wide color temp variation even though they're labeled the same) or output. I'd buy the diodes from RB.

 

[DavidinGA]

There can be a lot of variability in diode quality control. Cheap diodes can mean they don't have good uniformity (wide color temp variation even though they're labeled the same) or output. I'd buy the diodes from RB.

Ok...


Where do you think RB buys there stuff from and how do you know they are better quality though?

 

[DamonG]

If I am not mistaken Reef Breeders allows you to make custom layout and diode selections.

yes, they do. I was asking Logan about a custom light not too long ago. He sent me the configuration he recommended for the purpose and that I could swap out any of the colors I liked. He said there would be a few week build time, but that basically I could order either(fir my purpose this time) a value or superlux fixture in the price quote he gave me.

I don't think there is any configuration he wouldn't do. I am sure he would do a photon also for me in this config, but for what I'm trying to customize, it's a bit of overkill.

And I've never had any type of experience except good growth and color from the diodes that he sells. He also sells optics, etc for the fixtures, so it's a great route to go. I just haven't taken the plunge yet..