UV leds. Is there any new information out there

[djkms]

I have been running AI SOL blues over my 125 for about a year and a half now. The visual color of my aquarium always seemed a bit cold to me. I have also struggled with purples, deep blues and some reds (coral colors). I just recently added 2 DIY fixtures which comprise of violet, Deep red and Turquoise. I know the way I have my fixtures is not the ideal way to supliment but I have to get some better coloration now.

First observations so far is the tank does have a more rich color to it. I am a bit worried with the reds though, as I have read that the red spectrum can inhibit coral growth. Only time will tell for me I guess, its only been up a week.

 

[007Bond]

Interesting, Would like to know how your corals are reacting with some time? Coral growth, color, polyp extention, ect., are your purples uv or violet? Do you have any tank pics of your lighting before and after? Thanks---Rick

 

[007Bond]

Technically, this is false BTW. UV light starts around 400nm and goes down from there. Some humans can see down to ~385nm. Thus, they can see UV light.

Most of the uv chips I see for sale seem to be above 400nm. One I found says 420-422nm.Rapid say 410-420nm. Should I be looking for 400 and under? Thanks---Rick

 

[rogergolf66]

Tank pic

 

[jrpark22000]

I have been running AI SOL blues over my 125 for about a year and a half now. The visual color of my aquarium always seemed a bit cold to me. I have also struggled with purples, deep blues and some reds (coral colors). I just recently added 2 DIY fixtures which comprise of violet, Deep red and Turquoise. I know the way I have my fixtures is not the ideal way to supliment but I have to get some better coloration now.

Tagging along as I am in the process of doing the same. I'm thinking 12 violet, 8 3100k white, 8 green, 8 red. The WGR would be on 8 tri-stars. Each color will have its own driver so they are all independently controlled.


+1 for request of a tank picture with the supplemental LEDs and AI. Also are you getting any disco ball effect of the colored LEDs on your sandbed? How far above the waterline are your LEDs?

**Edit*** found your question in RapidLED forum asking about the setup. It said you are at 12" above the waterline. My setup will be very similar to yours. I'd really love to see how yours looks to help in the design of mine.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2136688

 

[gbru316]

Technically, this is false BTW. UV light starts around 400nm and goes down from there. Some humans can see down to ~385nm. Thus, they can see UV light.

Most of the uv chips I see for sale seem to be above 400nm. One I found says 420-422nm.Rapid say 410-420nm. Should I be looking for 400 and under? Thanks---Rick

I wouldn't go much under 400

 

[djkms]

Tagging along as I am in the process of doing the same. I'm thinking 12 violet, 8 3100k white, 8 green, 8 red. The WGR would be on 8 tri-stars. Each color will have its own driver so they are all independently controlled.


+1 for request of a tank picture with the supplemental LEDs and AI. Also are you getting any disco ball effect of the colored LEDs on your sandbed? How far above the waterline are your LEDs?

Im about 16" AWL. All 40 degree optics with my AI's and 60 with my DIY fixtures. Not sure about the "disco ball" effect? Is that like a bunch of different colors bouncing around on the sand? The only time I see a separation of colors is between rocks and through holes, nothing distracting though. I will be getting updated PAR measurements this week and I will get a FTS going as well.

 

[jrpark22000]

All 40 degree optics with my AI's and 60 with my DIY fixtures.

You have optics on your DIY fixture? I don’t see them in the photo and I did not think Rapid offered them for the violet yet.
From the photos it looks like you are using RapidLEDs stock optic which are about 120deg angle.

Not sure about the "disco ball" effect? Is that like a bunch of different colors bouncing around on the sand? The only time I see a separation of colors is between rocks and through holes, nothing distracting though.

Yes, separation of colors. I’ve read where some are coining it as disco ball or flashlight effect. It sounds like you are not seeing the problem and the colors are mixing well. It’s the reasons I am looking at the tri-star mounted leds. http://www.luxeonstar.com/Predefined-LED-Assemblies-s/229.htm I hoping that the close mounting of the different colors and mixing them with a warm white will help.

I will be getting updated PAR measurements this week and I will get a FTS going as well.

Similar to your setup, I have enough PAR with the AIs. I am looking for more spectrum. Some of my sps love the AIs, a few don’t. I want to see if the missing colors can bring any of them around.

Thanks for sharing your setup. I think quite a few people are looking to add violet or other colors for supplementation.

 

[djkms]

You have optics on your DIY fixture? I don't see them in the photo and I did not think Rapid offered them for the violet yet.
From the photos it looks like you are using RapidLEDs stock optic which are about 120deg angle.



Yes, separation of colors. I've read where some are coining it as disco ball or flashlight effect. It sounds like you are not seeing the problem and the colors are mixing well. It's the reasons I am looking at the tri-star mounted leds. http://www.luxeonstar.com/Predefined-LED-Assemblies-s/229.htm I hoping that the close mounting of the different colors and mixing them with a warm white will help.



Similar to your setup, I have enough PAR with the AIs. I am looking for more spectrum. Some of my sps love the AIs, a few don't. I want to see if the missing colors can bring any of them around.

Thanks for sharing your setup. I think quite a few people are looking to add violet or other colors for supplementation.

The heatsink is from rapidled. The LED's themselves are from led group buy. All 3 colors I have came with 60 degree optics.

As far as disco ball effect. I do believe the lights being hung so far AWL that they are blending pretty well by the time they hit the aquarium. I do have a bit of concentration of red/turquoise underneath the fixtures and the edges of my aquarium dont seem to get these colors but overall I am pleased with what I had to work with.

 

[jrpark22000]

The heatsink is from rapidled. The LED's themselves are from led group buy. All 3 colors I have came with 60 degree optics.

As far as disco ball effect. I do believe the lights being hung so far AWL that they are blending pretty well by the time they hit the aquarium. I do have a bit of concentration of red/turquoise underneath the fixtures and the edges of my aquarium dont seem to get these colors but overall I am pleased with what I had to work with.

Thanks for the info and link to 60deg violets. Did you use a fan on your heat sinks or could you get away without external cooling?

 

[djkms]

Thanks for the info and link to 60deg violets. Did you use a fan on your heat sinks or could you get away without external cooling?

I bought fans but have not installed them. I only have the lights at 20% right now and will slowly ramp them up to a max of 70% over the following weeks. I did put them at 70% when I first hung them for about 3 hours and it was warm to the touch but nothing alarming.

 

[djkms]

Here are the FTS, nothing to write home about lol.

No enhancing with software and both shots with identical camera settings.

without the DIY leds:

With the DIY leds:

I will say that my camera is not even close to capturing the colors closely to how they look visually.

 

[007Bond]

Kind of hard for me to see a difference in the two pics. But DYI fixture or not, you have one good looking tank. Thanks for the pics.---Rick

 

[djkms]

Thanks

 

[jrpark22000]

Nice tank. Thanks for the pics.

 

[rtparty]

dp....

 

[rtparty]

Most of the uv chips I see for sale seem to be above 400nm. One I found says 420-422nm.Rapid say 410-420nm. Should I be looking for 400 and under? Thanks---Rick

I don't see any reason to go lower than the 400-410nm range.

 

[Jay1982]

A few people mentioned they are using leds in the 420-430nm range. Where are you guys finding these? I am only seeing Vilots in the 410-420nm range.

 

[gbru316]

A few people mentioned they are using leds in the 420-430nm range. Where are you guys finding these? I am only seeing Vilots in the 410-420nm range.

Aquastyleonline has bridgelux violets (420 nm)

 

[joelespinoza]

Have your tried lowering the DIY leds down some?

The AI Sols might be ok that high up, but it appears you are getting ~120 degree spread on the DIY fixture (just guessing this from the light spread on the wall). It looks to me that you are loosing the the majority of the light long before it reaches the tank... Thats probably why it seems to make a minimal impact. I personally would drop it down about 2 feet to see what it looks like.

By the way were these purple LEDs the 420nm Actinic Violet LED (from aquastyle), or the Epileds LED 3W Ultra Violet(UV) or something different?