Warm white VS red/blue led for algae scrubber/chaeto

[evolutionZ]

as above,which one would be better?

1) a 12 x 2w Par38 3000k Warm white led

OR

2) a Green elements (specially imported) 6x3w led (4 630nm red, 2 460nm blue).

the warm whites are stronger but i prefer the design of the green elements (Slim fixture). which one would give me better growth?

 

[rwb500]

they are probably pretty close in terms of useful light output for green algae. I don't know what green elements is but I know a slim fixture is usually much easier to work with than two par 38's. I made my own algae scrubber LED light, its a slim rectangle with like 7 or 8 red led's and one or two blue ones, i forget. but it seems very similar to your option #2.

 

[SantaMonica]

Def the red/blue. The white won't work well at all.

 

[evolutionZ]

thanks! indeed the slim fixture allows me to have much better movement in my small sump. but the 4 red 2 blue seems a little too low to grow both algae scrubber and chaeto. thinking of getting a 12x3w instead. maybe 8 red 4 blues?

 

[SantaMonica]

I'd do the scrubber by itself first.

 

[dppitone]

Warm white is to be avoided. The colloquial terms, cool white or pure white are generally in the right color area. And also a cri of at least 90. We use some red LEDs over our fuges as well and run them 24/7.

This has proved to be a great light source for our fuges, coloring about 6k, one every 12".

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171117195163?var=470283762706&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

 

[mcgyvr]

5000K to 6500K color temp works best IMO