20K LED For Frag Swaps

[Bombertech]

Buy a full spectrum led fixture and start swapping whites out for 440nm leds. It's super easy to do if you have a soldering iron. I found a 20k look when I was down to about 8 whites and the rest mixed blue and colored leds. Would get closer to 14k at 100% both channels and 20k at 100/60%

He's right you know!

 

[Av8Bluewater]

Look at build my led. I have their actinic strip and the pop is incredible (405,450 & 470). They now have a three channel controller so you could have them custom make it with UV , BLue and white.

 

[Bombertech]

They're missing a tad bit important spectrum, 420-435nm...

 

[cdness]

Blue LED only is not '20k', please get that out of your head. The following picture is what a '20K' light looks like.

The Force is strong with this one! He is correct as the "20K" spectrum is easily reproduced by the Radium MH and a good ballast. Blue LEDs are not and never will be a perfect 20K look. The terminology doesn't really translate well into the LED world.

If what you want is a hyper-blue light to increase the fluorescence of corals then ANY LED fixture will work with enough blues in the royal blue spectrums. You can probably have a chat with the guys at Reef LED Lights or Rapid LED to get a great DIY setup with the LEDs customized to exactly what you are looking for. Personally I would stick with your "16K" lights as they will show off the colors and not wash out the other life in the tank.

 

[Av8Bluewater]

They're missing a tad bit important spectrum, 420-435nm...

If you're referring to BMLed they have anything you want. It's not on their website but they have it.

 

[Bombertech]

I was referring to the "actinic" strip with no actinic... (Violet 420-435). I guess it's too much to ask of manufacturers to raise the bar and exceed the level of spectral development that T5/MH providers spent a lot of time perfecting.

There are a couple okay ones though. I usually try to stay out of LED debates so that's my 2 cents for today.

 

[Av8Bluewater]

For a normal light I can see it but for a frag swap or for my purpose which is just visual.. their actinic strip pumps up the wow.

 

[Bombertech]

Fair enough! In the general scheme of things, you just lose some violet/purple pigments. Hard to say if it would have enough effect to make/break a sale...

 

[Chpaige]

Kessil deep ocean blue

 

[ReefLEDLights]

For Swaps I would go with the following

15 Cree XT-E Royal Blue Binned at 450-455nm at 1000mA
10-20 Semi Hyperviolet 420nm at 700mA
And for the Colour Temp 10-20K 10-15 Cree XT-E Cool White Binned at 7.5K at 1000mA

With the Whites dimmed down to a couple % you will have amazing colour pop with average corals glowing. With the whites turned up you will have about a 12-15K look.

If your selling zoas and acans a few Reds help the looks.

Bill

 

[that Reef Guy]

Kessil deep ocean blue

+1

That is what I would use.

It is uber uber Blue so you will sell a lot of Corals with that Light.