LED light suggestions for a soft pastel look

autofagist · Jan 2, 2026

I'm starting a new tank with mostly non-fluorescent soft corals. I'm looking for that "creamy" soft pastel look with low shadowing and no shimmer. Any suggestions on LED-fixtures that are suitable for achieving this look?

The base color of the tank will be pink/purple, with recurring Xenia, Gorgonia and Sinularia covering most of the scape. Cyan will be the accent color.

T5s would probably fit the bill, but I'm curious if anybody has been able to achieve that look with LEDs

Tank base is 55" x 28", 24" tall. (140cm x 70cm, 60cm tall).

oreo54 · Jan 2, 2026

autofagist said:
I'm starting a new tank with mostly non-fluorescent soft corals. I'm looking for that "creamy" soft pastel look with low shadowing and no shimmer. Any suggestions on LED-fixtures that are suitable for achieving this look?

The base color of the tank will be pink/purple, with recurring Xenia, Gorgonia and Sinularia covering most of the scape. Cyan will be the accent color.

T5s would probably fit the bill, but I'm curious if anybody has been able to achieve that look with LEDs

Tank base is 55" x 28", 24" tall. (140cm x 70cm, 60cm tall).

LOL almost everything you want is not playing into LEDs strengths.

That aside you can get very natural coloration under LEDs

This gives a generalized description of natural vs blue centric pros and cons

https://youtube.com/@brstv?si=nthdn81h6PJNAm_P
One small issue. LED fixtures are notorious low in cyan wavelengths.
Without cyan going out you don't get true color coming back to you eyes.

The phosphors used for t5's produce plenty of cyan.

Can you emulate all the no shadows, no ripple ( water movement + point light sources) full spectrum. Yes within reason but it is not a set of conditions manufactures of reef lighting cater to.

In general.

And to be honest your tank dimensions also limit your light choices.
48 and 60 opposed to 55
28 wide opposed to the more common 18- 24
You are really looking to puck style lighting.
Complicated the no shadows no ripple thing.
Even t5's will have issues with light falloff at the ends. Good thing is your not demanding very high lighting.

Everything sounds like diy is the answer.
You can create almost any look you want, highlight any color you want.

Of course that's always my answer.
;)

JUST food for thought.