Adding more LEDs for better spectrum

I would definitely add some of the greens.... and some UV... and some reds.
Personally, I am a huge fan of the Osram reds. I have not seen the orange ones yet, but am not sure what advantage these would provide over a red/white mix.

Are you putting these all on individually dimmable drivers? I believe this is going to get you your best results. This way, you can tweak your individual colors to your taste with no compromises.

I am currently running 3 LED fixtures with a pair of Radiums in between. The coloring of the Radiums is far superior at the moment. Until I can get the colors to better mimic them, I will never be 100% happy.

 

All the supplemental LEDs will not be on a dimmable driver, they are on constant 700ma.

After talking to Grimm I'll be picking up Orsam Red too.

Here's what I'll have after everything is shipped, and please let me know what you think. I can always add a dimmable driver down the road if you feel it's best.

3x UV
3x Violet
3x Green
3x Cyan
2x Red

Please keep in mind this is over a biocube with 26 LEDs already in the hood

 

Green is pointless with Cyan and Neutral Whites. I'm removing the green in my light.

Red 660 and Violet 420-430nm make the most visual difference. Focus on those instead. With proper water parameters, algae does not grow any quicker with it. If your nutrients are high, they can.

My latest build uses Warm Whites to provide red. Still debating if it looks better than a red led.

 

Why would you remove it? Is it making weird colors or upsetting anything in your tank?

Thanks for the input

 

+1 to bhazard, when the reds are far overpowered by blues, they will not grow algae.

 

The limiting factor for algae growth is a lack of Nitrate and more importantly phosphate. If you already have trouble with algae, then adding some reds could amplify it. But for people like Bio, he's not going to let his waste levels get high enough for the algae to take hold anyhow.

As far as browning out of sps, just like Anemone said.. by the time it mixes with all the blue... all is good. A little red makes a BIG difference. Definitely worth it from my experience with adding them.

 

Thanks

Thanks for the input Scott.

bhhazard brought up not adding green because of my Neutral White LED, currently my Cyan is 520nm and the Green is only 525nm, is it really even worth it for the extra 5nm?

I am completely okay adding them since I already purchased them, no need to have them go to waste.

 

I think green or cyan, I have never seen them side by side so I can't tell you if the difference between them is worthwhile. But I can say that I have seen them on and off with both neutrals and cool whites, and they definitely make a difference and are a worthwhile addition. Neither neutral white or cool white has any peak in green.

 

I used green next to my cyan. I tested the cyan without the green and preferred the look. Adding green color shifts things a little too green if you're already using cyan. 2-4 reds and 4-6 violets were huge additions however.

 

Thanks for the input, when I add my new LEDs ill see how it looks with Cyan and Green together and go from there.