Supplemental lighting with LED strips

[dietcoke8585]

Hi, was wondering about supplementing my tanks lighting Fluval Evo 12. It's 12 gallon in the display area. It's more long and shallow than deep. Looking to just have softies and lps.

Right around sandbed 11 inches deep it's 65 par, 6 inches deep 149 par, 3 inches 327. This is the stock lighting and it's 440nm blue and 14k white LED. This is the spectral graph given for the stock light. Coral would be placed 5-11 inches deep in the tank. http://imgur.com/6tv95Pe

So I assume this is on the low end for lps an softies. So given the shallow nature of the tank would adding some smd 5050 led strips be a easy way to supplement the tanks lighting? The hood I'd stick the led strip/s on is about a inch from the waterline, close and easy for me to do. They are 5 watts a 12 inch strip which is the length I'd add.

So if so what nm wavelength and how many strips(12 inch) you guys think I should add(sofites/lps)? There is 395-405, 420, 470-475, 480-485 nm. Hard to find around 460-470. I wouldn't add more white right? because it's already on the whiter look of things 14k which I wouldn't want to go much whiter. Here is a link to an example of these strips. Thanks for the help really appreciate it! http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-2-3-4-5M-5050-Ultra-Violet-UV-60LED-M-Purple-Flexible-Strip-Dimmer-Adapter-12V-/161887082630?var=&hash=item6b4cfd8d40

[evilc66]

65 PAR is plenty for softies and LPS, especially if you are just getting started.

 

If you are dead set on adding more PAR without changing the color of the light too much, then I would add 420nm LEDs. If you want a little bluer look, then the 470nm LEDs (450nm would be better). It will still add some PAR.

[gus6464]

Nanobox BEAM strip?

[Reefkid88]

I second the Beam strips from Dave,or the new BlueAcro led strips they have all royal's,royal's and violets ranging from $20-$25 for 6 Luxeon C's I believe. Or StevesLed has a 7up strip that you can customize what leds you want all on 1 channel for $30. All of which would add a significant bump in par with even 1 strip or even 2.

 

https://blueacro.com/acrostrip

 

http://www.stevesleds.com/PARMAX-V20--7-up-LED-Array-Board--Solderless_p_331.html

[dietcoke8585]

Thanks a lot you guys this really helps. ReefKid those are really cool. I never in a million years would have found those on my own.