18w t5 bulb options

[jaybfresh]

70w halides in my experience with them havent added a whole lot of heat. Of course having the open top vs the stock biocube hood is probably the biggest factor.

Some kind of bulb is included with no particulars... probably a stock bulb with a lot of use. Replacing it to be safe, most likely with an Ushio 14k. I usually prefer the 20k look but the are way too dim at 70 watts to be any good. I might add a single actinic strip to supplement

 

[Johnny C]

I sold my 16.5'' 70W Sunpod so I can't offer it up, but I did like the fixture; worked well on a temporary 5.5G, no heat. I occasionally see them on the used forum for $100-150. Either way, I vote LED.

 

[zooman72]

Yeah......now we're talking!!! That pic is of the PAR 38 RapidLED I think - they have come out with a new color combination too (3RB, 1B, 2CW, 1WW as opposed to the 4RB, 3CW) that is supposed to help with some of the "washout effect" from just using RB's and CW's. I have one of the BoostLED PAR 30's (3RB, 2CW) on my 15XH and love it - replaced 54W of PC's with 10W of LED, and corals look great! Definitely a "deepwater" look to the tank now since the color is about 20K and LED's tend to put out less lumens per watt compared to other forms of lighting.

Come to think of it...sorry I did not mention this as an option earlier J...but the 70W Viper should still look good! Besides, the look of LED's are not for everyone, even though that may (should?) change in the near future - look for "neutral whites" to replace some of the "cool whites" soon to add back in some of the missing colors (red?). I presume by actinic strip to supplement you mean LED, or are you thinking of using a T5 bulb or 2?

 

[Johnny C]

If anyone still wants a 70W Sunpod... click here.

 

[jaybfresh]

Well the guy that sold the viper still hasnt 'claimed' my paypal payment. Maybe I didnt get deal I thought I did.

 

[zooman72]

Well, if it falls through, maybe you could investigate your LED options afterall...a PAR38 with 60 degree optics might be just the ticket! You would still get shimmer, but only use 15-21 watts instead of 70 watts! The only hard part would be finding a standard open fixture you like to mount the bulb - I hung mine with a simple ceramic socket so it looks pretty clean though. The RapidLED PAR38's with the new color combo (17W) is only $99 - www.rapidled.com, and you could pick up a ceramic socket with cord for under $10 at Home Depot...

 

[jaybfresh]

Would one PAR38 bulb provide enough coverage for a biocube 14 (roughly 15" each way)? That would be a great option, and I would prefer that over the Viper anyway

 

[Jacwil]

The 25g Ecoxotic AIO I setup at my wife's office is lit by one Evil P38 with 60* optics...20k. It houses a pair of clowns, a RBTA, and softies. It's only been setup about 2 months.

Tank dim's are 18" cube. Lamp is approx 12" above water surface.

 

[jaybfresh]

Perfect, thanks jacwil! It's LED for me then

 

[Jacwil]

No prob...can't wait to see what ya come up with! :beer:

 

[jaybfresh]

OK one last question

RapidLED only has 60 degree lenses in stock, but someone here on RC is selling brand new 80 degree bulbs for $90

Which should I go with? I assume 80 degree gives better spread but less par?

 

[Jacwil]

Hmmm...I can't speak intelligently re: Rapids lamps or how 80* optics are...I have Evil's in 60* and I'm happy with the spread it has but have no clue what the par is...sry Jay!

 

[titoav15]

that tank looks really nice!

 

[klink67]

You can change out the optics on the rapidled and nanotuners par38 because they both use cree leds which IMO are the best quality. I actually have a nanotuners par38 20k with 80 degree optics and it lights up my pico fine.

I am using this fixture for the lamp

http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/687903/Realspace-Clamp-On-Task-Lamp-29/

 

[klink88]

I agree par38 is the best option.

 

[Jacwil]

2 klinks from W'ville? What's this??? A generational thing? lol

 

[klink88]

I am klink's cousin. He said I should join this site since I am into reefkeeping as well.

 

[Jacwil]

Welcome to URS!!!!

 

[jaybfresh]

How many other klinks will come out of the woodwork?

 

[klink88]

I think my cousin has been on here for quite some time. I actually have been doing this longer than him.

Even though I have seen the nanotuners par38 in person and really like it. You should go with rapidled because there par38 has 7 led's versus the 5 that nanotuners has. Both units are the same price. The only thing that I noticed was the 20k looks like a 14k halide. So keep that in mind when picking the color.