Anyone have experience with PAR 38 bulbs for frag tank or fuge?

[Osteomata]

I am looking at improving the light situation in my combo fuge/frag area. I have chaeto barely growing with the little 10W LED fixture I have in there now, and it does almost nothing for the frags. I am looking at putting in a 54W (18x3w) PAR 38 E27 bulb on a basic flex neck fixture. I can find plenty of options in the $40 range that have some basic actinic mixed with white (6 x blue 460~465nm, 12 x cold white 6500~12000K), and for $70 I found one wiht a bit more diverse color spectrum (8 x true royal blue, 6 x 14K white, 3 x 10K white, and 1 hyper UV purple). Is the extra $30 worth it? Any opinions on these bulbs in general?

 

[rps3]

Lights to grow algae and coral are almost two different things. You can't get the best of both using one bulb.

Few things could be hindering growth, for one you can start with trying a spiral bulb with a 5500K rating. Other things could be a low nutrient level system.

 

[Osteomata]

My focus would be for the frags, I can compensate for the chaeto.

 

[rps3]

In that case, the good news is that LEDs don't really go bad all too often. Why not splurg and spend a little more on something that will be around for a while.

If pico and nano guys can use them and be happy with the color and growth, why not you.