Par 38 LED spotlights

[raynist]

Anemonebuff, I was asking about their 60g cube in their signature.

 

[Aquabacs]

Random PAR38 all red shot of my Crinoids

Random PAR38 all red shot of my Crinoids

Mike

 

[AngelAddict]

Is there any real difference or negatives about using a higher optics? I have two 6ft FOWLRS 125g/220g that I'd like to use one 20k 80 degree optic bulb over each section (braces split the tank into 3 sections). So would 3 bulbs be enough if they were placed high enough? Would I be able to grow corals if I added them? I would expect to grow SPS 30" below the water level but I just can't afford many of these bulbs priced at $120+ a pop! Can't imagine hanging 16-20 of them!

 

[JTL]

Higher optics means lower par. You can accomplish the same effect by raising the lights.

 

[Majority_Rules]

Higher optics means lower par. You can accomplish the same effect by raising the lights.

Lower par at the center of the beam, but a better light spread and I'd imagine a little bit more par off-center.

 

[Anemonebuff]

How about these PAR bulbs:
http://www.ledliquidatorsinc.com/PAR_38_12_LED_Cree_light_bulb.php

12x3 watt cree 6500K.

 

[AngelAddict]

I can't comment on if it'll work or not, but the K rating isn't good enough for me to try.

 

[Anemonebuff]

I ordered three of them. I will need a PAR meter to test them, so the search is on. Those plus my stunner strips should be good. I have also noticed that 6500K LEDs seem to be a bit bluer than 6500K halides and flourescents. I couldn't pass them up for $99, most sites has weaker PAR 38s and are asking $130-140.

 

[AngelAddict]

Nanotuners sells them for $120, but if you buy 4 you get them for $100, I believe, don't quote me.

 

[slevesque]

You are right Angel,

1-4 - $119.95

5+ - $99.95 (20% OFF) - Discount applied as a refund after purchase. All other upcharges for options apply.

 

[Anemonebuff]

Nanotuners sells them for $120, but if you buy 4 you get them for $100, I believe, don't quote me.

True, but they are only 21 watts of 7x3 watt Crees. These are 36 watts of 12 3 watt Crees, albeit not reef colors, but still good for coral growth(if not better). If I need to I will add 3 more stunners to blue it up.

 

[maddog2002]

I ordered three of them. I will need a PAR meter to test them, so the search is on. Those plus my stunner strips should be good. I have also noticed that 6500K LEDs seem to be a bit bluer than 6500K halides and flourescents. I couldn't pass them up for $99, most sites has weaker PAR 38s and are asking $130-140.

Keep us updated, I want to see the result!

http://www.ledliquidatorsinc.com/PAR_30_7_LED_Cree_light_bulb.php

21W par30 only need $68, if it works, this would be very good choose!

 

[JTL]

It is more than just the emitters. Evil, who I believe is an electrical engineer and a fanatical LED buff looked at several lamps before settling on the one that Nanotuners is selling. He felt they were the best product based on the circuitry, heat sinks, ect. The PAR readings suggest that they are plenty strong enough for most if not all corals, depending on placement. They are actually 5 leds putting out 21 watts, probably overdriven. Personally, I want the spectrum of about 14K so the daylights wouldn't cut it anyway.

 

[Majority_Rules]

I ordered three of them. I will need a PAR meter to test them, so the search is on. Those plus my stunner strips should be good. I have also noticed that 6500K LEDs seem to be a bit bluer than 6500K halides and flourescents. I couldn't pass them up for $99, most sites has weaker PAR 38s and are asking $130-140.

There's an Elos Mini build thread on NR where someone used those bulbs. I think it was four blue and two or three white. The pars numbers were great. So they do make them in all blue so you can mix-and-match to get the color you want.

Edit: They may have been the Par30 bulbs linked above.

 

[Majority_Rules]

There's a bad phone pic in my album of my Cadlights 22g with two 20k, 40 degree bulbs, mounted 19" off the water. The sand and eggcrate are a bit washed out, but otherwise it's pretty accurate. They're not as bright as the 250w halide that they replaced.

 

[Anemonebuff]

There's a bad phone pic in my album of my Cadlights 22g with two 20k, 40 degree bulbs, mounted 19" off the water. The sand and eggcrate are a bit washed out, but otherwise it's pretty accurate. They're not as bright as the 250w halide that they replaced.

Brightness and PAR are 2 different things. The LEDs tend to look dimmer, but trounce MH/T5 on PAR per watt. These 36 watters are using 60* optics, so they will have a bit of spread, unlike 40* optics. The extra LEDs should help with intensity.

 

[montrose]

Brightness and PAR are 2 different things. The LEDs tend to look dimmer, but trounce MH/T5 on PAR per watt. These 36 watters are using 60* optics, so they will have a bit of spread, unlike 40* optics. The extra LEDs should help with intensity.

(this is my account, the other one is my gf's account)

Yeah, I know. I'm not worried about the PAR. I really like the bulbs, and not having to deal with the heat is nice. The only thing I don't like as much as the halides is the shimmer. When the top of the water is rippled, the blue and white led's refract differently and it looks weird on the sand bed. The colors don't blend. It looks like you're on the dance floor at a rave or something, as has already been mentioned.

 

[Anemonebuff]

(this is my account, the other one is my gf's account)

Yeah, I know. I'm not worried about the PAR. I really like the bulbs, and not having to deal with the heat is nice. The only thing I don't like as much as the halides is the shimmer. When the top of the water is rippled, the blue and white led's refract differently and it looks weird on the sand bed. The colors don't blend. It looks like you're on the dance floor at a rave or something, as has already been mentioned.

I've noticed that as well with the poor mixing, and you know it is bad when you can notice it in the still photos posted here. There is always some drawbacks to any lighting and some poor mixing is easier to deal with than the cost of MH.

 

[Anemonebuff]

It is more than just the emitters. Evil, who I believe is an electrical engineer and a fanatical LED buff looked at several lamps before settling on the one that Nanotuners is selling. He felt they were the best product based on the circuitry, heat sinks, ect. The PAR readings suggest that they are plenty strong enough for most if not all corals, depending on placement. They are actually 5 leds putting out 21 watts, probably overdriven. Personally, I want the spectrum of about 14K so the daylights wouldn't cut it anyway.

These appear to be diven to their wattage, but use more LEDs. I am not worried about circuitry or heatsinks, because the bulbs have a 5 year warranty. In 5 years they have more than paid for themselves. I plan on replacing them at the 8 year mark anyway, due to intensity lost. They may have only lost 15% by that time, but why chance it.

 

[NyReefNoob]

anenomebuff did you order those ?