Par 38 LED spotlights
- Thread starter goodtimes
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imisky
New member
From my understanding the PAR38s are running the XR-Es
I read that the XP-G is 46% brighter and 64% more efficient then the XR-E on Reef Builders. Also, that the LEDs will last longer. So, is a LED fixture that uses the newer XP-G worth substantially more then the Par38's or for most hobbiest, will the difference be minimal?
I'll just add after seeing how bright these PAR38's are in person and watching the reaction of my clams that were 10 inches away from a 150w MH and are now 33 inches away from the PAR38's the clams still look like their getting too much light in my 200g
I wouldn't want a more powerful led than what is in the light cause IMO that isn't going to help anything but the height you can mount the light from the tank
I'm still gauging coral color and growth with these, i was hoping to get a PAR meter this past weekend but the person i talked to never got back to me, so i don't have any numbers at the moment
To me these lights are perfect, upgrading to a more effecient led would be better than upgrading to a brighter led IMO, lol
I wouldn't want a more powerful led than what is in the light cause IMO that isn't going to help anything but the height you can mount the light from the tank
I'm still gauging coral color and growth with these, i was hoping to get a PAR meter this past weekend but the person i talked to never got back to me, so i don't have any numbers at the moment
To me these lights are perfect, upgrading to a more effecient led would be better than upgrading to a brighter led IMO, lol
GSMguy
New member
The XP-G is more efficient, thats why its 46% brighter at the same wattage.
It would be nice if they kept the current PAR-38 with the XP-E and lowered the price a bit while offering the new XP-G at a higher price.
JTL
New member
Beeker, I am going to set mine up this week-end. Hope you get the Par meter so I can get an idea of what I have at 33" from the sand. I still may need to order the optics to get an even spread. Not sure how much Par I would lose doing that. I wish you had a set of 60 degree lens to test. Maybe you could raise one of the tracks incrementally to get an idea at various heights.
glassbox-design
New member
We completed a full PAR and spread analysis on the 12K model with 40 degree optics. Here are measurements 24" from the socket of the lamp. Readings taken every 1/2" through open air with a LiCor PAR meter. HTH.
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JTL
New member
Kind of an abstract to me, but it looks like the Par rating over 2" is from zero to 250. Is that correct? All I want to do is cover a 24x48x20 tank with the lights 33" (bottom of the lamp) off the sand. Pretty much softies and lps. Evil is not around much to comment on his lights.
plancton
Active member
I just got mines 1x12000k and 1x 20 000k both in 60degree optics, the quality is very good and sleek, check the size:
First impressions: it didn´t seem as bright as what I was told, but then I placed them on my LPS tank and sure they´re brighter than T5, in fact they overshadowed the T5s:
I couldn´t place them as high as I wanted to, so the spread is quite narrow for my taste, they´re about 6" from the water:
12 000k only:
20 000k only:
both:
and from the other side they look like this, very central, but I have t5s on the sides and that´s the LPS tank so I´m ok:
both PAR38 and T5s:
First impressions: it didn´t seem as bright as what I was told, but then I placed them on my LPS tank and sure they´re brighter than T5, in fact they overshadowed the T5s:
I couldn´t place them as high as I wanted to, so the spread is quite narrow for my taste, they´re about 6" from the water:
12 000k only:
20 000k only:
both:
and from the other side they look like this, very central, but I have t5s on the sides and that´s the LPS tank so I´m ok:
both PAR38 and T5s:
plancton
Active member
and the other side, the PAR38 clearly overshadows the T5s:
I´m pleased with the coloration, however I wish I would have waited for the 5x royal blue, as the 20 000k is not blue enough to give an actinic effect.
Side note: I also tried the 20 000k on my main SPS tank, trying to recreate a spotlight effect seen in a Japanese reef by user Anagombe:
However it didn´t work, it didn´t give a spotlight shadowy deeper water blue look. Perhaps the intensity of HQI with lumen max elite reflectors was to much. The ray effect from the PAR38 got lost, and it could only be apreciated on the corals that were hit by it and thus looked more colorful.
My guess is that perhaps using many PAR38 specially full 5x royal blue LEDS on one spot, and avoid using HQI could recreate the same effect as in Anagombe´s reef.
I´m pleased with the coloration, however I wish I would have waited for the 5x royal blue, as the 20 000k is not blue enough to give an actinic effect.
Side note: I also tried the 20 000k on my main SPS tank, trying to recreate a spotlight effect seen in a Japanese reef by user Anagombe:
However it didn´t work, it didn´t give a spotlight shadowy deeper water blue look. Perhaps the intensity of HQI with lumen max elite reflectors was to much. The ray effect from the PAR38 got lost, and it could only be apreciated on the corals that were hit by it and thus looked more colorful.
My guess is that perhaps using many PAR38 specially full 5x royal blue LEDS on one spot, and avoid using HQI could recreate the same effect as in Anagombe´s reef.
Nice pics and he spotlights do look like hey are quality made. I was considering going with 60 optics as well to help the light spread. My biggest concern is that since they are not dimmable, the only way to reduce the intensity is to raise the light. My tank is only 18 inches deep and I really don't want the lights to be 3 feet above the tank just to keep the corals from burning. I can't wait to see how everyone coral do over time with these LEDs.
if your tank is only 18 inches tall go with the 60 optics
thanks for posting the PAR plot but i don't understand it at all when i look at it, for me to understand what kind of PAR i'm getting i need a tank with numbers posted on the front of the tank with the sensor shown under the light at all angles, Charts and graphs aren't visual enough for me, lol
with my lights 6 inches off the water and 33 inches from the bottom each PAR38 with 40 optics covers a 1 foot by 1 foot area with 60 optics i'd cover more area but have less PAR
thanks for posting the PAR plot but i don't understand it at all when i look at it, for me to understand what kind of PAR i'm getting i need a tank with numbers posted on the front of the tank with the sensor shown under the light at all angles, Charts and graphs aren't visual enough for me, lol
with my lights 6 inches off the water and 33 inches from the bottom each PAR38 with 40 optics covers a 1 foot by 1 foot area with 60 optics i'd cover more area but have less PAR
GSMguy
New member
KrashPD i am planning on using them to light my whole 67G shallow and am planning 3 20k with 80 optics and 3 with 60 degree as well. the 80s will go in the center to light the whole tank and the 60 will highlight spots. my water is only 13" deep and i only have 3 corals so it should be plenty.
zygote2k
Nuisance Algae
Here's a basic sketch of the new light system using 9) 40 degree bulbs.
5) 12k and 4) 20k. These will be mounted inside the canopy with track lighting fixtures. The rockwork will resemble the form of a person holding their arms out, with one hand slightly higher than the other. The central column and the "hands" will be illuminated by 3 bulbs each. Each hand or atoll will be comprised of shelf like rock and each connecting arm will be pvc reinforced branch rock. It will appear as if the atolls are floating.
This will be fitted to an Oceanic 210 and should give the fish room to swim and allow for coral growth.
5) 12k and 4) 20k. These will be mounted inside the canopy with track lighting fixtures. The rockwork will resemble the form of a person holding their arms out, with one hand slightly higher than the other. The central column and the "hands" will be illuminated by 3 bulbs each. Each hand or atoll will be comprised of shelf like rock and each connecting arm will be pvc reinforced branch rock. It will appear as if the atolls are floating.
This will be fitted to an Oceanic 210 and should give the fish room to swim and allow for coral growth.
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