Par 38 LED spotlights
- Thread starter goodtimes
- Start date
I have a few questions after reading for ages...
I have am building a tank that's going to be either 30-36 inches long and 18-24 inches wide and 16-18 inches tall.
I prefer a slightly blue tinted tank BUT not too blue to wash out the reds and other colors (the impossible quest... I guess it would be 14k degrees?). Is there a bulb that would fit my needs? I see 20k and 12k bulbs, but I am wondering if, like many other lights, these aren't actually the true colors of the bulbs. Could someone summarize the how blue or white the different branded bulbs actually are comparably?
Also, what optic and height combo would give me the least "spotlighting" (ironic I know) for this height tank without sacrificing par for sps?
Should I use par 30 instead since this tank will be shallow? I'm looking for equivalent par to 250 watt halides.
Thanks!
I have am building a tank that's going to be either 30-36 inches long and 18-24 inches wide and 16-18 inches tall.
I prefer a slightly blue tinted tank BUT not too blue to wash out the reds and other colors (the impossible quest... I guess it would be 14k degrees?). Is there a bulb that would fit my needs? I see 20k and 12k bulbs, but I am wondering if, like many other lights, these aren't actually the true colors of the bulbs. Could someone summarize the how blue or white the different branded bulbs actually are comparably?
Also, what optic and height combo would give me the least "spotlighting" (ironic I know) for this height tank without sacrificing par for sps?
Should I use par 30 instead since this tank will be shallow? I'm looking for equivalent par to 250 watt halides.
Thanks!
msr224
New member
Check pg 28 for the specs on my bulbs. 'M pleased with growth is far. The light color is perfect imho. A definite reccomend. Should be to market soon as i saw on their site that they announced them.
Has anyone noticed that algae all but stops growing on the glass with these lights? I'm just wondering if it's an LED thing or a par bulb characteristic. My tank is well lit by a rapid 7 bulb 60 degree optic, suspended 19 inches from the surface. If this is a characteristic of the bulb then it's a definite positive for them.
msr224
New member
I stopped growing algae on the glass when I aimed the lights a little better. I would imagine that in your case your hit the spot perfect the first time..... good job!!!!!
I only need to clean the glass about once every two weeks and that is only right down at the sand......
Is anyone ordering the new led spotlight from Rapid?
Crab Rangoon
New member
Speaking of... why aren't there any good comparisons of the Rapid LED / Boost LED PAR lamps with the EcoXotic / NanoTuners PAR lamps? A comparative tear-down, or even side-by-side PAR measurements would be quite helpful. I've still yet to see anything besides opinions that prove them to be "just as good" as one another.
If any locals around me end up purchasing a Rapid or Boost lamp, I have no problem getting together to take some PAR readings of them against mine - it's too bad everyone around here is still MH crazy :sad1: (too bad for them, that is).
Uncle Salty 05
New member
Don't feel sorry for me.
I love my MHs and don't have a load of cash to drop so my tank can look like a band on stage with spotlights on the key players.:lmao:
I love my MHs and don't have a load of cash to drop so my tank can look like a band on stage with spotlights on the key players.:lmao:
iwishtofish
Active member
What altitude for my PAR 38 coverage?
What altitude for my PAR 38 coverage?
I have two Ecoxotic 40-degree PAR 38 LED spots. I'm going to hang them over the refugium/frag section of my 40 breeder sump. The highest I can theoretically hang them is ~26.5" from LED lens to bottom of the tank. The area of the section I'd like to light is 14.5"x18.25", with 14.5" water depth.
I know the really high-PAR area is narrow with these lights. Can anyone recommend the optimal height (lens to bottom of tank)? Ideally I would have maximum high-PAR coverage on the bottom of the tank. Thanks
What altitude for my PAR 38 coverage?
I have two Ecoxotic 40-degree PAR 38 LED spots. I'm going to hang them over the refugium/frag section of my 40 breeder sump. The highest I can theoretically hang them is ~26.5" from LED lens to bottom of the tank. The area of the section I'd like to light is 14.5"x18.25", with 14.5" water depth.
I know the really high-PAR area is narrow with these lights. Can anyone recommend the optimal height (lens to bottom of tank)? Ideally I would have maximum high-PAR coverage on the bottom of the tank. Thanks
newtank
Member
OK, i dont want to become the LED expert< I saw the spot light Ecoxotic blues on a set of 24g cubes and I love the spot light look. I want to use two, or possible 4 of these on my 150g cube. Its 36x36X24, I realize that I wont flood light everywhere, and I am ok with it. I think I can scape it out to look pretty unique, but not sure what lamp to get, I see the Evil PAR 38's look like they have 40 degree optics, same as the ecoxotic's, sounds like they will be laser beams, maybe wider optics would be better given my tanks foot print, but not sure what to get. Need to come up with something quick...
iwishtofish
Active member
Are you thinking of using these spots as primary lighting on your 36x36? I have two 40-degree PAR 38s to put over my 14x18 frag/refugium, and I'm not convinced at all that they'll produce any uniform coverage. I'm thinking you'd need maybe 8 or more (even at 60-degrees) to be able to put corals anywhere other than very strategically placed in your size tank. The high-PAR seems to be very focused directly below these spots.
miniwhinny
New member
I have 3 Rapid PAR 38's (7 LEDs) over m 20L. They have 80degree optics. I have a question - just set up my tank this month and I'm wondering if I have them placed too close? They are 5 inches above the water...should they be higher and if so...how much higher?
Thanks for any help.
Thanks for any help.
kmu
New member
I have 3 Rapid PAR 38's (7 LEDs) over m 20L. They have 80degree optics. I have a question - just set up my tank this month and I'm wondering if I have them placed too close? They are 5 inches above the water...should they be higher and if so...how much higher?
Thanks for any help.
Thats a very nice coverage for just 3 par38s, how long is the tank?
miniwhinny
New member
Anemonebuff
New member
Very cool. I just ordered two of the new RapidLEDs to replace 2 of the BoostLEDs.
So I have finally setup my 214 gallon, 5 tank system. I used the rapid par 38 "old style" bulbs with 60 degree optics. I have four lights over the DT and one over the Eel tank. The lights over the DT are suspended 17" above the top of the 21" tank. Despite the pictures, the temperature is around 14k. I wanted to go for a pendant type look and track lighting installation is not an option. I came across the Zoo Med light bar and subsequently discovered the bar piece can be removed. Next I attached car battery ring and spade crimps to the top of the socket, hammered a 1/4" coated cable and attached another crimp to hook it to the ceiling. If anyone interested I can give a more detailed explanation, takes about 5 minutes each. Whole setup ran me about $60 including shipping and tax. And remember, these housings are designed for moist animal enclosures. I will paint the wiring to match the walls when I repaint the house.
It's a standard 20L 30" long. I made my own light stand with PVC pipe that I spray painted black. Sorry about the washout on this picture...I only had the middle light on and it blinded my camera lol
That's a nice brace for the 3 lamps. Are those PVC pipes at the bottom holding up the brace? Which adaptor/connector did you use to connect em? Thanks.
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