Par38 LED spots

M

mrwilson

New member
I'm thinking of lighting the new 200 DD with a combination of T5s and a handful of these Par38 LED spotlights: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1792754&highlight=par38.

I'm not planning to keep SPS, so I won't need a ton of par. I just need enough light to keep softies and some LPS, and these LED spots are attractive to me because they won't generate as much heat as MH, but should give me that shimmer you can't get from T5s. Plus, I've always liked pics I've seen of "Japanese-style" directional lighting. Anybody local try them out yet, by chance?
 
Just an FYI on them as well, if you order 5 or more on a "group order" they are only $100 each we have quite a few people out here that really like them. If you're DIY savvy you can make an LED fixture very easily for that tank otherwise those are great options. I would think you would need at least 4-5 to do a good job. Still rather cheap when compared to initial costs of throwing 2x400 or 3x250 halides on there.
But each light should illuminate a good 12x12 area or so, with careful planning of your rockwork you could have a really cool japanese look.
 
I didn't know that about the "group order" discount - thanks.

3-5 of these might be about what I'm looking for; enough to give a cool spotty/directional effect in a few places and add some halide-y shimmer, but not enough to light the whole tank (or break the bank). I really don't mind having (and in fact, would prefer to have) a few shadowy areas in the tank, especially at the edges. Some interesting thoughts on spotlighting are here: http://glassbox-design.com/2009/aquarium-leds-a-practical-reality-if-used-properly/, and pics from a Japanese LFS with some spotlit reefs (these are with MH spots, though, not LEDs) are here: http://glassbox-design.com/2010/blue-harbor-japan-reopens-this-wekend/
 
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I am using one to light my tank. 80* optics over an 18x18" tank. I'm not concerned with PAR or I would have gotten 2 more with 40* optics. They are very nice and definitely provide the shimmer. I think they will be strong enough to provide the spotlight effect you are looking for. Keep in mind they are pretty big, and since there is no active cooling you might have problems if you plan to keep them in a canopy.
 
uhuru said:
Keep in mind they are pretty big, and since there is no active cooling you might have problems if you plan to keep them in a canopy.
Click to expand...

How hot are they? I have assumed that they have to be much cooler-running than 2 x 250w MHs (which is the other, more conventional option I'm considering). My canopy will be almost entirely open in the back - think I'll still need to put in a couple of fans if I have, say, 3-5 of these Par38s in there?
 
I guess it depends on what you use to mount the lamps. I used a track mounting system like this which allows a lot of open air around the lamps themselves. You could always try it without fans and add them later if need be.

DSC02780.jpg
 
Find Evil66 here on RC, he is the guy that makes those bulbs and he is very helpful with the placement and setup for those. I'd love to somehow add something like this to my tank to get more blue but my lights are so close the the surface of my tank that I wouldn't have the room I think.
 
uhuru said:
I guess it depends on what you use to mount the lamps. I used a track mounting system like this which allows a lot of open air around the lamps themselves. You could always try it without fans and add them later if need be.

DSC02780.jpg
Click to expand...

I'm thinking of using a track system exactly like that one (actually, did you get that around here someplace, by chance?).
 
jakano said:
Find Evil66 here on RC, he is the guy that makes those bulbs and he is very helpful with the placement and setup for those. I'd love to somehow add something like this to my tank to get more blue but my lights are so close the the surface of my tank that I wouldn't have the room I think.
Click to expand...

Heh, I think I've read almst everything Evil66 has posted about these things, but haven't yet engaged him directly. Seems like few people are using them in larger tank applications, and even fewer in canopies so far. But they're still very new.
 
Yeah I guess I should have realized you would know that since you did post a link to a thread where he is in it....DUH. Sorry about that :)
 
jakano said:
Yeah I guess I should have realized you would know that since you did post a link to a thread where he is in it....DUH. Sorry about that :)
Click to expand...

LOL - no sweat. I wouldn't have known three weeks ago when I first started looking into LED spots, so I'm sure it would be helpful to others.
 
They will go on the 110 and I am hoping that will be sufficient light. I thought about 6 lamps but Evil and Nick at Nanotuners felt that 5 would be sufficient with 60 degree optics. My problem currently is finding a decent track fixture that will work in a two circuit track. I would like to be able to independently control 2 sets of lights for a little dusk to dawn look.
 
Just placed my order for 8 PAR38's for my 200g DD i will have pics up asap when i recieve them, this is only to light the right side of my tank, this is the only lighting i'll be using on my 200g DD so stay tunned for pics, hopefully it won't take more than 2 weeks to get them to me
 
beeker said:
Just placed my order for 8 PAR38's for my 200g DD i will have pics up asap when i recieve them, this is only to light the right side of my tank, this is the only lighting i'll be using on my 200g DD so stay tunned for pics, hopefully it won't take more than 2 weeks to get them to me
Click to expand...

Very much looking forward to those pics, beeker. I've ordered my T-5 retrofit (4 48"-ers), which, particularly at 10" from the water surface in my canopy, will only be "base" lighting. Probably two of these (or something similar) for moonlights: http://saltycritter.com/lighting/icecap/icecap-led-moonlight-retrofit.htm. Then the PAR38s will be for spotlighting particular corals/rock formations (and throwing shadows around).

I'm not entirely settled on how many of the PAR38 spots I will need to round out my lighting; thinking 3-5 right now. beeker, are you going with the 40 degree optics? 12K or 20K?
 
just figured out how to post vids, so here is a short one with the 20K par38 80* optics to give you an idea of the shimmer:

<embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullscreen="true" allowNetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid209.photobucket.com/albums/bb171/icientyouth/MOV02871.flv">
 
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