Par38 LED's and SPS

[mic209]

I'm thinking about using these over my next tank 18x18x18. If you're using them, How do SPS do, mainly acro's, under these bulbs? I'm not looking for explosive growth, going more for color.

 

[beeker]

I Have 20 of them on my 200g DD

IMO if you use them you will want to use the 20k bulbs or something that is custom made

the cool white leds tend to brown things out a little, but is good for growth

you'll want a combo of Cool white, Royal blue, Cool blue and Neutral white, you can get these made at nanocustoms, they have no problem making one off bulbs, for a tank that is less than 20 inches tall 60 optics would work fine, you'd still want atleast 2 bulbs IMO

IF you are keeping SPS the 4 spectrums of leds are needed or you won't have good color over all of your sps, cool blue is good for some blue and green sps, royal blue has more of an effect on purple's and white/blue tipped sps

the PAR they put out is more than enough for sps, most of my bulbs have 40 optics since my tank is 27 inches tall, the lights themselves are another 6-7 inches higher off the tank and i can still keep sps at the very bottom of my tank with these leds no problem

 

[wuster77]

hi beeker, so would the 20k bulb alone be enough for color on sps in general or would you say the 4 spectrum is a must? thanks!!

 

[cubical]

valuable, hands on input beeker! thank you
it feels like the more people really give LEDs a good running, the better all reefers start to harness the potential

 

[beeker]

I'd go with the 20ks unless you feel the need to add the other spectrums i wouldn't worry about it, but you'll want atleast 2-3 Royal blue leds per each Cool white led you have so that way you blend out the yellow white spectrum of the cool whites so that your corals dont dull or brown out

 

[iwishtofish]

beeker, I just acquired two of the 40 degree 12k Ecoxotic PAR 38s (2 Royal Blue / 3 White) to put over a frag tank/refugium. Bad choice?

 

[beeker]

My though is this

if you are only keep lps and softies the 12ks are fine the cool white led doesen't negatively affect the colors of lps 90% of the time, although you could add an all Royal blue bulb into the mix and get better color without having to swap leds or bulbs

but from my own experience you will net better color with the 3 royal blue and 2 cool whites

But now Rapid led makes a PAR38(7 led bulb) with 3 Royal blue 1 neutral white 1 cool blue and 2 cool white leds IMO this is the perfect bulb for color and growth and honestly it is the combo i'd use on my setup if i was to do it again, which eventually all of my PAR38's will be switched over to this eventually since it will net the best color out of sps by offering a "full spectrum"

hope that helps

 

[Nanighan]

Just curious how high are you guys mounting your par 38's? If possible give measurement from bulb to water surface and from bulb to closest sps? results?

 

[wuster77]

beeker, have you used any rapid par38 by any chance? just wondering how it compares

 

[beeker]

my PAR38 40 optic bulbs are about 38 inches away from the bottom of my tank they are about 8-10 inches off the water surface and i get plenty of PAR and spread at the bottom of my tank

I have not tried the Rapid led PAR bulb, but they do use Cree's and the bulb has all the right led spectrums in it to net the results i was trying to acheive with my Nanocustoms PAR38's

i talked to nanocustoms about getting some of the cool white Leds switched out of my 12k bulbs but they made it seem like they weren't going to be doing the modding thing anymore or carrying individual leds to swap into my PAR38's so i might eventually over time be going with all Rapid led PAR bulbs but it will be awhile before i do that since that will take more funds i dont have at the moment but honestly i won't be ditching any of my nanocustom bulbs for the next 6 years even if i do get some Rapid PAR38s to add to my setup

 

[wuster77]

thanks for your input beeker!! i decided to give the rapid bulbs a try and placed the 60 optics on order. ill let you all know how it goes

 

[wuster77]

hi beeker, i just got the bulbs, but got a question already =)

was wondering if the blue and royal blue should look the same. right now all the blues look the same, but one of them should be just blue, not royal blue. do you have any experience with the blue led, or only with royal blue and cool blue?

thanks!!

 

[beeker]

i just ordered a New rapidled PAR38 last week i should get it by the end of this week

i will take some pics when i get it as well

Yeah there should be a slight color difference between the royal blue and the cool blue they use, they will look similar in color temp though since they only have a 20nm difference in color

post up some pics if you get a chance

 

[Nanighan]

I would love to see a before and after comparison of the new par 38 vs the old one. I currently have the older version and would definately change if it means better color.

 

[beeker]

i use nanocustom's PAR38's now, the Rapid has 2 more leds in it, so i'd have to say it will perform better, i'll see if i can get some type of color comparasion between it and my 12k/20ks though

 

[jerrym21]

i use nanocustom's PAR38's now, the Rapid has 2 more leds in it, so i'd have to say it will perform better, i'll see if i can get some type of color comparasion between it and my 12k/20ks though

I very interested in your opinion between the 2. I put in an order last week for 12 Nanocustoms for my 180gal. (6)12k@60deg, (4)12k@80deg and (2)20k@80deg. I called and put the order on hold. Now I'm wondering if I should go with 12 Rapid Led instead. Due to space restrictions above the tank, the lamps will be 5.5 inches off of the water from surface to bottom of lamp. What do you think?

 

[dvanacker]

16 posts and no pictures yet??

 

[beeker]

Wont be able to post up pics till the 8th i went way over my photobucket bandwith, lol

Honestly i'd stay away from any bulbs that have 3 cool whites in them, i own 8 12k PAR38's myself and honestly have to influence them with Cool and royal blue to get sps colors to be correct and will eventually just have my 12k's over my lps since lps colors arent as affected by the cool white like sps are

so i'd suggest going with the 20k's instead of the 12ks as they will net a better color because of the 3 royal blue although neutral and warm white would most likely be the ideal white leds to use

if your looking for a bulb that offers every spectrum then the Rapidled new 7 led bulb would probably be your best bet, i was looking at getting my 12k's redone by nanocustoms but at the present moment i decided to just get some Rapidled 7 led bulbs and switch around where my 12k's are at

 

[jerrym21]

Wont be able to post up pics till the 8th i went way over my photobucket bandwith, lol

Honestly i'd stay away from any bulbs that have 3 cool whites in them, i own 8 12k PAR38's myself and honestly have to influence them with Cool and royal blue to get sps colors to be correct and will eventually just have my 12k's over my lps since lps colors arent as affected by the cool white like sps are

so i'd suggest going with the 20k's instead of the 12ks as they will net a better color because of the 3 royal blue although neutral and warm white would most likely be the ideal white leds to use

if your looking for a bulb that offers every spectrum then the Rapidled new 7 led bulb would probably be your best bet, i was looking at getting my 12k's redone by nanocustoms but at the present moment i decided to just get some Rapidled 7 led bulbs and switch around where my 12k's are at

Thanks. From reading all of your posts on the subject and your experience with various lamps and combinations I was leaning that way also. What color temp is the Rapid 7 led equal to? I can't find that info.

 

[CMLewis]

My main concern with the nanotuner 20k bulbs is that reds and other colors that look better under white light will be washed out. With the new rapidled bulb, do you guys think it will have this issue?