Rapid LED PAR38 bulbs?
- Thread starter E.intheC
- Start date
Anemonebuff
New member
The black ones are the rapids and the others are BoostLED.
I just replaced two of the Boost with the new Rapids. The lighting is brighter and more unifom, but I cannot really see the difference in color from the new Rapid from the old. However, I do like the redesigned shape of the bulb. There is no light spill out of the sides of the bulb and the base is not as fat making it easier to mount in track lighting.
Anemonebuff
New member
The new ones are nice, but they really do not show much different, or any different, than the original bulb IMO. I do like the new design of the bulb on the other hand. It does not let any light out the side of the bulb like the original does. The shape of the bulb is better for the track lighting because they do not have a fat base by the socket.
Anemonebuff
New member
FYI be very careful with these bulbs. Even though I slowly ramped up the bulbs an hour a week they fried some corals. I lost one finger leather, with the other whithering as well, some green acros, palys, zooanthids, and an encrusting monti.
Scuba Steve
New member
Tank looks great!!
How long have you been running par38 on your tank? And how long do you keep the lights on?
Good to know!! Some great knowledge. Thanks for sharing sum info. Always wondered about the par38.
The black ones are the rapids and the others are BoostLED.
I just replaced two of the Boost with the new Rapids. The lighting is brighter and more unifom, but I cannot really see the difference in color from the new Rapid from the old. However, I do like the redesigned shape of the bulb. There is no light spill out of the sides of the bulb and the base is not as fat making it easier to mount in track lighting.
How long have you been running par38 on your tank? And how long do you keep the lights on?
Good to know!! Some great knowledge. Thanks for sharing sum info. Always wondered about the par38.
Anemonebuff
New member
Thanks for the nice words.
The LEDs have been on the tank for 3 months. Many of the corals have grown substancially. I run them about 11 hours a day with 3 actinic stunner strips on 14 hours a day.
The LEDs have been on the tank for 3 months. Many of the corals have grown substancially. I run them about 11 hours a day with 3 actinic stunner strips on 14 hours a day.
E.intheC
Active member
Definitely good information. Thanks for posting.
I'm surprised more people don't have these bulbs. Personally I can't wait to get the new ones on my tank. I'm looking at two PAR38s for my tank.. Its a rimless 19 x 13 x 13h tank. Going with 2 rock mounds in a minimliatic style... Two bulbs should work perfectly.
I'm surprised more people don't have these bulbs. Personally I can't wait to get the new ones on my tank. I'm looking at two PAR38s for my tank.. Its a rimless 19 x 13 x 13h tank. Going with 2 rock mounds in a minimliatic style... Two bulbs should work perfectly.
Anemonebuff
New member
The tank is a 72"x18"x22"(lxwxh), 125 gallons. The use of different bulb types made for some spotlighting from the Rapid LEDs(they are brighter than the BoostLEDs). I did replace the BoostLEDs in the center with the new Rapids and it is more uniform and the spotlighting is not noticable. I will, in the future, replace 2 of the the Boosts on the outer ends closer to the center for even more uniform coverage/color. The Boosts are also bluer(14K-20K). The Rapids are 12K in appearance to my eye. The perfect balance of blue to white light IMO and for my taste.
Anemonebuff
New member
The Rapids look as bright or brighter than the MHs and the Boosts look dimmer. However, the Boosts have bleached/burned/melted corals half way down the tank. The Boosts also look dimmer due to the bluer, 14K-20K, look. The tank looks dimmer in the photos due to messing with the white balance. If I do not lower the white on the camera the glare is all you can see in the photos.
Anemonebuff
New member
The Rapids at the edge of the bulb are 4.5" fom the water surface and the Boosts are 5" from the water line. The spread is okay. 80* optics would be better, but I do not know how well stuff would grow at the bottom. All of my rocks are right down the center of the tank so that the rocks near the top are lit. The outer edges of the upper 3-4" of tank are dim and can only be noticed when a fish swims there. For better coverage you could raise the bulbs higher. They are at the end of the day....spotlights. The fruit stand aquascape would need double the bulbs, so AI units would be a better option in that case.
I am growing LPS corals on the bottom under the Boosts and I have monti caps 1" off the bottom under the rapids that have grown about 2" in diameter since adding the LEDs.
Anemonebuff
New member
Looks great. Now you see how hard it is to photograph acurately. Play with the white balance.
