It would probably take a 400w MH in a good reflector to get 300 PAR from four feet away!Those are STUNNING numbers considering the low wattage and how high off the tank it is. Don't be too hard on your optics, they're doing an amazing job.
One of the neat things about light, is that it is predictable. That is why we can interpolate the output of a any bulb with any reflector as long as the reflector has been measured with another bulb and we know the point source parameters for the bulb in question. At one point Sanjay was going to put up a small web app that would allow ANY of the bulb he measured to be simulated in ANY of the reflectors he measured. Pretty cool project based on simple math... but dunno if it ever happened.
If we took a 150W halide with a reflector that focused on the same footprint as the LEDs, then it would blow the LEDS away even if the MH in question was only 75 lW and the reflector was only 70% efficient vs the LEDs with 100 lW output and 100% efficient optics. A 400W halide in the improper reflector would still very easily produce more than 300 par in the main focus area at a distance of 4-5'
A "good" reflector is one that puts the light on the desired focus from the desired distance. The 8mm optics do that for Widmer, the same could be done with a MH by changing the shape of the reflector to focus the light in a narrower beam.
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True you could focus any light source that has enough output to get the par readings, but I think that there are 3 main points to this that need to be restated.
1) LED technology can be used for reefs now and has a reasonable price
2) The reduction in power consumption over 10 - 15 years (wiht rates going up) will save who knows how much money.
3) Keeping the same bulbs for 10 - 15 years will save hugh money over the long run and reduce the amount of toxins being dumped in landfills. Halides are expensive every 6 - 12 months at $75 each or more.
Also I think it is key to note that for smaller tanks Nano and Pico a DIY LED set up will be very affordable.
I am not even going to entertain that debate here as it is fully outside of the scope of my post.
Again, a debate for another thread and fully outside of the scope of my comments. LEDs have come a long way, but they still have a way to go before true savings are realized when apples are compared to apples with regard real world usable output per Watt consumed and real world life of products. The next several years should be interesting. Placing any crappy implementation of one technology against a well engineered application of another is not apples-to-apples.
Again, fully outside of the scope of this conversation (see above) not to mention that I am not at all concerned about my carbon footprint
Yes, this hobbby does not really invest product development and insted we borrow and adapt industry has to use. In that regard, LEDs are pretty cool becuase we can play around with endless permutations and have a steady supply of new technology to use in doing so.I would imagine your painting with a broad brush just to illustrate how well the project turned out, but I hate for people who are just learning to walk away with the wrong idea.
If we took a 150W halide with a reflector that focused on the same footprint as the LEDs, then it would blow the LEDS away even if the MH in question was only 75 lW and the reflector was only 70% efficient vs the LEDs with 100 lW output and 100% efficient optics. A 400W halide in the improper reflector would still very easily produce more than 300 par in the main focus area at a distance of 4-5'
A "good" reflector is one that puts the light on the desired focus from the desired distance. The 8mm optics do that for Widmer, the same could be done with a MH by changing the shape of the reflector to focus the light in a narrower beam.
Not even close. I simply pointed out basic fact. To infer anymore was meant, is to make the mistake of implying opinion where it was not intended to be inferred or applied. My wording was not ambiguous and the basis for my comments was clearly pointed out.
Kindly, whatever makes you feel good
. Just keep in mind that what you may deem as an acceptable level of conservation or "doing your part" is no doubt deemed by others as an unreasonable level of usage and an affront to the idea of conservation.
