Par 38 LEDs before and after

Akwarius · 04/09/2010, 05:32 AM

I took the plunge and went led, more specifically, nanotuners Par 38 modules. Here are some before and after shots.
Before:

150w coralvue in an odyssea fixture

After:

3 20k 60degree optic Par38's

Akwarius · 04/09/2010, 05:40 AM

First impression is that I am very excited and pleased with these LED's. The color is fantastic and very hard to capture on camera. They are tremendously bright, which has an effect on photos as if you went a little crazy with the contrast slider in PS. I went with the Par 38's because I didn't want to be stuck with a unit that couldn't be changed as I evolve in the hobby. I can always add more or less depending on my tank's size and/or needs. Plus they are 3w CREE's as opposed to the wimpy 1w of other standalone fixtures. My only complaint is that the modules require some sort of base fixture with a standard screw socket. This is both a pro and a con, as the are versatile, though finding the right fixture proved a little challenging. Ultimately, I went with an octopus-style lamp with 5 sockets on flexible goosenecks. I then dissasembled the top from the base, and hung it from the ceiling like a pendant. Though I had bought a fourth Par 38, three seemed to sufficiently light this tank. I hung a separate Par 38 to the side(not pictured), as an actinic for a sunrise/sunset effect. I would have liked to have this all in one fixture, but that was not possible without some rewiring. I am curious to see what effect, if any, this type of lighting has on my corals.

Akwarius · 04/09/2010, 05:49 AM

Coral shots with LED lighting:

20k LEDs

actinic only

20k LEDs

actinic top-down

marinerfr · 04/09/2010, 06:34 AM

wow that looks amazing... hmm now i gta find a lamp that will hold mine for my 10 gallon any reccomendations?

Akwarius · 04/09/2010, 06:45 AM

I would just take apart one of those cheap industrial clip-on lamps from Home Depot or Lowes. Strip it down to the wire/plug and the socket. Then hang it directly from a ceiling hook by the cord. Optional: some type of stopper attached to the cord for height adjustment.

zygote2k · 04/09/2010, 10:35 AM

The 60 degree bulbs need to be lowered considerably so there isn't so much light leakage. Too much light on the walls- lower the fixture and put the light in the tank where it belongs.

Akwarius · 04/09/2010, 05:38 PM

I intentionally started them high as not to shock the coral. I may lower them incrementally depending on how the coral respond.

Stripe01 · 04/09/2010, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zygote2k

The 60 degree bulbs need to be lowered considerably so there isn't so much light leakage. Too much light on the walls- lower the fixture and put the light in the tank where it belongs.

I did that with mine and it caused a lot of fading/shrinking. He should keep it up high, these little lights are intense.

zygote2k · 04/09/2010, 08:13 PM

I went from 400w mh to 3) 40 degree 20k's and the SPS reacted favorably. They improved in color and growth. They are 12" away from the lights.

Akwarius · 04/09/2010, 09:10 PM

Wow. Only three led modules to replace the intensity of a 400w mh! You're saving over three hundred watts on your electric bill!

wld1783 · 04/09/2010, 09:41 PM

Found a lot of different PAR 38 Links and bulbs including halogen.

Do you have a link where you got yours. I think the Cool White LED is awesome. We have them in our next gen jets. I use the Cree XRE Cool White on my tanks.

I bought two LED lights from Menards same skew and one was cool white

the other was yellow warm light

no difference what so ever in packaging.

Gotta big house to light and COMED keeps harassing me on my electricity bill.

Bill

Andrew Henry · 04/09/2010, 09:53 PM

Just wanted to say that looks great! Makes me rethink the 1,134 watt MH fixture I recently bought..

nattarbox · 04/10/2010, 07:25 AM

Where did you get the five socket fixture? I'm looking to do roughly the same thing.

Akwarius · 04/10/2010, 10:01 PM

It's just a simple $20 octopus-style fixture from target. The bulbs are from nanotuners.

04/09/2010, 05:32 AM	#1
Akwarius Moved On Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 398	Par 38 LEDs before and after I took the plunge and went led, more specifically, nanotuners Par 38 modules. Here are some before and after shots. Before: 150w coralvue in an odyssea fixture After: 3 20k 60degree optic Par38's

04/09/2010, 05:49 AM	#3
Akwarius Moved On Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 398	Coral shots with LED lighting: 20k LEDs actinic only 20k LEDs actinic top-down actinic top-down

04/09/2010, 10:35 AM	#6
zygote2k Nuisance Algae Join Date: May 2008 Location: Reston,Va Posts: 213	The 60 degree bulbs need to be lowered considerably so there isn't so much light leakage. Too much light on the walls- lower the fixture and put the light in the tank where it belongs. __________________ LED powered LPS tank with 100% WAMAS built components. Current Tank Info: LED powered LPS tank.

04/09/2010, 08:13 PM	#9
zygote2k Nuisance Algae Join Date: May 2008 Location: Reston,Va Posts: 213	I went from 400w mh to 3) 40 degree 20k's and the SPS reacted favorably. They improved in color and growth. They are 12" away from the lights. __________________ LED powered LPS tank with 100% WAMAS built components. Current Tank Info: LED powered LPS tank.

04/09/2010, 09:41 PM	#11
wld1783 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Park Ridge Posts: 2,232	Found a lot of different PAR 38 Links and bulbs including halogen. Do you have a link where you got yours. I think the Cool White LED is awesome. We have them in our next gen jets. I use the Cree XRE Cool White on my tanks. I bought two LED lights from Menards same skew and one was cool white the other was yellow warm light no difference what so ever in packaging. Gotta big house to light and COMED keeps harassing me on my electricity bill. Bill __________________ NKAWTG Current Tank Info: 570 Soft/LPS, 330SPS & 440 refug

04/09/2010, 05:40 AM	#2
Akwarius Moved On Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 398	First impression is that I am very excited and pleased with these LED's. The color is fantastic and very hard to capture on camera. They are tremendously bright, which has an effect on photos as if you went a little crazy with the contrast slider in PS. I went with the Par 38's because I didn't want to be stuck with a unit that couldn't be changed as I evolve in the hobby. I can always add more or less depending on my tank's size and/or needs. Plus they are 3w CREE's as opposed to the wimpy 1w of other standalone fixtures. My only complaint is that the modules require some sort of base fixture with a standard screw socket. This is both a pro and a con, as the are versatile, though finding the right fixture proved a little challenging. Ultimately, I went with an octopus-style lamp with 5 sockets on flexible goosenecks. I then dissasembled the top from the base, and hung it from the ceiling like a pendant. Though I had bought a fourth Par 38, three seemed to sufficiently light this tank. I hung a separate Par 38 to the side(not pictured), as an actinic for a sunrise/sunset effect. I would have liked to have this all in one fixture, but that was not possible without some rewiring. I am curious to see what effect, if any, this type of lighting has on my corals.

04/09/2010, 06:34 AM	#4
marinerfr Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 221	wow that looks amazing... hmm now i gta find a lamp that will hold mine for my 10 gallon any reccomendations?

04/09/2010, 06:45 AM	#5
Akwarius Moved On Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 398	I would just take apart one of those cheap industrial clip-on lamps from Home Depot or Lowes. Strip it down to the wire/plug and the socket. Then hang it directly from a ceiling hook by the cord. Optional: some type of stopper attached to the cord for height adjustment.

04/09/2010, 05:38 PM	#7
Akwarius Moved On Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 398	I intentionally started them high as not to shock the coral. I may lower them incrementally depending on how the coral respond.

04/09/2010, 09:10 PM	#10
Akwarius Moved On Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 398	Wow. Only three led modules to replace the intensity of a 400w mh! You're saving over three hundred watts on your electric bill!

04/09/2010, 09:53 PM	#12
Andrew Henry Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 55	Just wanted to say that looks great! Makes me rethink the 1,134 watt MH fixture I recently bought..

04/10/2010, 07:25 AM	#13
nattarbox Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Cambridge, MA Posts: 431	Where did you get the five socket fixture? I'm looking to do roughly the same thing.

04/10/2010, 10:01 PM	#14
Akwarius Moved On Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 398	It's just a simple $20 octopus-style fixture from target. The bulbs are from nanotuners.