Anyone own a rapidled par 38?

adam1103 · 07/28/2013, 02:55 PM

Hey everyone! Just wondering if anyone has tried the rapid par 38 with UV? I'm setting up a small 29 gallon and wondered what people thought about it? Any input would help since I'm thinking about ordering one this week. I'm thinking the one that has the uv and 80 degree optics since its only going to be about 8-10" off the water. Thanks again!

mussel and hate · 07/28/2013, 06:02 PM

I have a RapidLED par38 with the "UV" and 60° optics. It's over a 3g cubish tank and has been for about six months. My montipora corals seem to like it as they have shown new growth. I tried an E. paradivisa frag but it slowly lost all color (but for fluorescence) and began to shrink. The Eupyllia recovered when moved back under an MH. I wouldn't purchase another.

I think I could light a larger area with this light, perhaps30cm^2. Your tank will have dark corners.

adam1103 · 07/28/2013, 07:38 PM

I'm thinking of getting 2 of these. Would you say 2 would cover a 29?

Jonviviano · 07/28/2013, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mussel and hate

I have a RapidLED par38 with the "UV" and 60° optics. It's over a 3g cubish tank and has been for about six months. My montipora corals seem to like it as they have shown new growth. I tried an E. paradivisa frag but it slowly lost all color (but for fluorescence) and began to shrink. The Eupyllia recovered when moved back under an MH. I wouldn't purchase another.

I think I could light a larger area with this light, perhaps30cm^2. Your tank will have dark corners.

That's a tremendous amount of PAR for a 3 gallon tank, especially with 60 degree optics. Sounds to me like you bleached the other corals. 2 par38's would work well on a 29G. I would go with wider optics to get better coverage and blending.

asid61 · 07/28/2013, 11:33 PM

I would just use Reef Breeders. The bulbs are the highest quality IMO, even compared to Rapids.

mussel and hate · 08/01/2013, 02:36 AM

No Jon I did not bleach any corals. The Rapid PAR38 is dimmable and I slowly acclimated everything. The loss of pigment in the E Paradivisa took place over months. The same frag is about 2" from the surface directly under an MH currently and loving all the light. There's just something missing from the Rapid PAR38 that this coral needs. Montis are still going strong though...

ca1ore · 08/01/2013, 01:42 PM

I am using two RapidLED Par38 bulbs over my 30 long intro/QT tank. One is the new 12 LED bob with UV, the other is an older 7 LED mixed color bulb. I have been very happy with both. OK, corals aren't in this system for that long, but some mushrooms that hav largely become permanent residents seem very happy.

Although I have used thevReefBreeders Fuge lights, I have not tried their full spectrum bulb.

adam1103 · 08/01/2013, 03:11 PM

So would you think 2 of the par38's with the uv over my 29 biocube? Not going with sps I. This tank... Or could I go with 1 and the 80 degree optics?

Vannpytt · 08/01/2013, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asid61

I would just use Reef Breeders. The bulbs are the highest quality IMO, even compared to Rapids.

Really, what is that based on? (You opinion)

asid61 · 08/01/2013, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vannpytt

Really, what is that based on? (You opinion)

Greater variety of leds, and the use of neutral whites sin place of cool whites.
However, the Rapid bulb does get more efficiency with the use of Crees, so I guess I was wrong. I can't edit it now though.

ca1ore · 08/01/2013, 09:35 PM

Really would have to do a side by side comparison in order to draw any useful conclusions about reefbreeders versus rapid. Essentially the former has a red LED and one more neutral white whereas the rapid has two cool whites. All other LEDs similar.

Vannpytt · 08/02/2013, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asid61

Greater variety of leds, and the use of neutral whites sin place of cool whites.
However, the Rapid bulb does get more efficiency with the use of Crees, so I guess I was wrong. I can't edit it now though.

Nah, I guess you where right :-) Thanks for pointing out the difference.

07/28/2013, 02:55 PM	#1
adam1103 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 75	Anyone own a rapidled par 38? Hey everyone! Just wondering if anyone has tried the rapid par 38 with UV? I'm setting up a small 29 gallon and wondered what people thought about it? Any input would help since I'm thinking about ordering one this week. I'm thinking the one that has the uv and 80 degree optics since its only going to be about 8-10" off the water. Thanks again!

07/28/2013, 06:02 PM	#2
mussel and hate Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: location location Posts: 701	I have a RapidLED par38 with the "UV" and 60° optics. It's over a 3g cubish tank and has been for about six months. My montipora corals seem to like it as they have shown new growth. I tried an E. paradivisa frag but it slowly lost all color (but for fluorescence) and began to shrink. The Eupyllia recovered when moved back under an MH. I wouldn't purchase another. I think I could light a larger area with this light, perhaps30cm^2. Your tank will have dark corners.

07/28/2013, 07:38 PM	#3
adam1103 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 75	I'm thinking of getting 2 of these. Would you say 2 would cover a 29?

07/28/2013, 11:33 PM	#5
asid61 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cupertino, CA Posts: 1,111	I would just use Reef Breeders. The bulbs are the highest quality IMO, even compared to Rapids.

08/01/2013, 02:36 AM	#6
mussel and hate Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: location location Posts: 701	No Jon I did not bleach any corals. The Rapid PAR38 is dimmable and I slowly acclimated everything. The loss of pigment in the E Paradivisa took place over months. The same frag is about 2" from the surface directly under an MH currently and loving all the light. There's just something missing from the Rapid PAR38 that this coral needs. Montis are still going strong though...

08/01/2013, 01:42 PM	#7
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	I am using two RapidLED Par38 bulbs over my 30 long intro/QT tank. One is the new 12 LED bob with UV, the other is an older 7 LED mixed color bulb. I have been very happy with both. OK, corals aren't in this system for that long, but some mushrooms that hav largely become permanent residents seem very happy. Although I have used thevReefBreeders Fuge lights, I have not tried their full spectrum bulb.

08/01/2013, 03:11 PM	#8
adam1103 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 75	So would you think 2 of the par38's with the uv over my 29 biocube? Not going with sps I. This tank... Or could I go with 1 and the 80 degree optics?

08/01/2013, 09:35 PM	#11
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Really would have to do a side by side comparison in order to draw any useful conclusions about reefbreeders versus rapid. Essentially the former has a red LED and one more neutral white whereas the rapid has two cool whites. All other LEDs similar.