LED bulbs??

[evaneatspie555]

i was wondering if anyone has had any experience with these screw in led bulbs. they seem pretty cheap and i was wondering if they would work for a reef tank. if not this product some other LED bulb like this where it screws into a normal ligting fixture.
http://www.marinedepot.com/Ecoxotic_PAR38_LED_Aquarium_Lamp_-Ecoxotic-XX06850-FILTBULD-vi.html

[reefme]

Tagging along.

[mike31154]

No personal experience, but here's a link to a Canreef build using PAR38 bulbs. If you search, you'll surely find more. Options for different configuration PAR38s specifically designed for our hobby are increasing. Make sure you read the specs to see how many LEDs per bulb and what colour & power each one provides. Shop around & you'll get a better idea on price etc. The one you linked to is still a bit pricey.

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=71390&highlight=PAR38

Haven't switched to LEDs yet myself, but this is certainly one of the options I've been considering since it's kind of DIY, but doesn't involve all the gathering of individual components such has heatsinks, fans etc & then soldering. I've purchased a few MR16 type lamps as samples to check out how they might perform. They're kind of a mini version PAR floodlight, designed to work on 12 volts DC. Been thinking about trying to at least power part of my tank with renewable energy such as wind/solar. These systems typically deliver 12 to 24 volts DC, so no voltage conversion required when using the MR16 form factor. It's almost a no brainer since LEDs are basically DC voltage devices.

4 x 1 watt LED Cool White MR16

https://blufiles.storage.live.com/y1p74RZgSxH4WTxFYpW6ctpPz8IXQXz2D8xyTawJldhvXK5mxx Vd3TpDaOajeA7-usNB8bmRj5p1pY/P1040394e.JPG?psid=1

https://blufiles.storage.live.com/y1p5Bixnd2jTNZMDb_zQlXkt4W9HZtPhFP0FufcSO1_3Bh_hCr pqHAGsCk6KHIhrgPl3iZPpE7i1gg/P1040396e.JPG?psid=1

https://blufiles.storage.live.com/y1p5Bixnd2jTNaJ-aXqeTU0QO6XxW8cRI8brX9vDd9fyPYo8y-tRa9LyZBC2pk3u5oeyy9Pgz-ATYY/P1040398e.JPG?psid=1

https://blufiles.storage.live.com/y1pBMf70t45j6IUwadPY1_pR4MnIj8p__kYjN8T0zNVG9dXju8 NndiaOMr0MW7Ud65gOCletOsTHlA/P1040399e.JPG?psid=1

[monocus]

these are ok for house lighting , but very little par.i have the same ones and up to 9 watters.i'll throw my par meter on them tonight and get the correct par

[ponokareefer]

Here's a link to someone doing a build on reefcentral.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1931230&highlight=par38+led

Here is a link to a thread where they were recently discussed.

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=79352&highlight=par38

Probably the cheapest way to do an LED setup without going to a full DIY. DIY is still cheaper though. They seem like a decent product. Look for the ones that have 3 Watt LED's in them as some have 1 Watt LED's.

[Beverly]

Tagging along, too :)

[ponokareefer]

If you are considering using them, here is a link to a cheaper site with an excellent reputation:

http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-PAR-Bulbs/Categories

[toytech]

evil on nano reef makes those bulbs and there is tons of info there on them he sells them and other diy leds through a site i cant remeber.

[hillegom]

very interesting, tagging along

[monocus]

par readings without water(my whole house is lit by these leds
3 watt bright white-600 at 3"
-200 at 6"
-86 at 12"
5 watt 3000 k -1500 at 3"
-280 at 6"
-86 at 12"
9watt bright white -1500 at 3 "
-300 at 6 "
-150 at 12"
the 3 watt is 3 -1 watt leds,the 5 is one 5watt led and the 9 is 3 3watt leds.if i get time this weekend i'll try them in a tank to get a proper reading-or better yet a pail of salt water