Anyone using Par 38 LED's on their tanks?

[Veng68]

Just wondering if anyone is using PAR 38 LED bulbs like the Ecoxotic PAR38 LED or the Orphek PR25- Par 38 LED over their tanks?

How do you like them?

Cheers,
Vic

[Mandosh]

I'm running a RapidLED par38 over my new nano cube. So far I've been impressed. I can't really comment on long term success though. The Orphek looked interesting when I was shopping around, but I couldn't justify the 2.5x price tag.

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[Foxface]

Tagging along.

[lorenz0]

i'm not a huge fan due to how they are to much of a spot light. plus for the price you can do diy that has even spread

[bling_bling466]

Im running one I bought from eBay and love it at the moment I'm already running 120 1.5 watt LEDs and its for a 54 corner bow tank and I'm using the par 38 light as a spot light for the clam at the bottom of the tank

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

I thought about it but I would need 4 over my 2' cube I think so that becomes too expensive for me. I will probably get a DIY (not by me though) LED pendant over my cube and RSM and maybe even the Fluval Flora frogfish tank. It would cost me the same as getting these PAR38s over the 2' cube.

[mike31154]

Here's a link to a thread by nebthet who's using them. Hasn't been updated in a bit, but great info & pics.

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

[Veng68]

I was actually thinking of using them over a FOWLR tank. Do you think they are strong enough for 1 over every 2 feet?

Cheers,
Vic

[RDNanoGuy]

I ran 4 par38's from Paul @ oceanic Corals over a 6 foot reef for awhile and was generally pleased with them illumination wise. Only problem was the coral growth butter zone was fairly small so all my corals were grouped in clusters under each light. On a fowlr it would be fine. Look for a wide optic (60 or 80 degrees) to minimize shadows or just hang them higher.

[tang daddy]

I have not personally used them but would think that the spread might be alittle streched for 1 every 2 ft. A member on here was running some par 38 over his nano sps awhile back, imisky Eugene might have more personal experience over spread. Also mounting them higher up may blind the other members of your house and I guess if you were to space them a few ft apart it would most definately have some dark areas inbetween.

You may want look into running a cheaper led fixture for the fowler, btw what is the length and width of the tank these led will be put on?

[lastlight]

My entire 400 is very well lit with only a few T5s on (dusk/dawn). Still low heat... no shimmer though. You're dead-set on LED?

[Veng68]

Probably 6 ft 210.

Yeah I like the idea of the LED's.

Cheers,
Vic

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

When are you getting a 210g Vic?????

[Veng68]

When are you getting a 210g Vic?????

Renos First :(

Cheers,
Vic

[imisky]

4x PAR38s (any brand) will not light a 6ft tank efficiently. With 80degree optics they will produce enough PAR equivalent to 250W in the middle of the 1.5' x 1.5' coverage and falls off. This is enough for LPS, but if you add in SPS then the range shrinks down to about 1' per bulb.

LEDs are the way to go. PAR38/DIY/ or commercial units as long as its spec-ed out for the system it'll work well.