LED for planted tank

[DE Lightings]

Hi guys,

I am bring in some PAR38 LED with Cree XPE 6500k which specs is 5x3watts and comes with 60 deg optic. Total consumption is 21watts and with lesser heat and lower power consumption, i think its worth considering.

Just wondering if any of you guys have success stories in keeping planted tank with LED?

Apologies as my expertise are mainly in Marine AQ and have little knowledge in Planted tank

Appreciate your humble comments....thanks

[blue33]

Those mentioned above item should be good for planted tank. No chances of testing it. Cost is still the main issue.

[DE Lightings]

Those mentioned above item should be good for planted tank. No chances of testing it. Cost is still the main issue.

The Par38 is @ SGD150 for a unit and its true that its consider expensive if you are currently using T5 or FL tubes. If it is compared with MH, than i can say that the LED is still cheaper in term of running cost and can run longer. LED have a lifespan of @ 50,000 hrs so its like using the same light for 3yrs. If you compare the lifespan of MH bulb and T5 or T8 tubes, it will be 1:4.

cheers and some feedback is much appreciated

[blue33]

Par38 is getting popular in marine. How's the penetration like? Would really loves to try some.

[planted86]

i'm using DIY LED, 8X 10W running at 7W each. very satisfied with the result.

[ranmasatome]

Any pics of the set? i might consider being your guinea pig...

[DE Lightings]

Any pics of the set? i might consider being your guinea pig...

Hi Ranmasatome,

here the pic of the Par38 which i indent in black color. Its an honour for you to try this out!!

[

PAR38 - SGD150

Base Type: E27
Input Voltage:** 90~260V
Output Power:15W (5x3W)
Luminous Flux: Output:950 lumens:502-577LM

Rendering Index: 70%-85%
Brightness attenuation:* 3%-5%1KH
CCT: Q3 Coolwhite :6600K
LED'S Operating Life: 50,000Hours
LED: Cree XPE
Len: 60 deg optic


A specially indent stand for the PAR38 at SGD48 which is adjustable in height.

The PAR38 will reach me in mid JAN so those interested to try as well, please let me know.....

Cheers

[blue33]

any pic of the indent stand? take 4ft for an example, how many Par38 does it need to cast the whole tank?

[k3nlim]

how many will be needed for a 2 ft cube?

[DE Lightings]

any pic of the indent stand? take 4ft for an example, how many Par38 does it need to cast the whole tank?

With the 60deg optic lens, its should have a good coverage of a 2ft area. You may need 2 par38 min or max 3. This is also new to me and will be great if you can try this out as well.

[DE Lightings]

how many will be needed for a 2 ft cube?

Just one..... Or max 2.

[Shadow]

if not mistaken 24W T5HO is around 1500lm and Par38 have around 502-577lm. I know we suppose to look at Photosynthetically active radiation but since it is not easy to measure, lets just calculate based on lumens.

High tech 2ft tank normally using 2x24W T5HO or more and for Low tech tank normally ok with 1x24W T5HO. Correct me if I'm wrong, that mean need around 4 or 5 Par38 for standard 60x30x36 tank to get same lumens. I was assuming perfect reflector though.

[DE Lightings]

if not mistaken 24W T5HO is around 1500lm and Par38 have around 502-577lm. I know we suppose to look at Photosynthetically active radiation but since it is not easy to measure, lets just calculate based on lumens.

High tech 2ft tank normally using 2x24W T5HO or more and for Low tech tank normally ok with 1x24W T5HO. Correct me if I'm wrong, that mean need around 4 or 5 Par38 for standard 60x30x36 tank to get same lumens. I was assuming perfect reflector though.

Something we need to try to find out. The only things that i worry is just the coverage for the PAR38 which cannot be comparable with T5.

Other than than, it have all the positive advantages in using this unit.

[neverwalkalone]

Output Power:15W (5x3W)
LED: Cree XPE

Wow - with 5 of those 3W XPEs in that small casing, I'm intrigued to find out how they handle the heat dissipation! Most DIYs using the 3Wers use large heatsinks, so with the compact packaging (to fit into the E27 socket complete with 240V -> 700mA/1A Constant Amp electronics). Do update this thread/info once the specimens come in! ;-)

[DE Lightings]

Wow - with 5 of those 3W XPEs in that small casing, I'm intrigued to find out how they handle the heat dissipation! Most DIYs using the 3Wers use large heatsinks, so with the compact packaging (to fit into the E27 socket complete with 240V -> 700mA/1A Constant Amp electronics). Do update this thread/info once the specimens come in! ;-)

This PAR38 body is a heatsink and it is design in a way to cool the LED naturally. If you google PAR38, many marine reefers are using them and so far, its intensity is good and corals loves them too.

I estimate that this product will reach SG in 2 weeks time from now but the stand will reach me ealier by this week.

Im also eager to try out this unit as well!

cheers

[DE Lightings]

For those that wish to try out, please send an email to me at [email protected] and a special discount will be given to you for the first 5 sets.

No regrets and thanks

And this product comes with 1 year warranty so you will have a safe of mind purchasing it

[k3nlim]

Been using the set for three days. Some points to take note of:

1) Height of light is important to maximise the spread due to the lens. Might need a higher stand as it is not adjustable

2) May be a 7 led PAR can be consider to provide a better coverage

3) Some dark areas could be observed when changed to the bulb

I'm using it on a standard 2 ft tank, with hair grass, tiger lily, dwarf sag, narrow java ferns,riccia,etc. Still observing if the plants have any adverse reaction do the change in lights. Previously, 2x 24watts t5HO was used.

[Shadow]

2) May be a 7 led PAR can be consider to provide a better coverage

Need more than I expected

[BFG]

I gained a lot of info from this thread.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1746535

Basically, this Par38 led lamp is a spotlight. You are illuminating a certain area of the tank. Japanese reefer uses spotlight to bring out certain color for certain corals that a light tube can't do. So basically, if you want to illuminate a larger area, the Maxspect is the light set to look into. To target a certain area with a certain color temperature, the Par38 led is the one to use.

However, the Par38 led has an advantage in that with a focused lens, you could get a higher par reading at the bottom than compared to a T5 light tube. Read through the link to get the info that is available.

Hope this helps!

[Shadow]

some one was posted the PAR measurement, not sure whether any different between blue and white LED though

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...&postcount=291