Par 38 LED's

nvmycj

nvmycj

Member
Hey folks!
I'm thinking about getting some PAR 38 LED's for my biocube. I just want some help and clarification from your experience.
1. How big are the bulbs?
2. Where can I buy them? I saw them on Ecoxotic's site...
3. Is 12000K brighter than the 20000K? Or is it the higher the K value, the more "blue/purple" the light?
4. My plan is this... let me know if it makes sense... Have one 12000k bulb and one w/455nm Royal Blue LED bulb. Is that too much for my 29G biocube? Will I have enough room for two bulbs? Will it bleach out my corals?
5. How high off the water line should they be?
6. With these bulbs, can I get a small clam?
I know it's a bunch of questions,...I just want to do it right....
THANKS!
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
Wat kind of current lighting is in ur cube?
A lot of people are putting the stunner strips or panoramas in the hoods of theyre cubes.
Wat brand is that par38?
Ive got two ecoexotic ones and a rapids...
theyre is also evil and ecoray that make em...
o and orphek
 
nvmycj

nvmycj

Member
Right now I have a 36watt PC and 36watt actinic bulbs.
Not sure what brand that bulb is...
Is having one 12000k and one royal blue too strong for my tank?? Will there be room enough in an above the tank canopy for two bulbs?
How high should the bulbs be off the water line?
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
not sure wat u mean?!?!?
Quote:
Is having one 12000k and one royal blue too strong for my tank?? Will there be room enough in an above the tank canopy for two bulbs?
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
this is wat ive got goin on my 20L and im thinkin about getting another! Id go with the stunner strips or panoramas strips...its easier to DIY ur hood of the biocube than to take it off and make a new light stand i would think.
edit: those bulbs are 17" off the water....
Leds have no problem penetrating air LOL....its when they hit the water and below 12" that u need more narrow an angle of light such as 40deg optics and such.
The two white bulbs have 40deg optics and the black one has 80deg optics which i wish i would have gotten 60'deg optics on!
 
nvmycj

nvmycj

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1guyDude http:///t/388752/par-38-leds#post_3430608
this is wat ive got goin on my 20L and im thinkin about getting another! Id go with the stunner strips or panoramas strips...its easier to DIY ur hood of the biocube than to take it off and make a new light stand i would think.
edit: those bulbs are 17" off the water....
Leds have no problem penetrating air LOL....its when they hit the water and below 12" that u need more narrow an angle of light such as 40deg optics and such.
The two white bulbs have 40deg optics and the black one has 80deg optics which i wish i would have gotten 60'deg optics on!
WOW!! Your bulbs are WAY up there! I was having a canopy custom built so I could have the bulbs be about 12" above the waterline. Looks like I better make the canopy a little bit taller.
Am I correct in saying this...
The closer the bulb is to the water, the wider the degree of light spectrum should be, right. Or is it the other way around,... the closer it is, to more narrow the degree of spectrum should be.
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
Quote:
The closer the bulb is to the water, the wider the degree of light spectrum should be, right. Or is it the other way around,... the closer it is, to more narrow the degree of spectrum should be.
well yes and no... depends on the degree lens of the optics...
a 40degree optic on a led will have a narrower beam of light compared to that same led with a 80degree optic.
So two of mine have 40deg optics...thats why those are so high...
the smaller the optic and less wide beam provides the light with better depth penetration too!
Quote:
will having a 20000k and a royal blue bulb be too strong? Will they bleach out my corals?
The 20k bulbs are more purple imo...(everyone see diff me thinks). If u want blue than u would get something between 14k-16k. Blue and white are the two most popular colors when people select their leds... 2quills knows more about this
 
nvmycj

nvmycj

Member
What are the "drivers?"
The last page of the instructions said, "In the picture below, we managed to fit the drivers into the hood. This is not necessarily true for all nano hood. The drivers with fit in the AP24, but not the BC29."
What's that mean?
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by NVMYCJ http:///t/388752/par-38-leds#post_3432548
What are the "drivers?"
The last page of the instructions said, "In the picture below, we managed to fit the drivers into the hood. This is not necessarily true for all nano hood. The drivers with fit in the AP24, but not the BC29."
What's that mean?
The drivers are the power supplies, or ballasts as it were.
 
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