LED Pendent Fixture or Par 38 style LEDs

[jjersey85]

So im tryin to decide on the lights for my new project, a 24x24x24 cube, and im gettin stuck here. ive seen all sorts of LED pendents with all kinds of great reviews and bla bla bla....but ive recently seen there par 38 LEDs and im quite captivated. My question is will the any par 38 LEDs, like the ones offered by Evil 66 at nanotuners, be powerful enough to be the sole light source for my cube at 24 inches of depth?

 

[petraio]

I will def do it!! They are bright enough!! I would like to do the same but right now I have money issue!! Sucks !! Cause thus is the wrong hobby to be in!! If money ge tight

 

[NYreefNoob]

on a tan kthat size you will need around 4 of them, so by the time you factor cost of them almost better to spend a little more and get a pendent

 

[JonnyJ]

on a tan kthat size you will need around 4 of them, so by the time you factor cost of them almost better to spend a little more and get a pendent

agree 100%

 

[jjersey85]

yeah i mostly just liked the aestetics of the par 38's but yeah for the 4 lamps alone id be in the neighborhood of $320 and thats without fixtures... Maybe ill make that a future upgrade :-/ Since im not goin that route i may give a diy LED setup a shot then...

 

[sillysidewinder]

Would 1 Par38 light be enough for a 12"x12"x12" glass Mr. Aqua tank? Does anyone know good PAR 38 pendants that aren't that expensive?

 

[ClosetFishGeek]

I would get a single pendant fixture

 

[sillysidewinder]

I can't seem to find the "right" fixture... Can you just use a regular desk lamp. I'm assuming no...

 

[bill.garrett]

I can't seem to find the "right" fixture... Can you just use a regular desk lamp. I'm assuming no...

It depends on the desk lamp. You don't want anything that won't allow the PAR38 to get air flow on the back side. I used an architectural lamp the first time w/o the cannister (you know, the black metal kind with the adjustable angles), but after 2 months it suddenly gave out and the bulb ended up in the tank.

I just built one for cheap using a piece of 1/2" steel conduit (10' for $2 at Home Depot) and wiring and cementing a socket to the end. I borrowed a pipe bender to make some angles so it would mount to the stand, around the lip, and bend over the tank. It looks slick and only took 2 tries to learn the pipe bender, so I actually had to buy 2 lengths of steel conduit. It looks slick and modern, and won't drop another bulb in the tank.

 

[sillysidewinder]

What would be a well built pendant specifically for this type of bulb that is a reasonable price? Does this exist?

 

[Wes]

Would 1 Par38 light be enough for a 12"x12"x12" glass Mr. Aqua tank? Does anyone know good PAR 38 pendants that aren't that expensive?

Slickest Par38 fixture for rimless tank would have to be the aquatouch NEO Arm in my opinion. One Par 38 would be perfect for that tank.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1767406

 

[sillysidewinder]

I thought any standard lamp would work just fine for this light...? Is this not correct?

 

[picod]

My tank dimensions are 17"x10"X8"h and I have two Par38's (each have 2 cool white and 3 royal blue with 80 degree optics).
These are the swing arm lamps I used to house the two Par38's over my tank:
http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/320705/Enlite-Task-Lamp-Black/

I removed the shade portion of the lamp for proper air circulation.

Hope this helps.
danielle

 

[sillysidewinder]

Hey Picod I've looked at your tank a lot and am using it as inspiration for my downgrade. From what I understand, 2 Par38's is fine for your tank, but do you think it would be fine with just one?

 

[picod]

Honestly, I would not have been satisfied with one Par38.
I actually started with one, and added the second very soon afterwards. I would still like it a bit brighter, but I do happen to like a very brightly lit tank.
I shut off one of the lights, put the other on over 12" of my tank. IMO, that is not enough light. There were definitely dark spots at the edges.
When I bought them in May, they were $125 each, and have now seen them much cheaper. Also, just thought I'd mention, I have two pieces of SPS in my tank, and they seem to be thriving.
I say two is the way to go, unless your doing a pendant!

 

[sillysidewinder]

I say two is the way to go, unless your doing a pendant!

My tank is 18"x18"x18" I wanted to be able to get away with 1 par38 on a pendant. but it looks like i am going to go with either the (2) par38's (2blue 3white) with a similar fixture to the one that you used or a 20" nova extreme T5 light. Trying to find the best deal. It seems like it's probably going to be the Par38's.

 

[sillysidewinder]

Has anyone seen a fixture like this:

http://etgrouphk.en.made-in-china.c...ED-Pendant-Light-ET-H01F2S-PAR30L-14W-2-.html

It's pretty awesome! Anyone know U.S. manufacturers of similar products?