Need opinions on lighting please.

[gar732]

I currently have 4 54w T5s over my 75gal and I wanted to add two more, but I like the way the reefbrites look and they advertise that it has more par than two blue+ bulb w/reflectors. So, I debating between two more T5s or a 48" blue reefbrite. From what I hear nothing makes corals pop like leds, but I want to see if maybe the T5s would be better (as far as growth) for the corals. Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[roshi719]

Par = growth as long as all the levels are where they should be as far as Ca, Alk, Mag, and Phosphates go.

 

[TopNotchCorals]

The Reef Brite par rating compared to a T5 is based on a T5 bulb of equal length to the Reef Brite

 

[gar732]

So if reefbrites claims are true then the reefbrites are the way to go?

Has anyone ever tested the par of there reefbrites?

 

[gar732]

The Reef Brite par rating compared to a T5 is based on a T5 bulb of equal length to the Reef Brite

I'm looking at the 48" reefbrite or 48" T5s so its apples to apples. Just wondering if reefbrites claims hold up.

 

[ksc]

I doubt the reefbrites put out twice the par as a properly setup t5. Matter of fact if you were to pit 4 reefbrites against a 4 bulb ATi t5 fixture, I'd bet the ATI would put out twice the par as the reefbrites. I run a row of the nanotuners par38 bulbs along the front of my 40 breeder, so thats about 120 watts of led. The par under the led bulbs is about 350 on the surface, under the Sunpower, 650. Those 6 par38's would never light the whole tank like the Sunpower does.....

 

[TopNotchCorals]

I doubt the reefbrites put out twice the par as a properly setup t5. Matter of fact if you were to pit 4 reefbrites against a 4 bulb ATi t5 fixture, I'd bet the ATI would put out twice the par as the reefbrites. I run a row of the nanotuners par38 bulbs along the front of my 40 breeder, so thats about 120 watts of led. The par under the led bulbs is about 350 on the surface, under the Sunpower, 650. Those 6 par38's would never light the whole tank like the Sunpower does.....

It all depends on what kind of LED's if it was 3w cree's then your ATI would not even come close.

 

[gar732]

The reefbrites are 3w leds and I think they are supposed to be cree internals or something like that.

 

[ksc]

The par 38's are 3w crees driven a little over 3watts, with 80* optics. The reefbrites are 3w cree/edison's driven close to 1watt. I can fake the results by putting the par meter directly under the led bulbs and claim my 21 watt par 38 puts out more light than a 250 halide, but I'm not trying to sell anything.....

 

[divewsharks]

I don't believe they are being driven at 3W, i believe it is closer to 1W. I was talking to a rep at a conference a few months back. I bought some to be the primary lights for my frag tank, but they are still a couple weeks away from going into production.

 

[gar732]

bump