Evil par 38 vs something led new:)

[gmubeach]

I currenlty have 38pars from nano tuners by evil. I was pretty impresse at first, but I wonder if there is something better out there and if its worth the cost to upgrade.

 

I have 4 of them suspended from the ceiling and about 10inchs from the top of the tank. This was lowered from 16 inches. Wasn't my only problem. water changes and salinty was also a big factor. The lights screw into standard flood lighting and are easy to use, but don't dim.

 

My tank is a 46g bowfront the heat is a huge issue as I'm not installing a chiller.

My concerns are as follows(Intial cost I'm trying to buy a house)

 

My dad is an engineer, but I'm a biologist and have trouble with mechancal devices including soderng.

 

I've tried to soder before and my hands shake way too much.(Disablity related).

 

Also looking for auto topoff sugestions.

(I've seen many varitions and I travel alot its on the second carpet floor of my parents house can't afford a spill.)

[Guest thefishman65]

I could help you with an LED fixture if interested. I am getting great group buy prices right now.

 

With power off how much room is left in the sump. Auto top from a container that will not overflow the sump in the worst case (poer off).

[gmubeach]

No sump:) I have a small hang on refugium and a protein skimmer. that drain back into the tank so we keep the level at 3 inchs or so under the rim. As for the group by the par 38 ran me at 115$ each for 4 of them. I would need to know an appromite price as this is really out of my realm. The par 38s are onsale for 88$ a piece. so I could most likly get 70$ a piece after I get the new lights set up.

 

 

Anyone that could help me price the lighting I would be very eager to listen. I'm not really good with led spects either. Anyway I think I could stash a bucket resvoiur and then a pump and check valve and some kind of float sensor. Anyway thanks for the help.

[Happyfeet]

I think this comes down to "Don't fix what aint broken". Especially don't fix it if your strapped tight enought that $500-$1000 could affect your ability to buy a home.

[gmubeach]

Thats what I was thinking I was hopeing the price had fallen down where I could affored it. I'm going to for sure invest in some kind of auto top off system. I'm not actaully in the buying stage of the house more the saving stage and the more I can save the more I can put down and get out of my parents house! I have such pipe dreams of the perfect tank I guess it will have to wait until I'm retired. I might just see if I can expand the ammount of lights I have to check on the "light sockets" Anyway thanks again. I would still like an estimate for average costs though.

[thewire]

Ya..there are a couple par38 out there slightly better (color wise and dimmable)

 

Orphek Pr-25 - coming soon http://blog.captive-aquatics.com/captive_aquatics/2011/01/hands-on-preview-of-orpheks-pr-25-par38-led-spotlight.html

 

New 7 LEDS Rapidled ...i heard the color mix is good

 

Another par38 dimmable

https://www.reefledlights.com/your-account/products-page/leds/ledsion-dimmable-par38/

[Guest thefishman65]

You would probably need 36-48 LEDs. About $4 a piece ($200). 3-4 Drivers at about $25 ($100). Lenses probably a good idea ($50). Heat sink - sorry don't know prices, but you can use home depot U channel.

 

 

 

I have an all white Par38 with Cree XR-E that you can have for $60 if it will help.