True Sun 30PAR Bulb - Please provide your opinion

1147 Views 7 Replies 3 Participants Last post by Raymond07, May 27, 2014

JJVanier

Discussion Starter · Mar 9, 2014

A local contact of mine, is ordering in some custom made 30PAR LED bulbs. And is offering them for sale for $30 CAD. I am interested in purchasing 1 or 2 for my 20 gallon plant tank, for overgrowth and as a nursery for new plants.

Here is some information:
"Deep Sea Aquatics, Full Spectrum PAR30 bulbs are perfect for all tank sizes, from nano reefs, to giant planted tanks. With two spectrums to choose from, we guarantee great growth and colouration in all your aquatic life.

True Sun:
The True Sun PAR30 Bulb uses 7 high output 3W Bridgelux LEDs to power through the foliage and make sure those low growing plants get their share of the light. Adapted from the high powered bulbs used in saltwater aquaria, the True Sun PAR30 Bulb was over-engineered to hit just the right wavelengths to make your fish pop, and plants flourish. With 2 Neutral White, 2 Cool White, 1 Deep Red, 1 True Violet, and 1 Royal Blue, there's no doubt your tank will be well lit. True Sun PAR30 Bulbs are also the perfect choice for saltwater refugiums, growing macro algae like the weed it is.

We recommend hanging the bulbs 8-10 inches off the surface of the water to ensure proper penetration without damaging any plants near the surface. A single bulb will cover a one foot square of dense plants or will produce nearly a 2 foot square of visible light, capable of growing low light plants."

From a message I asked about par levels(he will be testing them with a par meter when they arrive):"I know the SW version will have at least 100 or close to it at 18 inches through salt water, I imagine the FW one will be similar."

Here is the custom light setup, the first picture shows the FW bulb setup:

What do you all think? I plan to use this with a standard desk lamp.

See less See more

Save

1 - 8 of 8 Posts

JJVanier

Discussion Starter · #2 · Mar 9, 2014

Benefits:
-Low power consumption – only 21W compared with 250W metal halides, or large arrays of t5 tubes.
-Less heat than both metal halides and t5 bulbs
-Long lifespan (over 50,000h)
-Save money on bulb replacements
-Screws into a standard lightbulb socket

Specifications:
-7x3W Bridgelux LEDs
-Universal 110-240V AC current
-Standard e27/e26 screw in base
-Low profile 5cm radius by 10cm hight
-60˚ optics provide deep penetration
-1 foot square coverage

See less See more

Save

boxboy

· #3 · Mar 9, 2014

Nice to see people making a $ off of others hard work. Its funny tho cause this above info has one major flaw...

FIY, you local friend is only copying someone elses design, not actually making a custom bulb.

Not looking to poo poo in this thread, just ticked that some people clearly dont do their own research and make something useful out of it, but instead just copys someones work...

Save

JJVanier

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 9, 2014

Thanks for weighing in on this boxboy.

Who deserves the original credit?
What is the major flaw may I ask?
The copied design, is it a sound one?

It sounds like you have some inside scoop on this, but I care more about my $30 going to a sound bulb that will yield good results for my plants.

Can anyone else weigh in?

Save

JJVanier

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 9, 2014

boxboy said:
Nice to see people making a $ off of others hard work. Its funny tho cause this above info has one major flaw...

FIY, you local friend is only copying someone elses design, not actually making a custom bulb.

Not looking to poo poo in this thread, just ticked that some people clearly dont do their own research and make something useful out of it, but instead just copys someones work...

Please also if there is a problem with these bulbs, give me more information, so I can use the power of my wallet as am informed consumer!

Save

boxboy

· #6 · Mar 10, 2014

Take out the Violet completly, it wont help.
Instead use:
2pcs 4500k Neutral White
2pcs 6500k Cold White
1pcs 455nm Royal Blue
1pcs 495nm Turquoise
1pcs 660nm Deep Red

Epistar LED beads are just as good, if not better then Cree or Bridgelux... your choice...

21watts is not good for a Par30 size, regardless of how well its vented...

17watts max I would reccomend for a Par30.

If you did the same with a Par38, then sure 21watts if fine...

90° optics will give more light spread, but unless your tank is under 12"H you will want 60° optics... Unless you have the bulb a few inches above the water at that point just remove all lenses to get 120° spread.

If you can, get a dimmable bulb its just easy to use.

Look at the proof that this combo does work well. My thread -->
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=347050&highlight=

See less See more

Save

boxboy

· #7 · Mar 10, 2014 (Edited)

JJVanier said:
Thanks for weighing in on this boxboy.

Who deserves the original credit?

Many compaines in the US have used this design for Reef tanks for years with success, but only one company in Canada did... The Canadian company "Bright Aquatics" for a few years was the only place in Canada to make Par38s & Par30s for Reef Aquariums.
Bright Aquatics also launched a "Flora-Fauna" Par38 that was only sold in limited quanitys as a market test...It was very successful for Freshwater aquariums but there is sooo many other options for FW tanks that it was a costly option at $85-$100 each... No other company anywhere has made a "All in one" "Full Spectrum" light with the correct wai elenghts with LEDs for Planted tank, despite some claims...

What is the major flaw may I ask?

Too much watts, 21 watts Will cause heat issues within the bulb and it will burn out before you have it 3yrs.

The copied design, is it a sound one?

Yes!! I dont blame people for copying it... its just wrong to take credit for others work.
Even the multi million dollar company Orphek copyed the Bright Aquatics FW design, but they messed up the ratios and used a Par56 and alot of power and charge alot for it... I mean Orpheks Tweak in it does work, just likely not as well...

It sounds like you have some inside scoop on this, but I care more about my $30 going to a sound bulb that will yield good results for my plants.

Just believe me that when I say that your plants will be very happy with the led combo I suggested, they will be... In 3+ years you can still say, Nice!!

Can anyone else weigh in?

Just my 2¢

Save

Raymond07

· #8 · May 27, 2014

I just upgraded the lighting from the stock Aquaray tile to a full spectrum Par38 which is awesome. I love the bulb and the way it looks in the aquarium. It gives off a full spectrum that you can see and it penetrates deep in to my tank.

In my opinion it mimics the spectrum as you would see in the ocean pretty close and there is a good shimmer to it. The only thing that I will warn you about though is that the bulb is extremely heavy. I ordered a clamp that was supposed to hold the weight of the bulb, but honestly I was so scared that the housing was going to fail and my Par38 bulb was going to shatter, that I took the clamp down. I am in the process of finding a heavy duty wall mount for the bulb so that I can get back up and running with my Par38 bulb. I cannot wait to get it back up as it is beautiful.

Save

1 - 8 of 8 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

True Sun 30PAR Bulb - Please provide your opinion

JJVanier

Attachments

JJVanier

boxboy

JJVanier

JJVanier

boxboy

boxboy

Raymond07

Top Contributors this Month