Post by Carl on Jun 14, 2022 12:19:50 GMT -5
AAP Recommend this excellent research/experience based article dealing with aquarium lighting.
www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2012/03/pur-vs-par-in-aquarium-lighting.html
What is noteworthy as of 2022, while many aquarium LED lights (most made in china) have come and gone, one still stands alone in its efficiency by a wide margin and that is the AAP/TMC AquaRay line.
Here is an excerpt from this article:
"PAR stands for Photosynthetically Active Radiation.
This is commonly our starting point for determining whether or not a light fixture is adequate for our needs since it can be relatively objectively measured.
Before we go into depth about the meat of this article, we can use the basics of PAR combined with input wattage to get some useful information about the efficiency of an aquarium LED light (or really any aquarium light).
The reason this is important is that many if not most LED fixtures can keep high light planted or reef aquariums, but many if not most use a lot more energy and last much lesser time due to inefficiencies than need be if built with efficiency (including optimized PUR) and durability in mind (which bring up initial costs, but pays for itself long term).
Here are five examples using PAR reading directly under the lights (within the FULL footprint of the light, not using pin point "hot-spots").
Keep in mind that the lower the number, the more efficient the LED light is, and it is common for cheaper LED lights to have higher numbers:
SB Reef Light PRO 32. This is rated at 363 watts input energy with a PAR of approximately 881 (100%) at 400mm of air.
This comes to .41 watts of input energy per 1 PAR (its Chinese made cousin, the Prizm is similar in its PAR efficiency)
Kessil A150. This is rated at 90 watts input energy with a PAR of approximately 325 (100%) at 400mm of air.
This comes to .27 watts of input energy per 1 PAR
AquaRay Reef White NP 2000. This is rated at 30 watts input energy with a PAR of 380 at 400mm of air.
This comes to .08 watts of input energy per 1 PAR
Finnex Planted 24/7 20 inch model. This is rated at 15 watts input energy with a PAR of 61 at 400mm of air.
This comes to .24 watts of input energy per 1 PAR
VIPARSPECTRA UL Certified V450 450W. This is rated at 200 watts input energy with a PAR of 370 at 400mm of air.
This comes to .54 watts of input energy per 1 PAR
Obviously this is but a starting point as this article will clearly show in PUR & more, as we have to consider what we are using our lights for from planted freshwater to acropora reef lighting. But these efficiency readings speak volumes about who PUR, PWM, and wasted energy running fans affect PAR efficiency."
www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2012/03/pur-vs-par-in-aquarium-lighting.html
What is noteworthy as of 2022, while many aquarium LED lights (most made in china) have come and gone, one still stands alone in its efficiency by a wide margin and that is the AAP/TMC AquaRay line.
Here is an excerpt from this article:
"PAR stands for Photosynthetically Active Radiation.
This is commonly our starting point for determining whether or not a light fixture is adequate for our needs since it can be relatively objectively measured.
Before we go into depth about the meat of this article, we can use the basics of PAR combined with input wattage to get some useful information about the efficiency of an aquarium LED light (or really any aquarium light).
The reason this is important is that many if not most LED fixtures can keep high light planted or reef aquariums, but many if not most use a lot more energy and last much lesser time due to inefficiencies than need be if built with efficiency (including optimized PUR) and durability in mind (which bring up initial costs, but pays for itself long term).
Here are five examples using PAR reading directly under the lights (within the FULL footprint of the light, not using pin point "hot-spots").
Keep in mind that the lower the number, the more efficient the LED light is, and it is common for cheaper LED lights to have higher numbers:
SB Reef Light PRO 32. This is rated at 363 watts input energy with a PAR of approximately 881 (100%) at 400mm of air.
This comes to .41 watts of input energy per 1 PAR (its Chinese made cousin, the Prizm is similar in its PAR efficiency)
Kessil A150. This is rated at 90 watts input energy with a PAR of approximately 325 (100%) at 400mm of air.
This comes to .27 watts of input energy per 1 PAR
AquaRay Reef White NP 2000. This is rated at 30 watts input energy with a PAR of 380 at 400mm of air.
This comes to .08 watts of input energy per 1 PAR
Finnex Planted 24/7 20 inch model. This is rated at 15 watts input energy with a PAR of 61 at 400mm of air.
This comes to .24 watts of input energy per 1 PAR
VIPARSPECTRA UL Certified V450 450W. This is rated at 200 watts input energy with a PAR of 370 at 400mm of air.
This comes to .54 watts of input energy per 1 PAR
Obviously this is but a starting point as this article will clearly show in PUR & more, as we have to consider what we are using our lights for from planted freshwater to acropora reef lighting. But these efficiency readings speak volumes about who PUR, PWM, and wasted energy running fans affect PAR efficiency."