40 breeder par results

[Bob]

Here are some comparisons. Was fun to see the difference between them all. Going to be doing some more testing tomorrow.
I had the light in the middle of the tank, glass tops, and measured just below the surface, half way down, and at the substrate directly
below the light. Sorry for the poor quality photos, my blinds are currently off do to a recent repainting so i could not stop the glare.
Par is obviously the unit of measure here

Started with the 36" 6700k t5 light

Surface: 110
Middle: 80
Substrate: 32

Next was the Finnex planted + 36" w/blue leds on

Surface: 140
Middle: 70
Substrate: 38

Beamworks 36" planted fixture

Surface: 144
Middle: 84
Substrate: 44

I also measured the front of the tank at the substrate.
Finnex: 23
T5: 9
Beamworks: 41
The Beamworks did very well here. It is very wide and has 5 rows of leds.

Another important takeaway is the Beamworks has no red leds. But for a fixture that only costs $50 how could you go wrong? Only time will tell if this is a real value. I put two 36" beamworks and a 48" finnex planted + on my 125 gallon and have roughly 120 par at the substrate

Let me know if anyone has any request. I also have a 48" marineland modular led with 2 white tubes and 1 red/white tube i can test if anyone is curious. A finnex planted + clip light on a nano tank. Fluval spec v with stock lights. I will be testing the 36" finnex stingray tomorrow.

 

[Cory]

What is the wattage on the beamswork, and how many bulbs on the t5 in testing?

 

[Bob]

1 new bulb on the T5
Beamworks has 130 leds, .5 watts 6500k

 

[Bob]

I was going to test the Current USA Satellite Freshwater LED Plus line. But after a few quick test in the store, it became clear that it was not worth my time. Very poor results.

 

[Seattle_Aquarist]

Hi Vicmacki,

Nice looking Melanotaenia boesemani 'Lake Aytinjo' you have in that 40 gallon! LOL

 

[Cory]

1 new bulb on the T5
Beamworks has 130 leds, .5 watts 6500k

That explains it. Beamswork using 65 watts vs the finnex using 26.7 Total Watts.

Over double the energy usage for a bit more par. Never the less in the short term the beamswork wins out.

I'm more surprised by the single t5 light, what kinda fixture or reflector is on it?

 

[Bob]

Hi Vicmacki,

Nice looking Melanotaenia boesemani 'Lake Aytinjo' you have in that 40 gallon! LOL

haha thanks, wish i would have got the other trio from you too.

 

[Bob]

That explains it. Beamswork using 65 watts vs the finnex using 26.7 Total Watts.

Over double the energy usage for a bit more par. Never the less in the short term the beamswork wins out.

I'm more surprised by the single t5 light, what kinda fixture or reflector is on it?

I personally would stick with the finnex for the lower wattage and the reds/blues. But the beamworks is a great value. I love the look of using both.
Here is the t5 info

 

[Seattle_Aquarist]

Hi Vicmacki,

The Hagen Glo fixtures are quality T5HO's, they typically do very well when tested against other T5HO fixtures. They utilize highly polished MIRO 4 reflectors and don't under-drive the lamps with cheap ballasts like some T5HO manufacturers.

 

[Evad]

What PAR levels are we striving for at the substrate for low/medium/high light plants?

 

[Anonymous]

Highlight - 100 and above is considered high. Not sure about low and medium.

 

[Seattle_Aquarist]

Hi Evad,

There is no 'firm' PAR values for high, medium, or low light levels however typically I see people using the following:

PAR = 32 or less = Low Light
PAR = 80 to 32 = Medium Light
PAR = 80 or more = High Light

That said, the tank below is a 10 gallon, no CO2, with 2X10 watt screw in CFL bulbs, PAR = 25 (low light); most of the plants in this tank are supposed to require "medium light"

 

[Evad]

Super helpful. I definitely need to get a PAR meter and see where my tank is at.

 

[Seattle_Aquarist]

Hi Evad,

PAR meters are expensive, about $375 for an Apogee PAR meter with waterproof sensor. As a member of GSAS I can borrow the Apogee PAR meter from the club for up to a week. There is no charge except for my $15 single / $20 family annual membership fee.

 

[Bob]

Thats what i did, borrowed from the club. Just have to sign a release form so the club isnt responsible if you maim or kill yourself with it

 

[MattArmstrong]

I will be testing the 36" finnex stingray tomorrow.

Did you ever get around to testing the stingray?