Then we get to the QUALITY of the light output as per the application & this too can vary, even with the same PAR output (photons of light), meaning one light with the same PAR reading can be superior over another. 08 watt per mm of PAR (one model of AAP AquaRay) & as inefficient as 2.7 watt per mm of PAR (a Beamsworks LED). In fact these efficiencies just within LED light can vary greatly with some as efficient as. Now we generally will start with the the PAR for what we intend to utilize our lights for (although many will often use higher PAR readings than necessary).Įven then with the many LEDs available, we need to look at input energy versus output energy since often the same input in watts (joules of energy) can have a different output in PAR due to wasted heat energy in drivers, controllers, fans, etc. This is due to the variety of available modern lights with varying lumens per watt, different wavelengths, focused lumens, PAR, PUR, PAS, & RQE.Īs an example, a high PAR/PUR LED only need about 4% to 15% of typical aquarium T8 or T12 lamps. In fact, the 'Watts Per Gallon' should only be used within the same type & make depending upon what is kept. Often this would range from 3 to as much as 5 watts per gallon, but this now is quite outdated for most modern lights. Back in the days of buying your fluorescent cool white or warm white T12 or T8 lights (often even at hardware stores), this 'rule' was quite useful since we were more comparing "apples to apples".
When choosing your aquarium lighting, there's MUCH MORE to consider than just "WATTS PER GALLON". Video version of the first section of this article:Īquarium Lighting 2018 | Kelvin, PAR, Watts and More AQUARIUM LIGHTING, Information including Factors, Types, & Useīy Carl Strohmeyer- PAMR 40+ years experience
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