Ecoxotic Stunner Strip PAR Numbers | AquaNerd

Ecoxotic Stunner Strip PAR Numbers

By: Brandon Klaus

Ecoxotic Stunner LED Strip

Ecoxotic Stunner LED Strip

Recently, LED lighting company Ecoxotic sent us a bunch of goodies to do a product review on, including the Stunner Strip supplemental lighting systems. We originally photographed and tinkered around with the lights to get a feel for how well they work. Diving further into the review, we broke out the Apogee PAR meter and have done some pretty extensive testing on the strips.

Ecoxotic Stunner LED Strip

Ecoxotic Stunner LED Strip

The tank the measurements were made on is a small, cube-shaped nano aquarium measuring approximately 17″L x 17″W x 17″H. The lights sit approximately 3″ off the surface of the water. The PAR numbers weren’t out of this world, but there are a few things to keep in mind when reading these numbers. For one, the Stunner Strips are designed to be add-on supplemental lighting, not the primary source of light. Secondly, the lights emitted from this combination of LED strip lights is a bluer hue. Bluer light puts out less PAR. The last thing to consider with these lights is that each strip only uses 6 watts of electricity. This is quite a bit less than a four bulb T5HO light fixture of similar length.

At the very bottom of the aquarium, approximately 18″ from the light source, the PAR readings ranged from 49 PPFD (photosynthetic photon flux density) to 51 PPFD.

Stunner Strip PAR Numbers

Stunner Strip PAR Numbers

Approximately 3 inches off of the bottom, or 15″ from the light source, we measured 59 – 61 PPFD.

Stunner Strip PAR Numbers

Stunner Strip PAR Numbers

Our third measurement was taken 6 inches up from the sandbed, or about a foot away from the light. The LEDs were emitting 71 PPFD.

Stunner Strip PAR Numbers

Stunner Strip PAR Numbers

Seven inches from the light, the PAR meter was reading 82 PPFD and peaking at 86 PPFD.

Stunner Strip PAR Numbers

Stunner Strip PAR Numbers

At the water’s surface, the PAR was at its highest, ranging from 102 – 105 PPFD.

Stunner Strip PAR Numbers

Stunner Strip PAR Numbers

The numbers were somewhat impressive considering the little amount of energy required to power these LEDs. When initially gathering all of the results from these tests, I decided to view PAR output data others collected from different types of light fixtures.  I scoured the net and found that a majority the T5HO fixtures put out approximately 180 PPFD at 12″ from the surface of the water. Additionally, 250-watt metal halide systems put out anywhere from 220-300 PPFD at 12″ from the water’s surface. The LEDs obviously put out less PAR than the other fixtures, but at the same depth, these energy sipping bulbs were emitting PPFD in the low to mid-70′s.

Stay tuned for more Ecoxotic product reviews when we do the PAR readings for the Panorama Module.

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  • phxreef

    Did you use just one strip in these test? If you string several of them together wouldn't the PAR numbers increase?

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/AquaNerd AquaNerd

      i did the test with all four of the strips simultaneously lighting the aquarium.

  • Nano sapiens

    From the Ecoxotic website they mention that reflectors are sold as an option. Were these used for your PAR testing?

    • http://blog.aquanerd.com AquaNerd

      no, unfortunately they were released after we did our testing. so, one could assume the par would increase if you used the reflectors.

  • Nano sapiens

    The manufacturer claims that the reflector will double the output. Assuming this is correct, using your testing as the basis, would it be accurate to say that the PAR value 6″ up from the sandbed (12″ from the light source) should be around 140 PPFD?

    • http://blog.aquanerd.com AquaNerd

      it would be accurate so long as the reflectors actually double the output of the strip. i suspect that the output isn't actually doubled, but increase by maybe 75-90%. you would have to account for some loss of light that escapes into the environment.

      • strike2867

        Are there any plans to test this?

        • http://blog.aquanerd.com AquaNerd

          We were going to test the lights over corals, but getting the tank set up would take too long. So we gave the light away in one of our contests. The PAR numbers were decent, considering the lights are intended to augment the main lighting over the aquarium. I did love the colors the lights emitted.

      • Nano sapiens

        So I pulled the trigger and bought (2) of these Stunner Strips with reflectors. Installed these a couple weeks ago and I noticed some bleaching from my two Pavona species, however my many Monitporas didn't react at all. Orange and yellow Rics are turning green, which is a bit weird.

        Now, I need to get my hands on a PAR meter so I can find our how much PAR these put out with their individual reflectors.

        • http://blog.aquanerd.com AquaNerd

          yeah, i would actually expect that from your pavonas. i bet the reflectors do wonders in terms of par numbers. please keep us updated when you test them.

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  • Tam

    Hi. I heard that actinics (450nm’ish) is good for corals and can get some good coloration. I’m looking to supplement my 400W MH with these LEDs over a 36x36x30h tank. Would I see any benefits? Thanks

    • http://blog.aquanerd.com AquaNerd

      your corals will certainly look better under actinics. they will develop more purples, blues, and greens instead of looking brown. of course, coral coloration also depends on water quality. if you have high phosphates, the color of the light won't make a huge difference.

  • Nicholas

    Which color lights did you use for the PAR Test? was it the 8000k or was it a mixture of some of the UV and 453nm?

  • http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=275087 Kgoldy

    I’ve got one 36″ all white stunner strip (no reflectors) over my new DIY HOB style fuge.  Stunner strip is 2 inches above the water surface, water is 3 inches deep.  Sandbed is 7 inches wide and runs the length of the strip.  I’m only attempting to grow scroll algae, oar grass, and some chaeto to act as a natural filter floss toward the exit of the fuge.

    So will this one 8,000k stunner strip do the trick?

  • http://www.facebook.com/nickjqz Nicholas Joseph Jaquez

    Kgoldy, you from NR?

  • http://www.facebook.com/kristofer.goldsmith Kristofer Goldsmith

    yup (this is kgoldy).

  • http://www.facebook.com/nickjqz Nicholas Joseph Jaquez

    Same here, I am not sure if we are going to get an answer soon though.

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