experience with current usa powercompats?

kolosy · 05/12/2008, 01:00 PM

i'm about a month into a new tank setup (my first salt-water venture), and i'm picking out lighting. i've been looking at powercompats, and this one seems interesting.

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...s~vendor~.html

i'm a bit concerned about the power output though. this would go over a 36x15x20 46gal bowfront, and i want to be able to have a mix (hard and soft coral). while the total power output is 190, i'm assuming that only one set of the lights is on during a given point in time, which means 95w for the tank. i realize that w/gal isn't a great way to go, but that seems way low. i'd like to have moonlighting, do i need to get two of these?

fishwood · 05/13/2008, 04:55 PM

The link doesn't work but I doubt you can only have one bulb on at a time. Most people will run a day night cycle. So that means the high kelvin bulb comes on by itself for a couple hours (simulating sunrise), then the 10k kicks in for six or so, then it kicks off leaving the high kelvin bulb running again for a few hours (simulating sunset).

All the multi-bulb power compacts have separate switches, so you can run them however you like.

05/12/2008, 01:00 PM	#1
kolosy Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 655	experience with current usa powercompats? i'm about a month into a new tank setup (my first salt-water venture), and i'm picking out lighting. i've been looking at powercompats, and this one seems interesting. http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...s~vendor~.html i'm a bit concerned about the power output though. this would go over a 36x15x20 46gal bowfront, and i want to be able to have a mix (hard and soft coral). while the total power output is 190, i'm assuming that only one set of the lights is on during a given point in time, which means 95w for the tank. i realize that w/gal isn't a great way to go, but that seems way low. i'd like to have moonlighting, do i need to get two of these? __________________ not yet. maybe someday. Current Tank Info: 90L RR mixed reef, panworld 150ps external pump, t5/mh/led, 20g under-tank sump, 27g above tank sump, 27g fuge with 4" dsb, macro and lr rubble.

05/13/2008, 04:55 PM	#2
fishwood Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Napa, CA Posts: 190	The link doesn't work but I doubt you can only have one bulb on at a time. Most people will run a day night cycle. So that means the high kelvin bulb comes on by itself for a couple hours (simulating sunrise), then the 10k kicks in for six or so, then it kicks off leaving the high kelvin bulb running again for a few hours (simulating sunset). All the multi-bulb power compacts have separate switches, so you can run them however you like.