Talk to me about CF lights

[Drix]

I've gotta break down and buy new CF bulbs as mine are over a year old now.

I wanted to know if theres a place to look for spectrum and wavelength information and the like so I could make a more informed decision about bulbs but have no idea where to start. For isntance, Actinic bulbs are blue, I know that, but why are they called actinic? Where can I find this info?

[mile sq. reefer]

CF ( compact flor.) 10k and Actinic 03, way to go. 10k replicates white light, noon day sun so to speak, forget where it peaks on the spectral plot and the Actinic produces light in the bluer 420 nm range. So the combination creates a pleasant balanced lighting scheme for the tank and it's inhabitants. The Actinic lightin also replicates the dawn and dusk effect on the reef when they are on individually. You may wnat to upgrade at a later date, C.F. are older tech. People now seem to use T5, MH, or MH/T5 combo's.

[Drix]

Well my fixture's got a MH and then 2 CF ballasts, really I was wondering how to decide from all my choices of what to put in there, the baddest bluest actintics I can find or what?

[p4ck37p1mp]

Frankly, your ballasts will run T5s, and the T5 Icecap SLR reflectors are $23, with bulbs being $15-20 at reefgeek.com. Its almost cheaper to get the whole T5 setup for the cost of CF bulbs. I just replaced my CF/PC bulbs, then realized I could have gotten T5s, which are brighter, more efficient and last longer. =\

[Radiofish]

I have used T5 6,500K and Icecap reflectors on my planted tank for about 4 years now. I was using CF before that. I was absolutely stunned by how much light one T5, a reflector, and an Icecap ballast can put out. My plants started photosynthesis immediately and within an hour, the tank looked like it was full of Sprite from all the oxygen bubbles! So now days, I'm a big fan of either MH or T5 - my experience only though...
John

[p4ck37p1mp]

Thanks for helping me kick myself (yet again) for replacing my PCs instead of getting the SLRs.