Should I use them, PC's

Marsfrogie · 11/10/2007, 11:23 AM

I have a relatively new power compact setup from coralife. The 265 watt retrofit kit. I took them off of my tank in February after I installed 2 250 watt DE 20K metal halides. I have been thinking for a while that I might hook up the compacts with the halides. I was thinking something on the order of putting 3 of the compacts spanning the distance of the top of the tank and then using the 4th bulb to light the refugium. I was thinking that I would use actinics on the 3 bulbs and a daylight bulb for the refugium.

This is on a 55gallon mixed tank with primarily zoanthids. It has a very tall custom built canopy that is well ventilated so heat should not be of much concern.

Some questions I have are what would be a good material to fabricate some reflectors out of.

Also, does anyone have some good plans for building a simple light rack that could be adjusted and raised enough to put my arm in the tank?

Edit: What's the lifespan on PC bulbs again? 6 months? Has anyone had good luck with the bargain basement bulbs that hello lights sells?

Just thought I'd see what responses I'd get, thanks.

mousefish · 11/10/2007, 11:38 AM

I have a 180 tank and use a mixture of 4 x 55W PC 03 actinics and 3 x 400W 20K Metal Halide. The lighting seems pretty good and I have used Hello Light's bulbs without any trouble. Of course the metal halide provides most of the light anyway. I find that the bulbs have to be changed out every 6 months.

Although if I could do it again, I probably would have gone with regular VHO or HO T8 fluorescent bulbs the next time. They seem to have better light output and color spectrum.

Marsfrogie · 11/10/2007, 11:48 AM

Would you go with T8 over T5? I talked to the guys at hello lights a while back and they thought I would be happier with the T5's over the T8's. They said they had better color. Do you have any pics of your tank with all of the lights running? How do you have them mounted?

Marsfrogie · 11/11/2007, 11:04 PM

Bump. Any ideas on a mounting/bracket scheme for something like this? I was thinking about maybe using aluminum pipe and using something like conduit clams to screw to aluminum plate. Then hang it from the top of the hood.

Racing1 · 11/11/2007, 11:59 PM

2 X 250 Halides is enough for just about anything on that size tank. Why raise the heat even more and the power bill?

Marsfrogie · 11/12/2007, 11:11 AM

To see what happens I guess. I don't have a reason other than that really.

Edit. Also want better light uniformity

11/10/2007, 11:23 AM	#1
Marsfrogie Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: MS Gulf Coast Posts: 463	Should I use them, PC's I have a relatively new power compact setup from coralife. The 265 watt retrofit kit. I took them off of my tank in February after I installed 2 250 watt DE 20K metal halides. I have been thinking for a while that I might hook up the compacts with the halides. I was thinking something on the order of putting 3 of the compacts spanning the distance of the top of the tank and then using the 4th bulb to light the refugium. I was thinking that I would use actinics on the 3 bulbs and a daylight bulb for the refugium. This is on a 55gallon mixed tank with primarily zoanthids. It has a very tall custom built canopy that is well ventilated so heat should not be of much concern. Some questions I have are what would be a good material to fabricate some reflectors out of. Also, does anyone have some good plans for building a simple light rack that could be adjusted and raised enough to put my arm in the tank? Edit: What's the lifespan on PC bulbs again? 6 months? Has anyone had good luck with the bargain basement bulbs that hello lights sells? Just thought I'd see what responses I'd get, thanks.

11/10/2007, 11:38 AM	#2
mousefish Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 66	I have a 180 tank and use a mixture of 4 x 55W PC 03 actinics and 3 x 400W 20K Metal Halide. The lighting seems pretty good and I have used Hello Light's bulbs without any trouble. Of course the metal halide provides most of the light anyway. I find that the bulbs have to be changed out every 6 months. Although if I could do it again, I probably would have gone with regular VHO or HO T8 fluorescent bulbs the next time. They seem to have better light output and color spectrum.

11/10/2007, 11:48 AM	#3
Marsfrogie Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: MS Gulf Coast Posts: 463	Would you go with T8 over T5? I talked to the guys at hello lights a while back and they thought I would be happier with the T5's over the T8's. They said they had better color. Do you have any pics of your tank with all of the lights running? How do you have them mounted?

11/11/2007, 11:04 PM	#4
Marsfrogie Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: MS Gulf Coast Posts: 463	Bump. Any ideas on a mounting/bracket scheme for something like this? I was thinking about maybe using aluminum pipe and using something like conduit clams to screw to aluminum plate. Then hang it from the top of the hood.

11/11/2007, 11:59 PM	#5
Racing1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Maine Posts: 740	2 X 250 Halides is enough for just about anything on that size tank. Why raise the heat even more and the power bill?

11/12/2007, 11:11 AM	#6
Marsfrogie Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: MS Gulf Coast Posts: 463	To see what happens I guess. I don't have a reason other than that really. Edit. Also want better light uniformity