Coralife aqualight 150 watt 20,000k clipon

shanet1975 · 08/19/2009, 06:13 AM

I just purchased a used Coralife aqualight 150 watt 20,000k clipon for my 10 gallon tank. I'm hoping this isn't overkill but I will put it as high above the tank as I can. I plan to upgarde to a larger tank at some point and that is why I went with the 150 watt. I've been doing some reading and it seems that the uv lens isn't adequite and people are complaining about there coral being burnt. This still has the stock coralife bulb which I believe has a uv protectant glass casing. Should this be ok, or is there something else I can do to block these uv rays? I've read about people making another lens cover out of tempered glass and such. Anyone else have this light and let me know what they think.
Thanks

gotfrogs · 09/27/2009, 02:27 PM

Did you end up adding a piece of glass? You will be ok with the Coralife lamps but don't use other bulbs without some type of modification. I burnt the hell out of my Corals with this fixture and Radium bulbs.

luther1200 · 09/27/2009, 04:03 PM

I have a Coralife Aqualight Pro, and I don't have any problems. I have run a few different bulb types. XM's I have Pheonix in there right now. If people were getting burnt corals it was probably from the increase in light since the Coralife bulbs are pretty bad. Unless the clip on version has different glass that I am not aware of.

gotfrogs · 09/27/2009, 05:39 PM

luther1200 - The clip on version does not have any glass. There is just a small c shaped quarts sleeve that covers about 60% of the bulb.

luther1200 · 09/27/2009, 07:33 PM

Ohh, thanks for the info.

So you can't run anything but Coralife bulbs in those?

arthurlo · 09/27/2009, 11:25 PM

Reading around the forums, people have been successful in using other bulbs in the clamp on fixture. Depending on the orientation, the semi-circular glass sleeve can block out some UV radiation. Granted, UV could leak out the back and reflect back down to the tank. You would be risking some burned out corals.

I've used the Phoenix 14K bulb in it for 12 months, and haven't had too many issues with the coral. LPS are find, though some SPS haven't colored up as well. I recently replaced the metal grill with a piece of tempered glass to try to reduce the amount of UV entering the tank. The piece that fits for me is a 1/8" thick piece that was cut 4 3/8" by 9 1/2". Keep in mind that this may affect the airflow through the fixture.

08/19/2009, 06:13 AM	#1
shanet1975 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N Brookfield MA Posts: 154	Coralife aqualight 150 watt 20,000k clipon I just purchased a used Coralife aqualight 150 watt 20,000k clipon for my 10 gallon tank. I'm hoping this isn't overkill but I will put it as high above the tank as I can. I plan to upgarde to a larger tank at some point and that is why I went with the 150 watt. I've been doing some reading and it seems that the uv lens isn't adequite and people are complaining about there coral being burnt. This still has the stock coralife bulb which I believe has a uv protectant glass casing. Should this be ok, or is there something else I can do to block these uv rays? I've read about people making another lens cover out of tempered glass and such. Anyone else have this light and let me know what they think. Thanks

09/27/2009, 04:03 PM	#3
luther1200 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NJ, shore Posts: 4,376	I have a Coralife Aqualight Pro, and I don't have any problems. I have run a few different bulb types. XM's I have Pheonix in there right now. If people were getting burnt corals it was probably from the increase in light since the Coralife bulbs are pretty bad. Unless the clip on version has different glass that I am not aware of. __________________ Matt, 65G reef tank Current Tank Info: 65g reef, mix of sps, lps, few softies. Hoping to upgrade within the year.

09/27/2009, 07:33 PM	#5
luther1200 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NJ, shore Posts: 4,376	Ohh, thanks for the info. So you can't run anything but Coralife bulbs in those? __________________ Matt, 65G reef tank Current Tank Info: 65g reef, mix of sps, lps, few softies. Hoping to upgrade within the year.

09/27/2009, 02:27 PM	#2
gotfrogs Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dickinson, TX Posts: 1,215	Did you end up adding a piece of glass? You will be ok with the Coralife lamps but don't use other bulbs without some type of modification. I burnt the hell out of my Corals with this fixture and Radium bulbs.

09/27/2009, 05:39 PM	#4
gotfrogs Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dickinson, TX Posts: 1,215	luther1200 - The clip on version does not have any glass. There is just a small c shaped quarts sleeve that covers about 60% of the bulb.

09/27/2009, 11:25 PM	#6
arthurlo Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 83	Reading around the forums, people have been successful in using other bulbs in the clamp on fixture. Depending on the orientation, the semi-circular glass sleeve can block out some UV radiation. Granted, UV could leak out the back and reflect back down to the tank. You would be risking some burned out corals. I've used the Phoenix 14K bulb in it for 12 months, and haven't had too many issues with the coral. LPS are find, though some SPS haven't colored up as well. I recently replaced the metal grill with a piece of tempered glass to try to reduce the amount of UV entering the tank. The piece that fits for me is a 1/8" thick piece that was cut 4 3/8" by 9 1/2". Keep in mind that this may affect the airflow through the fixture.