Compact fluorescent bulb question

spotfin · 11/02/2012, 06:28 AM

I dug out an older Custom Sea Life compact light from the fish closet. Thinking about putting it on my 30 gal fowlr tank and adding some soft corals. The light unit currently has a 50/50, 22" bulb that I had years ago on a small reef tank. I believe it is a 65 watt bulb. Looking for a replacement bulb, also in 50/50, and wonder can a 55 watt bulb be used?

BigAl2007 · 11/02/2012, 07:06 AM

55/65 is determined by the ballast.

Back when I had a PC fixture I really liked the UVL "PC-R" series. I ran 65w of those for a couple of years and had very good color and growth I just could NOT keep an anemone or clam even though I was running 130W over a 10g tank (this blows the old WPG rule out of the water which is antiquated anyway).

Keep in mind that was a few years back so there may be something better out there now but I liked the PC-R a lot.

spotfin · 11/02/2012, 07:41 AM

Is there an easy way to tell what the ballast is rated at? Besides tearing the unit all apart.

BigAl2007 · 11/02/2012, 07:45 AM

It doesn't matter. The bulb will perform at whatever level the ballast pushes to it. A PC bulb of the appropriate length and pin configuration is what you need to determine which bulb. The "Wattage" will be 55w on 55w ballasts and 65w on 65w ballasts.

The 55/65 bulbs should be in the 22" range. HTH

spotfin · 11/02/2012, 08:10 AM

Thanks. It is a square pin bulb.

BigAl2007 · 11/02/2012, 08:15 AM

Here is a chart from UVL's website

http://www.uvlco.com/AquariumPC-R.html

Mekanic · 11/02/2012, 08:18 AM

When using 50/50s I had good luck with the Current SunPak bulbs, still using their dual actinics on my coralife fixture

spotfin · 11/02/2012, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigAl2007

Here is a chart from UVL's website

http://www.uvlco.com/AquariumPC-R.html

I see their bulbs come with built in reflectors. Will this make much difference? The light unit itself has a nice reflector.

BigAl2007 · 11/02/2012, 09:55 AM

Supposedly by putting the reflector IN the bulb it's more efficient because you're not trying to reflect around and through the bulb from the fixture.

alton · 11/02/2012, 12:37 PM

If it is an older fixture they used workhorse ballast. If you have room I would retrofit it to T5HO lamps and sockets.

spotfin · 11/02/2012, 07:07 PM

I've thought about buying a t5 lighting system, but for now am going to fire up the pc light.

11/02/2012, 06:28 AM	#1
spotfin Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Maine Posts: 762	Compact fluorescent bulb question I dug out an older Custom Sea Life compact light from the fish closet. Thinking about putting it on my 30 gal fowlr tank and adding some soft corals. The light unit currently has a 50/50, 22" bulb that I had years ago on a small reef tank. I believe it is a 65 watt bulb. Looking for a replacement bulb, also in 50/50, and wonder can a 55 watt bulb be used?

11/02/2012, 08:18 AM	#7
Mekanic Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Hudson, FL Posts: 891	When using 50/50s I had good luck with the Current SunPak bulbs, still using their dual actinics on my coralife fixture __________________ ~Rich&Cheryl Current Tank Info: 90g corner drilled, 30g sump/fuge, Mag 9.5 return, SWC 160 cone, 2x Lumenmax 2's, 250w Radiums, BlueWave 7

11/02/2012, 07:06 AM	#2
BigAl2007 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waynesville, NC USA Posts: 1,737	55/65 is determined by the ballast. Back when I had a PC fixture I really liked the UVL "PC-R" series. I ran 65w of those for a couple of years and had very good color and growth I just could NOT keep an anemone or clam even though I was running 130W over a 10g tank (this blows the old WPG rule out of the water which is antiquated anyway). Keep in mind that was a few years back so there may be something better out there now but I liked the PC-R a lot.

11/02/2012, 07:41 AM	#3
spotfin Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Maine Posts: 762	Is there an easy way to tell what the ballast is rated at? Besides tearing the unit all apart.

11/02/2012, 07:45 AM	#4
BigAl2007 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waynesville, NC USA Posts: 1,737	It doesn't matter. The bulb will perform at whatever level the ballast pushes to it. A PC bulb of the appropriate length and pin configuration is what you need to determine which bulb. The "Wattage" will be 55w on 55w ballasts and 65w on 65w ballasts. The 55/65 bulbs should be in the 22" range. HTH

11/02/2012, 08:10 AM	#5
spotfin Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Maine Posts: 762	Thanks. It is a square pin bulb.

11/02/2012, 08:15 AM	#6
BigAl2007 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waynesville, NC USA Posts: 1,737	Here is a chart from UVL's website http://www.uvlco.com/AquariumPC-R.html

11/02/2012, 09:55 AM	#9
BigAl2007 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waynesville, NC USA Posts: 1,737	Supposedly by putting the reflector IN the bulb it's more efficient because you're not trying to reflect around and through the bulb from the fixture.

11/02/2012, 12:37 PM	#10
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	If it is an older fixture they used workhorse ballast. If you have room I would retrofit it to T5HO lamps and sockets.

11/02/2012, 07:07 PM	#11
spotfin Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Maine Posts: 762	I've thought about buying a t5 lighting system, but for now am going to fire up the pc light.