PC Lighting

[Maddie]

How long should Power Compact bulbs last? I am currently running two PC's
on my 30-gallon reef tank: a Coral Life 96W Actinic and a 10,000 K.

Many Thanks,

Maddie

[steve m]

"Maddie" > wrote in message
...
> How long should Power Compact bulbs last? I am currently running two PC's
> on my 30-gallon reef tank: a Coral Life 96W Actinic and a 10,000 K.
>
> Many Thanks,
>
> Maddie
>
>
I change mine once a year. The actinic well change color first.
Steven m

[Marc Levenson]

If they are quality bulbs, 12 months. If they a cheaper brand or
something you bought on clearance, 6 months if you are lucky.

I found that out the hard way. I only make that mistake once, and from
that point forward only bought bulbs that cost me $24 each. :)

Marc


Maddie wrote:
> How long should Power Compact bulbs last? I am currently running two PC's
> on my 30-gallon reef tank: a Coral Life 96W Actinic and a 10,000 K.
>
> Many Thanks,
>
> Maddie
>
>

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[Maddie]

Thanks Steve and Marc. It sounds like you get what you pay for where PC's
are concerned.

Maddie
"Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
m...
> If they are quality bulbs, 12 months. If they a cheaper brand or
> something you bought on clearance, 6 months if you are lucky.
>
> I found that out the hard way. I only make that mistake once, and from
> that point forward only bought bulbs that cost me $24 each. :)
>
> Marc
>
>
> Maddie wrote:
>> How long should Power Compact bulbs last? I am currently running two
>> PC's on my 30-gallon reef tank: a Coral Life 96W Actinic and a 10,000 K.
>>
>> Many Thanks,
>>
>> Maddie
>
> --
> Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
> Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
> Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[Pszemol]

"Marc Levenson" > wrote in message m...
> If they are quality bulbs, 12 months. If they a cheaper brand or
> something you bought on clearance, 6 months if you are lucky.
>
> I found that out the hard way. I only make that mistake once, and from
> that point forward only bought bulbs that cost me $24 each. :)

$24...
if you are talking about 96W/34" (as OP was) than it is probably the cheapest.
Where do you get these bulbs so cheap ?

[Marc Levenson]

That is for 24" (actually 21" I think) bulbs.

Marc


Pszemol wrote:

> $24... if you are talking about 96W/34" (as OP was) than it is probably
> the cheapest.
> Where do you get these bulbs so cheap ?

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[TomW]

> > Where do you get these bulbs so cheap ?
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

I think I got mine last time from Big Al's online. Most of the bigger
online stores are pretty competitive, within a few bucks.

Follow-on question: I use 10K and Actinic PC Bulbs. Do the Actinic
bulbs provide benefit to the soft corals as well, or is it just the 10K
bulbs that provide the necessary light?
-TomW

[Wayne Sallee]

Yes the actinic bulbs provide light for the symbyotic
algae in the corals tisue. Basicly you want to provide an
oveall blue/white light. As the light goes deaper into the
ocean, the other wave lenths are filtered out, so the
light becomes more blue.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



TomW wrote on 11/8/2005 8:56 AM:
>
>>>Where do you get these bulbs so cheap ?
>
> Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
>
> I think I got mine last time from Big Al's online. Most of the bigger
> online stores are pretty competitive, within a few bucks.
>
> Follow-on question: I use 10K and Actinic PC Bulbs. Do the Actinic
> bulbs provide benefit to the soft corals as well, or is it just the 10K
> bulbs that provide the necessary light?
> -TomW
>