| General Reef Discussion In this forum we discuss issues related to keeping marine and reef aquariums in a friendly flame-free environment. |
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04-20-2006, 08:23 PM
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#1
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Plankton
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: charlotte NC
Posts: 31
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Questions about Power compacts
I posted for the first time yesterday and have been doing some reading on here since then. I currently have a 55gal with 2 power compact 96watt 50/50 bulbs. I am getting ready to start construction on a new 90 gal with the same power compacts + 2 more for a total of 4 96 watt bulbs. Now for my question do I have enough lite to keep some nice corals hard and soft? Or am I going to be fighting a lite problem from the start. The reason I ask is, I have been viewing pic's and spec's of all of you guys set ups and WOW is there some beautiful stuff here but most of the set ups I seem to like have (MH) lighting. When I bought my PC's I was told that it would be plenty lite for just about anything, but now I am starting to wonder. 
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04-20-2006, 09:14 PM
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#2
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It can be rebuilt.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pittsboro, NC
Posts: 19,158
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for softies that would be plenty of light. for some of the SPS and clams it would not be enough light. the depth of the tank is working against you.
MH's are more expensive initially, but they do produce a lot of strong light. that point source lighting is really good at penetrating down in deeper tanks. a 90 is 24" tall correct? this is pushing needing 250w bulbs.
G~
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Think Tanker
Friends Don't Let Friends Use Refugiums!
Reef Knowledge Impaired
"J" crowd member.
My Build Thread
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04-20-2006, 09:20 PM
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#3
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BIG SMELLY MOD
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Livingston Parish, Denham Springs, Louisiana
Posts: 16,852
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Welcome to TRT!!!
Geoff covered it pretty much. I have a 90 and run 23o watts of PC's and 300 watts of HQI MH's, I have clams , SPS and LPS in the tank and all is good, I wish I did have 250 watt MH's and not the 150's
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Vince aka VINNIE
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04-20-2006, 09:22 PM
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#4
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Plankton
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: charlotte NC
Posts: 31
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Yes it is 24" deep. What about using the 2 power compacts and adding 2 MH. If I do this how often will I have to replace the MH bulbs. I am replacing the PC's about every 8 months?
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04-20-2006, 09:39 PM
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#5
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It can be rebuilt.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pittsboro, NC
Posts: 19,158
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i think that would be a better choice. i tend to replace my MH bulbs once a year. the higher the K value on the bulb the sooner they should be replaced. even then most will last 8-9 months no problem. bulbs like the Iwasaki's can go almost a year and a half without to much problem. they are 6.5K bulbs so they do not seem to degrade as quickly.
G~
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Think Tanker
Friends Don't Let Friends Use Refugiums!
Reef Knowledge Impaired
"J" crowd member.
My Build Thread
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04-20-2006, 09:48 PM
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#6
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BIG SMELLY MOD
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Livingston Parish, Denham Springs, Louisiana
Posts: 16,852
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I do think You will be better off running MH's . You will be happy and wonder why You waited so long. LOL
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Vince aka VINNIE
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04-20-2006, 10:18 PM
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#7
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I've got the REEF rash!
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 24,531
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Mh if you want Hards in there!
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04-21-2006, 06:27 AM
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#8
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Tang Lover
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Rockville, MD
Posts: 7,283
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Gotta agree...I fought off on getting MH's...was using PC's. For money reason....stubborness, etc.
Made the switch to MH, and Vince said it best. Ever since, I've been wondering why i waited so long. In the end, it's actually CHEAPER. Bulb replacement is less frequent, and cheaper overall. Not to mention, it looks 500% better. And the corals are LOVING it.
Can't talk you into it...but I can assure you that if you DO make the switch...you'll be kickin' yourself in the butt for not doing it sooner.
Good luck, whatever you decide.
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04-21-2006, 09:54 AM
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#9
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Stinky Slimey FEESH
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 1,863
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I agree with every one - had tons of PCs and didn't like it, wanted to upgrade, got MHs and LOVE them, the flickering effect is really cool. I hated spending the bucks on the MHs but have not regretted it - - I have MHs on my 135-gallon and now the corals are soaking up the "sun".
HHC
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You can't kill a fish born to hang.....
135-gal Oceanic reef, MH, PC, Lunar
12-gal Nanocube
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