Coralife Mini Compacts

[Psyfalcon]

Coralife sells 10 and 20 watt screw in PC bulbs to retrofit an incandecent hood. I've been putting off a reef, mostly due to lighting costs, so this could be a cheap way to get into the game. But I have a few questions for anyone who tried.

Can I actually fit a pair of 20 watt bulbs in a 10 gallon strip light? The bulbs are 9 inches, but I dont know where that is measured from, it seems to be close.

Providing they fit, I would like to start with some mushrooms or Zoas, which should do ok under the 40 watts. Could I then get an Open Brain? I've really liked these for a while, but, only if its enough light.

 

[aclos3]

I haven't tried them myself, but I have not heard many success stories of people growing corals under these lights.

 

[majestic sea life]

i got the 20watt to fit in my 2.5gal mini bow. But i took down that tank and got a real 2.5gal with 70watt MH.

 

[Poorcollegereef]

i used to have the bulbs but I never had any corals in the tank. I would really not advise to try it. I know that price is always an issue for me but cutting corners always results in wasting money! You can try, but you will be buying better lights after spending the money on cheaper stuff you wont use... in any case, you might get away with mushrooms and Zoas, but brain coral will need more light. Find a nice powercompact light, i think Drforstersmith have it for 115, but you might be able to find something cheaper that is a real light. In anycase, if you are going to become serious about corals, Metal Halide is the only way...

 

[mister crabs]

there is a guy here named lemmz who has a thriving 10 gal softy tank under those bulbs. search it out its a great little tank. And yes they will fit into the 2 socket all glass incandescent blackplastic hoods as i have two of them over a freshwater puffer tank.

 

[reefinnewb]

Watch!! Those bulbs heat the water up extremely fast. They run very hot and dont put out the lumens one would think. Very bright visually though.

 

[Henry22]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7940153#post7940153 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Poorcollegereef
i used to have the bulbs but I never had any corals in the tank. I would really not advise to try it. I know that price is always an issue for me but cutting corners always results in wasting money! You can try, but you will be buying better lights after spending the money on cheaper stuff you wont use... in any case, you might get away with mushrooms and Zoas, but brain coral will need more light. Find a nice powercompact light, i think Drforstersmith have it for 115, but you might be able to find something cheaper that is a real light. In anycase, if you are going to become serious about corals, Metal Halide is the only way...

Metal Halide lighting is not the only way. Sure, its the most intense lighting and you might the most growth out of your corals but it creates alot of heat, cost alot, and uses up alot of electricity. T5 HO lighting is another good alternative to metal halide.

 

[reefinnewb]

smallest T5HO is 24in 10g tank is 20. If you can tolerate the overhang, do it.

 

[Agu]

I have a 26w curly PC daylight (6500k) pc and a Coralife 10w over a 5 gallon mantis sump. The coralife offsets the yellow of the daylight bulb.

Under that lighting I've kept zoanthids, xenia, anthelia, and two rock anemones. They've not only survived, they've thrived.

fwiw,