lighting question...

[triggerjay]

I currently have 6 65w pc's, in the following configuration:
2 50/50
2 10,000k
2 blue actinic 03's..

I bought the system used, and have no idea how old the bulbs are and am getting ready to replace them. I was thinking of changing the configuration to: 4 10,000k's and 2 blue actinic 03's.... or should I keep the 50/50's in the mix? Thanks in advance

 

[SoupySteve]

I think it depends on how much blue you want. I'd think that the 4 10Ks would be too white - that's just me. Can you get 12-14k bulbs? I prefer them. Hope any of this helps!

 

[triggerjay]

I will have to look into that.... I'm sure someone makes a 14k 65wPC..I do not want the tank to have a "yellow" look to it... I like the blue look myself too.. It just seems the 50/50' arent doing that much.....Maybe 3 blue actinic, and 3 10,000k's?


Jason

 

[fewells]

I have never seen a 14k pc. Those bulbs in the light are old... I would do 3 and 3.

Make sure you buy good bulbs look into uri bulbs.

 

[triggerjay]

3 & 3 poses a problem though... The way my lights are I have 3 on each side of the tank, and if I did 3 & 3 it would be like this:

actinic actinic
actinic 10k
10k 10k


I would have un-even light if I went that route. Thats why I was thinking 2 & 4.... I think I have the room to add one more to each side, then I could go 4 actinic, and 4 10k?? I guess the purpose in the 50/50's was to balance things out.... do you sell uri bulbs matt? if so, how much are the 65's? Thanks

Jason

 

[Deadeye]

I would do:

10K 10k
actinic actinic
10k 10K

or for more blue

ack ack
10 10
ack ack

or add more lights and do

ack
10k
ack
10k on each side


or rip it out, get halides, and get 12K bulbs.

 

[triggerjay]

I like your last idea Deadeye... add more lights! I have to replace a ballast anyways, as I had one go up in smoke yesterday... I was looking on the internet, and hellolights has a ballast that will run 2 55's, 65's, or 95's.. so four of these would set me up for all my lights.. they currently each have their own ballasts. so I would actually end up with more room... I made a mistake when I got the tank, and mounted all the ballasts inside the hood. I would say thats why the one smoked. Matt, the shrooms I bought from you are doing great. It seems like they grow more every day.

Jason

 

[Deadeye]

Yes very good, I am full of wonderous marvelous ideas I must say.

Someone once told me if I ordered from hello lights I'd probably have to wait for ever until they shipped, don't know if that is true or just something that happened to him as an isolated incident. Just thought I'd pass the information on. Not saying it is true or false, it's just he said she said stuff is all.

 

[triggerjay]

I may have to try them then... lol.. I dont mind waiting, and we will find out if its true... I would go MH, but I love the canopy that is on the tank, and its not high enough to house MH's...

Jason

 

[Deadeye]

Yeah, I'd kinda like a canopy also, It would look so much nicer. But I have the big ol' PFO mogul bulb pendants. Great light for anything I want, but if you don't like lights hanging in your house from chain then there not that great of an idea.

 

[triggerjay]

lol, exactly the look I am trying to stay away from. Although, an in-wall tank would hide just about any lights...

Jason

 

[hambandit]

ive got an icecap 660 that will power whatever you want to throw at it in the NO/HO/VHO/PC world.

and i dont want it at all make it go away

 

[triggerjay]

How do you want me to make it go away? I would be more than happy to make it go away.. what do you want for it? and how many watts does it support?


Jason

 

[triggerjay]

ahh.. just looked it up. It says it will run NO HO & VHO, but it doesnt say anything about PC....


Jason

 

[hambandit]

Icecap 660 Ballast

This IceCap 660 electronic ballast can run 2 to 4 lamps totaling 16 feet of fluorescent bulbs. Icecap ballasts can run HO (800 MA) , VHO (1500 MA) and standard (425 MA) fluorescent bulbs including T5, T8 & T12s, with bulb lengths 2' to 8' totaling up to 464 watts. This allows for various bulb configurations. Soft start and high frequency operation prolongs lamp life and increases light output of non-VHO lamps. These IceCap ballasts can also be used with PC bulbs. They are lightweight - just 2lbs, cool and silent.

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=ZZLTMHUPPFIC660

 

[triggerjay]

cool! what do you want for it? ....?? I will build you the sump/fuge you have been needing and cover all costs? lemme know...


Jason

 

[hambandit]

we can prolly work somethin out.

how big of a sump can you build? i need one for my big tank too...

 

[triggerjay]

How big u want?

Jason

 

[hambandit]

somethin around 20-30 for the little one and 50+ for the big one

id like a built in skimmer or a place to put one. i plan on building a skimmer for my big tank

 

[triggerjay]

it sounds like you are looking for a custom built full acrylic setup.. The ones I have built in the past are just aquariums with glued in baffles.. I am supposed to talk to a guy this week about some aquariums he has in his garage, but I have no idea what sizes they are... When I find out, I will let you know.


Jason