Why do people hate Power Compact lights?

[Rakie]

I'm kinda a harsh person. Most people that know me say im really nice, but they *NEVER* think im nice at first... I'm an acquired taste.

Maybe I need to use more smiley faces... At any rate, I never mean any harm


OOH, another reason im so to the point...I'm active on like 6 other forums, so I spit out what I have to say as fast as possible haha.

 

[d34532]

My first light fixture was 2x 65w PC before I know about this place. Will I ever use PC? Yes and No. Yes, for a fuge because I got them for little or for nothing. Will I use them for a display tank? No because you already stated animal demand I have Clams and SPS.

I personally hate PC because the bulb always give out on me in a matter of 3 to 5 months. I'll use them in my fuge since I got them bearly anything if at all.

 

[Cagdas]

I have some silver sides for the vampires wait that was for baerwolfs I think I need some wood sticks, will tonga branches do the job?

OK we get ot again I think we can close the thread. unless there is some other good information about why not to spend your money on PC.

Oh by the way did I said I am trying to sell two JBJ fixtures

 

[NVTE]

PC in the MH fixture is for supplement.
Some can do good . here is one of example but it is back in 2003.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-08/totm/index.php

 

[Cagdas]

No hard feelings Rakie, I can see some of these threads get really annoying after time.
Now about the price why can't I still find a 24" PC setup less then $50 for my 20 gal zoa and mushroom tank? Any body have T5 for that price?

 

[Cagdas]

NVTE nice example and as we said it is mostly zoas, mushrooms LPS but looks nice. So from what I understand will they look much better under MH? They already look so nice at least the ones in that link.

 

[Cagdas]

Wait did he had a clam too, I also tried it but will never do it again after I saw the before and after pictures of the poor thing. I think the one he had is the least light demanding species, any how I would not put a clam under PC (again I mean )

PS: And 2003 is not that old look at when I join the hobby I might have been thought wrong from the start was that the same month i bought my light fixture?

 

[blazin]

This thread has me worried!

I built a canopy and just ordered a 250W 14000K MH Kit with Dual 65W PC Actinics. It will be here Friday. I thought the PC lights would be better because the 24" T5's were only 24W and the 24" PC's are 65W.

Did I make the wrong choice?

 

[babyjess210]

i ran 192 watts PC on my 40 gallon and it was fine for 6 months til i bought 4 bulb retro T-5 with stain, dull reflector and 1 year old bulbs. The 156watts old crusty reflector/bulbs were brighter than my PC and my corals looked way better.

Let's not even get into overdriven T-5 with icecap ballast.

 

[djrice69]

Works fine for a FO system

 

[dodgerblew]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13414067#post13414067 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by djrice69
Works fine for a FO system

took the words right out of my mouth. What I like the most from MH and the t5 is the shimmer in the water. You can't get that from pc lighting.

 

[jamesk]

I might be interested in the lights for a FOWLR tank. Where are you located? Please don't take a chainsaw to them not unitil I know the dimmensions. Please PM me back

James

 

[d34532]

Cagdas,

YGPM. I maybe far from you but if your interested and going to rap I can bring it to you then.

 

[mhurley]

The best looking SPS tank I ever kept was many years ago...120 gallon AGA,
2x250 MH 6500K bulbs with 4x96 watt PC's.

I've never since been able to get that kind of coloration.
It's really what works for you, there are not very many definitives in this hobby.

 

[roxy25]

I also started with PC's over a 8 gallon tank they are fine for sofies some LPS.

Here are some pictures 32 or 96 ( forgot) watt PC colors where not great but everything was happy . I had yumas , toadstool in take with clove polyps.

Now I have t5's and MH I like MH better

 

[Cagdas]

Wow they look nice, I am really glad how this thread turned out, I sure learned something and hope people who are trying to decide what to get have a better idea.

I guess to summarize: PC lights are not worthless but MH and T5 are much better choices. If you decide to grow soft corals you are OK to use PC but MH will make them grow and glow much better, although some says the softies grow too fast it is hard to control under MH. If you have FO or a macro algae tank you are still OK with PC. Or if you bought it like me (pay retail) and can not get rid of them you make your self believe you are OK to use it till you get a new tank .

Thanks again for everybody that contribute, hope this helps to people who are new to the hobby and are lucky and clever enough to reed before they buy equipment.

 

[Rakie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13413914#post13413914 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by blazin
This thread has me worried!

I built a canopy and just ordered a 250W 14000K MH Kit with Dual 65W PC Actinics. It will be here Friday. I thought the PC lights would be better because the 24" T5's were only 24W and the 24" PC's are 65W.

Did I make the wrong choice?

The amount of watts means nothing... 70w Metal Halide > 200w PC

For T5, it's all about the reflector... a nice T5 bulb will suck if you don't have a great reflector, but a great reflector can make an "ok" T5 work well.

But since you're using it for Actinic... I guess thats ok, although id still prefer the options of actinics for T5.




9/10 times, lighting is the first thing a noob totally screws up.

 

[enchie]

Cagdas,
Don't feel bad! I have a 6 foot PC 4X96 power compact that I know I won't be able to sell.
I'm too embarassed to say what I paid for that thing!
lol

The fixture is solid, very nice with fans on it & moon lights. I'm thinking someone might want to tear it out & retrofit it with T5 lighting.

 

[phender]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13416625#post13416625 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rakie
The amount of watts means nothing... 70w Metal Halide > 200w PC........

That's not right. There is no way a 70watt MH produces as many lumens as 200watts of PC.

Here is a 20 gal tank that I had lit with 2 x 65 watt PCs.

The red monti caps outgrew the tank in about a year as did the green one. The pink pocillapora was beautiful, as was the red echino, pink/purple stylo, etc., ect. Its just that their are better ways to go these days. Namely T5s. I couldn't keep acros colored up in this tank but they could live there.

 

[Cagdas]

Well I just bought a 2x65W for my 20 gal we will see how they will work for my zoas (not that I have a lot I probably paid more to the light then what is going to be in the tank ).