Specifications on Power Compact Lamps
Power Compact Lighting Questions/Reef Lighting 1/12/09
Good morning!
<Hello Jim>
I'm trying to understand the long term lighting needs for my 2 year old, 90 gallon reek tank. I've searched this site and others. I've recently re-read Mr. Fenner's article entitled "Marine Lighting: Quality, Quantity & Duration." I believe I now understand the methodology required to figure out what I want for my system.
I'm having a hard time finding complete information on individual Power Compact lamp bulbs however. Most list degrees Kelvin, and wattage (which I assume to be power consumption, not output.) I'd like to compare CRI
<Note that the CRI by itself does not indicate what the color temperature of the reference light source is. CRI is the ability of the lamp to display accurate colors.>
and Lumens as well, but haven't found this information on most manufacture's sites. I currently have 4x65w, 21" "50/50" Coralife lamps.
I haven't been able to figure out what I really have now.
<What you have now are lamps with a mix of 6500K and actinic blue which is generally 460nm.>
Are you aware of a resource that has made a comparison of various brands of these lamps? I'd sure appreciate a referral.
<Am not, but you should be able to get this info by emailing the company directly. Reading here may help you better understand your reef lighting
needs. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marlgtganthony.htm
James (Salty Dog)>
Regards,
Jim Lambeth
Seattle

Changing PC bulbs 8/27/08
Dear crew --
<Hello>
We have a 55-gal FWLR salt-water tank. We do have a couple of corals that came with our live rock (the SPS seems to have survived, mostly).
<Great!>
We have 2x 65W Actinic + 2x 65W 10000k Daylight fluorescent lights on the tank. It's been six months since the last light change, so we are swapping lights. We realized that it would be better to swap two
every three months instead of all four every six.
<Six months is more than fine, still very conservative.>
So we're swapping one actinic and one daylight today.
Ok, all of that was to ask this simple question. Which is more important to an SPS coral, the actinic or the daylight?
<The daylight, actinic is aesthetic, the daylight actually provides all the blue the corals actually need.>
Since we're only going to be replacing one of them above the SPS, which one should we replace above the SPS, and which one should we replace on the other
side?
<Either or, you are still well within the need to change these bulbs; mine are done every ten months or so (still conservative in my estimation).>
Thanks
Dave and Laura
<Welcome, Scott V.>

Odyssea Lights 7/3/08
Hello!
<Whit>
I was wondering if Odyssea power compact bulbs are any good.
<Sure, they are fine.>
I know in the past they have been less than reputable, but am wondering if that had changed.
<I still read things about the fixtures, but never the bulbs. I have never seen the firsthand failure of either from this company.>
Also, in a 46 bow with Frogspawn, Zoos, Kenya Trees,
Mushrooms, and Button Polyps, what combination of lights would you recommend? I can fit three bulbs, any thoughts (how many 50/50's, etc).
<Perhaps one 50/50 up to one full actinic with the balance daylight. This is covered to death on WWM, eighteen pages re marine lighting to date, start here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/setup/lighting/faqs1.htm >
Thanks again for your time!
Whit
<Welcome, have fun, Scott V.>