lighting?

[handzoff]

Not sure if this is the correct place to post thisbut... Has anyone else out there noticed that they just are not getting great coloration in there corals using these bulbs? I have two 20 w 50/50 (10K and actinic) bulbs over my 5.5 and am just not seeing the coloration that a friend off mine is seeing from the same corals in his 5 gallon with 24w of NO (standard or normal output) t5s he has 12watts 10K and 12watts 03 actinic. Is that normal? What do you all think...?

[sir_dudeguy]

are you using those coralife 50/50 mini pc screw in bulbs? If so, i used the 10w one and disliked it for the main tank lighting. I use it on my HOB fuge now and it works great, but the color when i used it on my 2.5g nano wasnt very good.

[handzoff]

Thats the light, Iother that it is 2 20w bulbs.
I am thinking off upgrading to a 18x2 or a 32watt 50/50 pc retro. I would love to use 4 8 watt normal output t5s ( two actinic and 2 10K) like the cadlights 9 gallon but cant find a retro for anything like that and buying all the parts seperatly looks like it might get kinda pricey. Any thoughts on t5 nos versus pcs?

[sir_dudeguy]

well normal output bulbs arent gonna grow you hardly anything. Mushrooms is pretty much it, zoas at most. PC's (which i dont like much cuz they even arent that strong) would be tons better than NO bulbs. The 2x18w pc should be plenty for a 5g tank. I dont like 50/50 bulbs so i wouldnt get that. I like having a solid 10K and a solid actinic 03 (or 460nm Blue)

[handzoff]

Thanks for the info.

About how often do you replace your bulbs and could you recomend a 18w x2 retro kit of some sort?

[sir_dudeguy]

i replace my pc bulbs every 6 months. I'll look for a light.

[sir_dudeguy]

how long is your tank?

[handzoff]

its a 5.5 aga with a custom hood I built. It can take about a 15" x 5-7" total. Thanks for looking.

[sir_dudeguy]

you could do a 2x28w pc (not finding any 18w ones but 28 would be better anyways).

Here's the ballast..
http://hellolights.com/2lam28wattwi.html

or you could just get this one...its got all the stuff to retro it already and you can add 2 bulbs. Its right around 100 or so i think...
http://hellolights.com/2xbalkit1.html

[handzoff]

Thanks I did some looking too. What do you think of this as an option?

http://www.aquabuys.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=sunpaq_2x32_15&Category_Code=d3&Product_Count=8

[sir_dudeguy]

that one looks fine to me as well, but i dont like that daylight bulb that it comes with. Its like a 50/50 sort of bulb...half is 10K and the other is only 67K...i think you'll find that to be a bit more yellow than you'd like. I like going with a solid 10K daylight. I DO like the actinic bulb that they got tho. If i was going to buy PC lights again, i'd definately get half 03 actinic and the other half 460. The 03 (or 420 as they put it) is too purple imo. That other one is a lot bluer and evens it out.

[handzoff]

I apart from color or whiteness I think I read some place that around 65K is the best for growth rate but of course I could be wrong. Thanks for the help on this.

[sir_dudeguy]

ya 65K promotes the fastest growth (that is assuming that all your levels and flow are correct) but they're just too yellow for most people, myself included.

I will be purchasing one of those 65w 65K PC rigs from home depot tho...it will be going on my sump so i can grow xenia in there, which should do great with that light. But thats not on my main display so i could care less lol.

[handzoff]

Interesting a xenia sump...

anyone else have any input on any of these retro fit pc kits?