is it worth using these

[Jej34]

Si I have these two power supplys (pc)
I don't have the hoods or the reflectors anymore for some reason.
Any suggestions in finding 2 - 2 lamp fixtures?

Also is this ok to transition from fowlr and a couple of softies. To hard corals?

Just don't have 1k to dump on a360we's yet.

 

[evolved]

Those are essentially worthless I'm afraid.

 

[Jej34]

Reason being?

Thanks

 

[evolved]

PC's (power compacts) are outdated and under-performing; not the lighting you want if you desire stony corals.

 

[Jej34]

Understood.

Alternative for 72 bow?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

well I guess Id better throw out my lights.
Im running 4 65w compacts. pretty close watt to lumen to t5 actually.(research) They Fell out of favor as t5 became more popular and helped standardize the industry, and t5 spectrum tech advanced while PC got left on the shelf. PC are also more expensive to manufacture.
on the good side you can find bulbs cheap as less people want them.(i found several for $5 on a clearance rack next to a $120MH bulb) on the down side its a big diy.
Used T5 fixtures are becoming cheaper and easier to find used so Id go there personally.
I have mine on a 55g standard. The real SPS are out for sure but montis birdsnest etc grow great.
Will it work? YES.
Pain in the butt factor is high.
Chinese black box led is almost good and cheap enough to be an option.
So they might be e-waste.
Sorry

Unless you like wacky projects.
I dint buy the MH it was a 400w I need 150's.

 

[Jej34]

Sounds like I should just save for three kessil a360we's.
Kessil tells me I can do any corals with them.

 

[Jej34]

Would a fixture (t5 ho) using 2 - 54 watt bulbs. Be enough in a 72 bow for stoney corals?

 

[tjwaggoner]

First off: I'm new to these forums, so nice to meet everyone. Glad to be here. Been in the hobby a couple years now. Current tank is a 50 rimless cube.
Now to your question: no unfortunately. A 2 bulb t5 fixture won't support light demanding corals or inverts. If money is a issue I would suggest saving up for the lighting that you need if you truly want to keep light demanding corals. Otherwise you'll just waste money in the interim watching your frags brown and die.
My other suggestion (if you have no lighting currently): take what money you were going to spend on parts to use those ballasts and buy a cheaper 4 bulb t5 fixture and throw the bulbs away, put some quality t5 bulbs in it like ati. Put that over your tank and enjoy while you decide if keeping sps corals is even for you. Start a birds nest or monti digi and see how you like it. If you catch the acro bug, start saving for more light.
That's my .02, don't waste time and money piecing a pc system together. And don't go with nothing at all because you can't have what you think you want.
Also an FYI: led manufactures sometimes under-estimate what you need for full good coverage in tanks to lessen the sticker shock of going all led. That's just my observation and not trying to start a discussion here that's off topic. Good luck

 

[mfinn]

Would a fixture (t5 ho) using 2 - 54 watt bulbs. Be enough in a 72 bow for stoney corals?

not really

 

[AZDesertRat]

You can still get power compact flourescent supplies here:
http://www.hellolights.com/
http://ahsupply.com/
http://www.innovativelights.com/pocopa.html
http://www.aquacave.com/aquarium-lighting/power-compact-pc-aquarium-lighting.html

While there are much better lights today, you can keep many corals with PC's, I did it for many years not only with power compacts but also with normal output fluorescents. Some of the nicests tanks I have ever seen to this day are still lit with VHO flourescents as their primary source of light but it is not very common. There are no rules set in stone in this hobby but you will find most will tell you to skip over PC and even many T-5 systems with poor reflectors. All a T-5 light is is a PC that is straightened out and not doubled up like the 55-65w PC.
I just swapped my 16G nano 96w power quad PC to LED a couple years ago and the coral growth isn't any different now that it was before. I wouldn't spend a lot on your PC's but you could buy a couple endcaps, some bulbs and a reflector pretty cheap and build a DIY light for not much investment that would get you into soft corals like leathers, mushrooms and zoanthids until you decide what you want to keep in the future.

You might keep an eye out on craigslist and other places for LEDs. I light a 5 foot 100G mixed reef with two AI Sol Blues with no problems and you can find used Sols pretty cheap all the time, I paid over $1000 back in the day for my light set up.