thinking about going to power compact
- Thread starter Earl
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What are your current lights?
makingbubbles
Broke, Poor, Cheap Reefer
bla bla bla limit on what you can keep under pcs. Dude i have lps sps gps all in my tank and it all grows like champs (4 65watt pcs on a 75 gallon), You dont get the coloration on sps that you would with mh. T5ho would probably less expinsive. But if your mainly doing lps and softies i would say go get you a coralife pc off of craigs list and have at it. To give you an idea of how well pcs do work. I had a half inch of growth in 2 months time on a monti cap mid tank with 1.5 to 2 year old lamps.
I've kept several different types of corals successfully under PC lightsin various sized tank. However, every single tank that I've run with PC lighting has had a heat issue, all the way up to a 100 gallon system. Any one who tells you you won't have heat issues is pulling your leg. As for PC bulbs, common recommendation is that they should be replaced every 6 months, personally, I've never had one last longer than 1 year without burning out completely and I've run over 10 different PC light fixtures of various brands ranging in size from 8" to 4' over the last 10 years, so take that for what its worth. If you want a good price on a good used PC light, don't bother going to e-bay or craigs list, send me a pm.
R
reef-nut
Guest
If its heat t-5s are the best choice, but I have pc's and they do run hot. Water evaporates fast. For color halides is the best, but they are hot also. I run pc's and manily softies with a duncan that has put on 15 head in 5 months and i got some deep water zoa about a month and a half ago and has already added 3 to 4 polyps.
Breakin Newz
WINNING!
T5's! You can get a pretty decent T5 fixture for a pretty decent price! ( =
Viva'sReef
Valuable Member
Earl I would do a bit more reading on these forums before jumping on a PC light if you havent already. PC's are 8 years ago. With all the new lighting options that have came out since then it would be wise to rethink the PC thing.
Like everyone said though, whats your current lighting setup?
Is this for your display tank or a fuge/sump?
Like everyone said though, whats your current lighting setup?
Is this for your display tank or a fuge/sump?
makingbubbles
Broke, Poor, Cheap Reefer
I agree for the most part. Heat will only be an issue if you have lights in canopy. If there running hot they burn out faster too. My house stays at 70 and never had a problem with tank overheating. I do however have a problem with the tank getting cold. No heater in the house (live in texas) my tank dropped to 63 degrees this year despite having 450 watts of heaters on it. Only had some die off on a zoa frag at the bottom of tank. But like i stated earlier t5s would be best choice.
makingbubbles
Broke, Poor, Cheap Reefer
If you have algae growth from this its only coraline (due to some coraline preferring dimmer light). If any other algae, you should probably get your water parameters up to par before you think its your "old pc lights"
I have had PC lights and compared to the tech out now and MH, PCs are garbage. But thats my opinon, T-5 is your best bet with the options of K values and color options in T-5 you can't go wrong. Plus T-5 will give the par to grow anything you want at a lower cost of enegry.
thomasp
Community Member
If nothing else 5t are half the price to replace than PC. I have a mix of both and I am really not liking my pc. They turn an obvious yellowish color really fast. I am waiting for a cash influx and then I will change to all t5
Eggs
Well-Known Member
+1 on PC's turning yellow over time. I use them on a FOWLR with some softies.
I would also have to disagree that older PC bulbs cause excessive algae growth - there's probably a nitrate issue if that's the case.
I would also have to disagree that older PC bulbs cause excessive algae growth - there's probably a nitrate issue if that's the case.
