Why have PC lights been phased out?

[A Toadstool Leather]

I am a newer reefer having only gotten into the hobby 2 years ago and Im wondering why these lights see little use. It seems like reefers mostly use LED, and t5 lights with more serious sps reefers using MH. Do PC lights have an disadvantages compared to these lights that you feel caused them to be phased out?

 

[TerraFerma]

The way PC are shaped - they block a lot of their own light output off the reflector. So not as efficient as T5 or LED

 

[andrewkw]

They use more energy. The bulbs don't last as long. They are old technology. I am surprised you've even seen them in the last 2 years. I stopped using them probably close to 10 years ago and I haven't seen one in person in at least 5.

 

[Greybeard]

T5 is more efficient... just better technology.

Not that many Metal Halide folks these days... they're still around, but the heat issues keep most folks from using them anymore.

LED's rule these days... but I'll stick with my T5's

 

[Tahoe61]

Many hobbyist evolve in the direction of acquiring higher end corals, specifically sps, zoanthids...Power Compacts do not put out the light to promote growth, and the coloration desired by most hobbyist.

I have a tank with PC, the softies and some LPS are doing very well under it. At one point many years ago I attempted to keep simple sps such as Montipora, they grew but more slowly and they never developed the coloration that montipora do under T5, or LED.

PC lighting is much better than a lot of hobbyist who have never used PC make it out to be but it's just not optimal for many stony corals and Acropora just do not thrive they just become dull in coloration with slow growth.

 

[Tahoe61]

All different tanks of mine that were PC. As you can see you can grow corals just fine. Last image is a new set up.

 

[Shon]

I was under the assumption that PC (PL-L, 2g11) was a t5 bent in half.

Those squiggly compacts however.. never liked them for anything.

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

They use more energy. The bulbs don't last as long. They are old technology. I am surprised you've even seen them in the last 2 years. I stopped using them probably close to 10 years ago and I haven't seen one in person in at least 5.

I owned a 14g biocube for awhile that used stock lighting. My corals did ok, but the coloration was mediocre.

 

[Dr.HarlemTutu]

They grow corals just fine but... watts for output is inefficient. T5 is way more efficient.

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

It seems like the general consensus is that pc lights are less efficient and dont color up corals as well. Makes me glad I have my kessil

 

[CPL376]

And everyone forgot to mention. They are very expensive

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

And everyone forgot to mention. They are very expensive

PC lights are expensive? I can understand that view in the long run since the bulbs dont last long, but the bulbs are pretty cheap.

 

[CPL376]

PC lights are expensive? I can understand that view in the long run since the bulbs dont last long, but the bulbs are pretty cheap.

Not sure what the prices are now but several years ago when I was running them they were in the neighborhood of 35 bucks apiece and I replaced them every 8 months. Kinda expensive in my book

 

[CPL376]

Also I'm not talking about the curly screw in bulbs. I'm talking about the 34 inch double tube power compact lights

 

[Grey Guy]

I just remember that mine got really hot, and I had problems with the sockets.

 

[Grey Guy]

Hot like metal halide only over a larger area. They would make great heaters. Lol

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

Not sure what the prices are now but several years ago when I was running them they were in the neighborhood of 35 bucks apiece and I replaced them every 8 months. Kinda expensive in my book

That would get really expensive over the years. Im sure a good led is more cost effective over the ling run.

 

[hart24601]

I think a lot of the remarks here are spot on, I would also think that a big reason of the phase out is the large manufacturers just are not making them anymore, our hobby is a tiny portion for bulbmakers, if there is no more demand for PC bulbs in other markets it's not going to be worth their time after a point.

 

[jda]

They had fewer and poor bulb choices. The spectrum was fine and they were easy to grow corals with. There are still some tanks around with them and they do well for the most part. It was also very hard to light a large tank with them since they were not really ever over 30-32 inches. They also need really wide reflectors to be effective which meant that you could not have many of them over a tank. For the most part, nobody will miss them, but they were not as ineffective as most people think. A very large portion of people could have a really nice reef tank with them if they were forced to use them.