What Actinic Lighting would be best?

[jemichaeliv]

I am upgrading my lighting to 2x400 6500k PFO MH Bulb Kit

Should I use VHO or PC for the actinic supplement?

If VHO would 2x110 be enough or would I need 3 or 4?

If PC would 2x96w be enough or would I need 3 or 4?

Thanks for your help

 

[esmithiii]

I have 2x96W and 2x400W 6500k PFO MH and IMO it is not enough. The look is nice, but I personally would like it a bit bluer. All this is over my 180G reef. I plan on adding 1 more MH bulb and 2 more 96W PC bulbs. I have had a terrible time keeping my 96W bulbs from burning out.

E

 

[PCB]

I have 4x96 watt PC's on my 75 gallon (2 of which are actinic and I like the dark blue color). However, I have also been having a terrible time with the bulbs buring out. I seem to only be able to keep them about 4 months and then they burn out or crack! Some suggetions that have been given to me are as follows:
1) Loosen the metal grips that hold the lights in place
2) Put a glass cover on the tank to minimize splashing and condensation on the bulbs

I've done #1 but I have not put a glass cover on the tank. I feel like I will spend all my time trying to clean salt and splashes off the glass top so that light can get through. Any other thoughts?

[ December 27, 2001: Message edited by: PCB ]</p>

 

[monkeyboy]

I run 2x400w Iwasaki lamps w/ 2x110w URI VHO actinics on a Ice-Cap 440 ballast. The color is crisp white. If you like it a little blue, go w/ 4 vho's. Personally i prefer it to look bright white, which it is.

 

[pez]

I had 4 96 watt PCs on my tank until recently. I reconfigured my MH lamps to be perpendicular to the tank and had serious trouble fitting the 4 PCs into the hood. Although I got all 4 in, I am running 2 PCs now - 1 true actinic and 1 super actinic (blue). Obviously 4 lamps is more blue than 2, but I don't think 2 is that bad. The corals don't seem to care, but it has only been a a week or so. Oh, I have 2 400 6500K MH lamps.

If I had to do it again, I think I would go with VHO instead of the PCs. The 96 watt lamps are total crap. I had mine in there for 4 months and I broke all of them getting them out. 2 of them shattered and the other 2 are crack at the base but are still functional. The plastic ends came loose when I removed them from the PC holder. I think the glue they use breaks down under all the heat. I suspect if I try to remove the remaining two lamps with will shatter as well.

-Tom