highest PC watts???

[aweeks95]

anyone know what the highest watt PC i can put in my 24" coralife fixture? now i have one 65 watt actinic and one 65 watt 10k. are there larger wattage PC's i can plug right in to this fixture?

ANDY

 

[aweeks95]

bump

 

[Nikkoli110]

If it came with those bulbs I don't think you can change them to a higher wattage bulb, because I think the ballast is made to run those bulbs.

 

[aweeks95]

that makes sense. thanks, i'll look into that aspect. i never thought about the ballast! thanks again.

 

[Daragon]

I could be wrong but I believe a certain length pc bulb only has one wattage.

 

[dz6t]

65w is the highest wattage you can fit into a 24 inch hood. Next is 96w but the bulb is about 30 inch long.

 

[aweeks95]

would i have to change the ballast or could i make those bulbs fit my hood? i'll have to find the bulbs and try it unless someone already has....
i'm thinking of trying to add a bulb or change the watts in my hood, if anyone has modified a coralife hood let me know.
ANDY

 

[dz6t]

I don't think you can fit a 30 inch long bulb in a 24 inch long hood.

The 96w PC uses a different ballast.

 

[aweeks95]

well my fixture now is 24" but the bulb in side are not. they are some where in area of 20" long. maybe i could fit it all in there? anyone tried? are the balast larger for the 96w or close to the same size?

 

[dz6t]

the 96watt bulb is actually 30 inch long and 65 w bulb is 21 inch long.

the ballast are similar in size.

Why not get a MH instead?

 

[smcnally]

There is a 96W quad bulb that is wider, but only 17" long. But as everyone else has said, you will need 96W ballasts. I just did a search so I could show a picture and found this retro kit for $89. That's a STEAL! It includes a bulb, ballast, and reflector. Not a bad deal at all. http://www.innovativelights.com/retrokits/Retrokits_84.html

 

[aweeks95]

thanks for the link smcnally...it is a coralife retor fit kit....do you think it might fit in my current fixture?

 

[aweeks95]

MH are pretty expensive...wife won't like that...plus are the opperating costs higher for MH than PC of comperable watts?

 

[smcnally]

thanks for the link smcnally...it is a coralife retor fit kit....do you think it might fit in my current fixture?

I don't know if it will fit, but you could always make an enclosure for it.

MH are pretty expensive...wife won't like that...plus are the opperating costs higher for MH than PC of comperable watts?

The problem is PC's don't have the penetrating power that MH has. If you are looking at going with higher wattage and don't want MH, I would reccomend T5's from what I've read.

 

[dz6t]

Good point, I forgot about the 96w quad bulb. But you can's fit two quad bulb in a 2x65 fixture.

 

[dz6t]

MH has lower operation cost light/watt than PC or t5.

 

[aweeks95]

really on the opperating cost? it's cheaper for a MH? wow? my tank is only about 10" deep. i don't need much penetration....should i try a MH some time ? what watts would be good for my 15g reef?

 

[nunofs]

I believe what Dong was getting at is that watt for watt, you get more light out of a MH than a PC, thus to light your tank with the same amount of light you'd need less wattage with MH bulbs than with PC bulbs, so it would be cheaper to run... however, if you're comparing, say, a 150W MH bulb with approximately 150W of PC lights, the cost will be similar (the actual wattage used will depend on the ballasts, but they should be close).

Nuno

 

[BigSmokeShowJOE]

Are you all f-ing jokeing!!!!!

 

[BigSmokeShowJOE]

2 x 62 watt is moor light then you will ever need over a 15 gal. thats like8 watts a gal.!!! sps only need 5 wstts a gal and pc are cheeper to run !!! by a long shot!! AND NO YOU CANT RUN A 96 WATT PC ON A 65 WATT BALLAST!!55for a 55 a65 for a 65 a96 for a 96 & a 130 for a 130.