power compacts
- Thread starter bioscot
- Start date
Again, if it's an electronic ballast, no problem. But if it's a traditional tar ballast (which it probably is for that size bulb), then either it will not fire the bulb at all, or you will get reduced life.
Basically, traditional ballasts put out a specific current at 60 hz to fire the bulb it is designed for. Electronic ballasts energize the bulb with what is basically radio frequency noise at about 25 kHz, so there is a lot more flexibility in matching the bulb to the ballast.
[ January 30, 2002: Message edited by: MattM ]</p>
Basically, traditional ballasts put out a specific current at 60 hz to fire the bulb it is designed for. Electronic ballasts energize the bulb with what is basically radio frequency noise at about 25 kHz, so there is a lot more flexibility in matching the bulb to the ballast.
[ January 30, 2002: Message edited by: MattM ]</p>
As far as PC's go:
6700K Daylight bulb is the yellowest however it also is the brightest PC bulb out there. For an even blue/white look to the water you need one blue PC for every 67.
8800K Bulb is another daylight but is slightly less yellow than the 6700. It's also a dimmer bulb with less light output. A 1:1 ratio or possibly 2:1 ratio is necessary for a blue/white look.
10000K Bulb is a daylight bulb which is still a touch yellow, enough that we don't like them by themselves however if you are running a 4 bulb setup you could get away with a 3:1 ratio to maximize the lumen output of the lighting system. If you need an even spread i.e. 4 96W bulbs staggered over a 4' tank i.e. 75 then you could run 2 10K's and 2 Smartlamps (50/50 whatever you want to call them) for more even light/color distribution.
Other things to keep in mind with PC bulbs is that the 28's and 32's are interchangable (you will not detect a difference) and the same goes for the 55's and the 65's.
The blue bulbs put out about 1/3rd the intensity of the 6700 daylights however the same is true for just about any bulb on the market including MH.
6700K Daylight bulb is the yellowest however it also is the brightest PC bulb out there. For an even blue/white look to the water you need one blue PC for every 67.
8800K Bulb is another daylight but is slightly less yellow than the 6700. It's also a dimmer bulb with less light output. A 1:1 ratio or possibly 2:1 ratio is necessary for a blue/white look.
10000K Bulb is a daylight bulb which is still a touch yellow, enough that we don't like them by themselves however if you are running a 4 bulb setup you could get away with a 3:1 ratio to maximize the lumen output of the lighting system. If you need an even spread i.e. 4 96W bulbs staggered over a 4' tank i.e. 75 then you could run 2 10K's and 2 Smartlamps (50/50 whatever you want to call them) for more even light/color distribution.
Other things to keep in mind with PC bulbs is that the 28's and 32's are interchangable (you will not detect a difference) and the same goes for the 55's and the 65's.
The blue bulbs put out about 1/3rd the intensity of the 6700 daylights however the same is true for just about any bulb on the market including MH.
Matt,what about running 36watters on a dual 32w CSL ballest? Are the CSL 32watt ballast electronic? reason i ask is 36 watters are cheaper to buy ansd would spread my light out better(bulb is 15.75 in. vs.13 in. on the 32w)in my nano setup. thanks for your valuable input.
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by TommyBoy:
<strong>Matt,what about running 36watters on a dual 32w CSL ballest?</strong><hr></blockquote>
I haven't tried the 36W PCs, however, I have a pair of 40W NO flourescents running at the store on a 32W Advance electronic ballast (REL-2P32), and it works fine. There are two other 40W bulbs right next to them running on a 40W tar ballast and any differnece in brightness is unnoticable.
The CSL ballast should be electronic as long as it's not very old (like 10-15 years). And you should have no problem running the 36W bulbs with it.
<strong>Matt,what about running 36watters on a dual 32w CSL ballest?</strong><hr></blockquote>
I haven't tried the 36W PCs, however, I have a pair of 40W NO flourescents running at the store on a 32W Advance electronic ballast (REL-2P32), and it works fine. There are two other 40W bulbs right next to them running on a 40W tar ballast and any differnece in brightness is unnoticable.
The CSL ballast should be electronic as long as it's not very old (like 10-15 years). And you should have no problem running the 36W bulbs with it.
I'm not quite sure I understand - it seems like if using actinic/67k then 1-1 ratio is good, if using actinic/10k then 1/3 ratio is good, but which combination would give me the strongest light for inverts? I have 8*96w with actinic/67k on a 1-1 ratio and was thinking of going to 1-1 ration true-actinic/10k but it seems like I could do 1 true act to 3 10k bulbs and overall have a stronger (though perhaps less blue) light. Am I correct or totally wrong in my understanding? Lighting has always been a black art to me....
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by sillingw:
<strong>I'm not quite sure I understand - it seems like if using actinic/67k then 1-1 ratio is good, if using actinic/10k then 1/3 ratio is good, but which combination would give me the strongest light for inverts? I have 8*96w with actinic/67k on a 1-1 ratio and was thinking of going to 1-1 ration true-actinic/10k but it seems like I could do 1 true act to 3 10k bulbs and overall have a stronger (though perhaps less blue) light. Am I correct or totally wrong in my understanding? Lighting has always been a black art to me....</strong><hr></blockquote>
I think you've got it exactly right.
<ul type="square">[*]6700K is brighter than the 10,000K[*]The 10,000K is bluer than the 6700K, but not blue enough to be used alone.[*]To get good color with the 6700K, it needs to be 1:1 with blue[*]To get similar color with the 10,000K, it needs to be 3:1 with blue[*]If you have two bulbs, 1 x 6700K and 1 x blue is the best choice[*]If you have 4 bulbs, 3 x 10,000K will be brighter than 2 x 6700K
[/list]
[ January 31, 2002: Message edited by: MattM ]</p>
<strong>I'm not quite sure I understand - it seems like if using actinic/67k then 1-1 ratio is good, if using actinic/10k then 1/3 ratio is good, but which combination would give me the strongest light for inverts? I have 8*96w with actinic/67k on a 1-1 ratio and was thinking of going to 1-1 ration true-actinic/10k but it seems like I could do 1 true act to 3 10k bulbs and overall have a stronger (though perhaps less blue) light. Am I correct or totally wrong in my understanding? Lighting has always been a black art to me....</strong><hr></blockquote>
I think you've got it exactly right.
<ul type="square">[*]6700K is brighter than the 10,000K[*]The 10,000K is bluer than the 6700K, but not blue enough to be used alone.[*]To get good color with the 6700K, it needs to be 1:1 with blue[*]To get similar color with the 10,000K, it needs to be 3:1 with blue[*]If you have two bulbs, 1 x 6700K and 1 x blue is the best choice[*]If you have 4 bulbs, 3 x 10,000K will be brighter than 2 x 6700K
[/list]
[ January 31, 2002: Message edited by: MattM ]</p>
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