fishfreak1242
Active Member
There are so many different types of bulbs. What is the difference between all of them? Like actinic, fluorescent and metal halide?
Lighting Bulbs
- Thread starter fishfreak1242
- Start date
ketill
Member
I don't know fully myself, some basics i picked up ( PLEASE SOMEONE CORRECT ME LATER IF MY INFO IS BAD)
power compact is economical in many aspects, generates a little heat is ok for some corals fixtures usually has as manay atinic bulbs as other ones.
I use my atinics to start the light for the day and end it, and have them on while the others are as well
T5, to me are fairly new, they look like florecents but do a way better job providing the light needed by some corals and anemone's ( a plus I have heard on them is quality of light and lack of heat when compared to Metal halide i think it is? ) Also there are many DIY kits you can get for T5 with individual reflectors ( in my reseach this was a good thing)
MH, Metal halides ? Provide good light for pritty much everything , add really cool shimmer affect, but generate a lot of heat( to me a huge amount of heat)
Hope that helps some, and if it's all wrong hopefully someone will correct me and get you better info
power compact is economical in many aspects, generates a little heat is ok for some corals fixtures usually has as manay atinic bulbs as other ones.
I use my atinics to start the light for the day and end it, and have them on while the others are as well
T5, to me are fairly new, they look like florecents but do a way better job providing the light needed by some corals and anemone's ( a plus I have heard on them is quality of light and lack of heat when compared to Metal halide i think it is? ) Also there are many DIY kits you can get for T5 with individual reflectors ( in my reseach this was a good thing)
MH, Metal halides ? Provide good light for pritty much everything , add really cool shimmer affect, but generate a lot of heat( to me a huge amount of heat)
Hope that helps some, and if it's all wrong hopefully someone will correct me and get you better info
wangotango
Active Member
PC: powercompacts, old and outdated, not very efficient or powerful. Need to be replaced every 6-8 months or so.
VHO (T12 (very high output) fluorescents): Will give you more light than PC, and have internal 180* reflectors. Still a bit outdated, and need to be replaced every 10 months.
T5: 5/8" dia fluorescent tubes that come in normal output and high output (you want the high output bulbs for a reef). New, energy efficient and produce more light at a lower wattage than other types of fluorescents. Light output is increased 300% with an individual reflector compared to the bulb alone. Last 18-24 months, but should be replaced more often if you're keeping SPS corals. Good brands include ATI, Aquactinics, TEK, Current (Pro and Sundial), and Icecap. Can produce equal or greater par than some halide setups given quality equiptment.
Metal halide: wattage varies from 70-2000w. Come in single or double ended. Requires a single ballast to power each bulb. Good for penetrating power, put produce a lot of heat.
Actinic bulbs produce only blue light (420-460nm) and help make corals fluoresce and balance out the color of lower kelvin bulbs.
Kelvin is the color temperature of the bulb. Lower K will give you good penetrating power and growth but have crappy color. Higher K have awsome color but slower growth.
-Justin
VHO (T12 (very high output) fluorescents): Will give you more light than PC, and have internal 180* reflectors. Still a bit outdated, and need to be replaced every 10 months.
T5: 5/8" dia fluorescent tubes that come in normal output and high output (you want the high output bulbs for a reef). New, energy efficient and produce more light at a lower wattage than other types of fluorescents. Light output is increased 300% with an individual reflector compared to the bulb alone. Last 18-24 months, but should be replaced more often if you're keeping SPS corals. Good brands include ATI, Aquactinics, TEK, Current (Pro and Sundial), and Icecap. Can produce equal or greater par than some halide setups given quality equiptment.
Metal halide: wattage varies from 70-2000w. Come in single or double ended. Requires a single ballast to power each bulb. Good for penetrating power, put produce a lot of heat.
Actinic bulbs produce only blue light (420-460nm) and help make corals fluoresce and balance out the color of lower kelvin bulbs.
Kelvin is the color temperature of the bulb. Lower K will give you good penetrating power and growth but have crappy color. Higher K have awsome color but slower growth.
-Justin