a&m aggie 04'
Active Member
ive heard this is possible...could i run a 6500k NO bulbs on an Ice Cap ballast. I know id have to supplement it with actinics.
Mark
Mark
NO Bulbs on Ice Cap ballast??
- Thread starter a&m aggie 04'
- Start date
a&m aggie 04'
Active Member
4.50 a bulb compared to $30.00
a&m aggie 04'
Active Member
i understand the the NO's are less wattage but would they be less intense??
jlem
Active Member
I ran some 9-12 month old NO 10k's and actinics on an extra VHO ballast I had. The bulbs where extremely bright and are still going 6 months later which makes them over a year and a half. I am sure that they had lost alot of their usefullness but the tank sure looks awesome and the frags grow just fine.
Are you planning on running actinics to offset the yellow look of the 6500K
Are you planning on running actinics to offset the yellow look of the 6500K
a&m aggie 04'
Active Member
yeah i run was running 2 actinics and 2 aquasun VHO's. I replaced 1 actinic and 1 aquasun last month and was planning on doing the same this month...then i read about using 6500k NO's.
I think im going to give it a try, that is if i can find a 36" 6500k NO bulb and then just buy a VHO actinic. I know you can buy 48" NO's anymost anywhere but can't remember if they also sell those in 36". Anyone confirm this??
I read the article on the IceCap website and it showed no loss of intensity when running NO bulbs compared to VHO's...so i figure why not give it a try.
Mark
I think im going to give it a try, that is if i can find a 36" 6500k NO bulb and then just buy a VHO actinic. I know you can buy 48" NO's anymost anywhere but can't remember if they also sell those in 36". Anyone confirm this??
I read the article on the IceCap website and it showed no loss of intensity when running NO bulbs compared to VHO's...so i figure why not give it a try.
Mark
bang guy
Moderator
I disagree that there will be no loss of intensity. The author of the article was telling the truth but relying on the general misunderstanding of aquarium lighting. I can explain further if you don't want to just take my word for it.
The IceCap ballast will overdrive NO bulbs and produce about twice the light as a conventional NO ballst and consume about 72 watts of power on a 40 watt bulb. The VHO on an IceCap will produce about 3 times the output of a NO run off a standard ballast and consume about 95 watts of power.
The IceCap ballast will overdrive NO bulbs and produce about twice the light as a conventional NO ballst and consume about 72 watts of power on a 40 watt bulb. The VHO on an IceCap will produce about 3 times the output of a NO run off a standard ballast and consume about 95 watts of power.