Please help me...

susan

susan

Member
I think I made a monumentally bad mistake.
I'm getting ready to set up my tank and found out that I may have to wait. Here's my problem...
Lights:
I have 2 18in hoods that hold one reg fl bulb each. I thought I could get 50/50s to keep at least keep 60 lbs of LR alive in a 55gal tank. However, tonight I found out the highest wattage I could find on these is 15 watts EACH! Now what? Will this work until I can upgrade? I don't want to order LR and have it die. Do 50/50s come in a higher watt?
Also, when I upgrade, I was thinking of going with a 4ft PC smartlamp with two bulbs for around 445watts. The LFS is selling this for 199- Is this a good deal? Will this support most hard/soft corrals, and other critters? What I put in this hood to make the light a little bluer?
Thanks!
please advise.
 
susiepan

susiepan

Member
Susan
Its not as much the watts, its the output of the bulbs you want to look for...I have a 15watt, but it puts out the highest light avail..20,000K
So look for its output, found usually on the back of the sleeve they come in... <img src="graemlins//angel.gif" border="0" alt="[angel]" />
 
susan

susan

Member
I didn't think to ask what Kelvin rating these bulbs had. The LFS guy just said 30 watts wont support my LR and crushed my little world.
So I'm saved? getting 2 15 watt bulbs with 20,000K will be enough to keep my LR alive until I can upgrade to PCs a few mos from now?
I thought 10,000K was better for the LR/corals, etc.. Should I go with 20,000K since the wattage is so low?
Also, please advise on my earlier q on PCs.
Thank you so much!
 
mr . salty

mr . salty

Active Member
10k or 20k,your rock will be fine under either.The 20k will not be as bright and more blue than the 10.Personally I would go with the 10k.They are a bit cheaper,and alot brighter.I have had both,and I won't buy another 20k flo again...If your bulbs are side by side(I think they are) you should keep both bulbs the same.A blue bulb on one side and a 10k on the other would look odd,and really not give any advantage...AGAIN,Liverock WILL live under regular flourescent lighting.It may not thrive and become as beutifull as some you may have seen,but it will not die...
 
C

cruises8

Guest
Just an observation. You said that you would get a 2 Smartlamp setup with 445 watts of light. But that would mean that each bulb was over 220watts a piece. The highest wattage a PC bulb comes in is 96 watts, I believe. It may be just a typo, but I'm guessing it is either a 4 lamp setup or the wattage is wrong. If it is a 4 lamp smartlamp setup, then $199 is a great deal!!! Not trying to be a pain, just trying to help!!! :)
 
bluto

bluto

Member
I agree...I've seen the 4 bulb PC setups for three times that price. If it IS the 4 96w setup for $199 buy it.
And don't forget to let me know where you're getting it...because I want in on that deal!!
Bluto
:D :D
 
C

cruises8

Guest
Hey Bluto. I remember you being from NH, but I didn't remember it being Manchester! Did you move? We are neighbors for crying out loud!!!
 
susan

susan

Member
Thanks guys-
Long time no hear Steve, sorry about that. Been pretty busy... Glad you found a neighbor!
Bluto- (is that right?) You'll have to post your e-mail address. There's 4 of us in NH now. The other two of us are in Rochester. Cool!
 
susan

susan

Member
Oh, I called to calarify the PC light deal.
I don't understand it, but here goes...
It's a 4ft long PC hood holding two 65 watt bulbs. That's 130 watts total.
his is where I'm getting confused. You x this 130 watts by 3.6 and that gives you a total of 468 watts. I'm told that's plenty of light. OK, but what's the 3.6 computation for? 130 watts is 136 watts. (This was a Little Shop of Pets for those of you who know it)
Please help. Thanks!
 
C

cruises8

Guest
You've got me stumped on that one. I'm clueless as to why they are telling you to multiply by 3.6. The 2 65 watt PC's are a decent amount of light. But if you're looking to do a full reef setup, I would say that more light would be needed. Either a 4 lamp 96 watt PC setup, or Metal Halides suplimented with the PC's.
Maybe someone else on here can explain what the 3.6 is! <img src="graemlins//confused.gif" border="0" alt="[confused]" />
 
underthesea

underthesea

Member
do you know who you were talking to at Little Shop of Pets i go there all the time and I have never heard anything bad about them they are very helpfull as long as you either talk to Tom or Alex there are afew of the yunger people there that are also very helpfull but there are a few that do not know as much and try to screw you some times. i would call back and talk to either alex or Tom.
 
2

25gator

Guest
the tall young kid was saying something about that to me. i kinda just ignored him! he says that pc's have 3.6 more light output than other types of light . susan if i were you i'd go shoping online there are many sites for lighting + you can learn a great deal from them! just remember they are trying to sell you there product ,so take a little from all, and you will get the half truth! i think you will nead more lighting than that! i like the vho's ,lots of light and icecap makes a ballast to run any bulb on vho-pc-reg flo. just my opinion! :D
 
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