questions about lighting

[psumba]

Need advice about a lightning system:
I have heard Compact Flouriscents are a good lighting system for reef aquariums.
Anyone have any experience to say yah or nah?
I will have a 55gal - glass hoods.
I am looking at Custom Sea Life's:
BriteLite Compact Flouriscents
and their
SmartLite Compact's
comments?
Thanks for your help!

 

[diatom]

It depends on what kind of corals you plan to keep. Power compacts are good for most corals but if you want some really light loving critters like most acropora then Metal Halides are the way to go.

 

[broomer5]

I used the Custom Sealife 48" power compact unit on my old 55 gallon reef.
(2) 65 watt daylight
(2) 65 watt actinic/blue
I'm satisfied with the lighting, for what corals I keep, the pc's seem to work good. Although if I were you I would look into VHO as well.
You can see what they looked like on my tank on my site.
Broomer

 

[josh]

Hi, you can check out my comparison on this topic a little farther down the page in DIY, power compacts. However, with newest bulb ( not too new ) for PC's they are gaining ground on VHO quickly. There is a 03 actinic bulb for PC made with actual actinic phosphors. The difference b/w them and the old 7100 K lights is dramatic and the spectral analysis shows the light just where it should be 420nm and 430 nm. I have some pix of the new 03 lights if you would like to see them. The difference is stunning!
HTH
Josh

 

[mr . salty]

7100k is barly blue at all.That's more like a daylight with alot of yellow.To get into the blue you need a 10,000 or better k bulb.....No wonder the new ones are better.

 

[psumba]

ok - so lets assume I go with the PCs.
48" Smartlites - it comes with 2 24"
What effect will having only 2 be. Can I start with that and upgrade to 4 later. Or should I not start below 4?
and
What would be the diff between the stock style lamps and getting an ABS hood?
THe price delta is dramatic! What am I getting for the price?

 

[broomer5]

With the CSL Smartlite, as you mentioned, you get
(2) 24" 65 watt 50/50 pc bulbs - each bulb has one side daylight, one side blue.
No fan - just slots in the end caps for ventilation.
Polished aluminum reflector.
Epoxy painted metal enclosure "hood"
I run the 36" Smartlite set up on my 30 gallon reef tank.
With the ABS Hood you get:
Black ABS plastic hood.
Fan.
Splash lens.
Polished aluminum reflector.
Either (4) 65 watt or (4) 96 watt bulbs
(2)daylight and (2) actinic blue
Plus 2 individual power switches for dusk/dawn affect - you can run both blues on one timers and the daylights on another timer.

 

[josh]

JBJ makes really hoods as well. They have seperate power cables and on/off switches for the fan and one for each bulb.Also, they have water proof endcaps with a plexiglass cover for the bulbs. Only you have to find where they sell them, they don't sell over the net. I recommend them highly though.
my .02
Josh