[hollywd]

Hello all,

I just discovered your forums and they seem very informative. I noticed that several of you have aquaspacelights. I have a 2x250 watt HQI / 2x24 watt PC unit that I bought used, it's about a year old.

I believe the PC's are in need of replacing, and finding these bulbs is a little difficult. I found a few, one from Jalli, one from Osram (like original) and one from Realux.

As those of you that have this unit know, this isn't much actinic lighting for the tank, and I'd really like to get the most out of my bulbs. What are your experiences with the BEST replacement bulbs for these 24 watt bulbs, and where did you find them? I'm just not happy with how my things are flourescing.

Thanks!

[Reefland]

Hi hollywd and Welcome to Reefland!

I personaly don't have the fixture but your right, these bulbs are a bit difficult to locate. Going strictly from a kelvin rating (which really means nothing anymore right?), have you looked at these guys?
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=PC3242
These are claimed to be a 12k blue 24w from MD.

My personal experience is I never got any real flourescing from PC's; noticed quite a bit of diffence in them when I went from the blue to the so called actinic PC's but never anything close to what I was used to with VHO and I think that will probably be the case here as well.

http://www.hellolights.com has the Actinic 03 just not in the 24watt size.

Regards,
Scott Z.

[hollywd]

Thanks for the reply and the welcome

Yes, I really wish this unit had come with VHO's. I wonder if there is any way to replace them in the hood... probably not. and I really don't have room in the canopy to add more lights. Or maybe I can replace the PC ballast and see if a slightly longer (and easier to find) PC bulb would fit.

And I thought these would be the easier of the bulbs to replace, heh.

[traveller7]

Originally Posted by hollywd

Thanks for the reply and the welcome

Yes, I really wish this unit had come with VHO's. I wonder if there is any way to replace them in the hood... probably not. and I really don't have room in the canopy to add more lights. Or maybe I can replace the PC ballast and see if a slightly longer (and easier to find) PC bulb would fit.

And I thought these would be the easier of the bulbs to replace, heh.

Is your system the 48"?

I have been working with a few of the 48's with dual 150wt HQI. In my case I yanked the 24's and will be replacing them with 2-13wt Actinic, and 2- 13 wt Red. 4 switches are the target for now. We shall see

Bottom line: I would change the ballast and boots to ones supporting 28/32wt PC's with 4 square pins if you are looking for more actinic. In my 150wt version there is 15" between DE brackets once the aluminum was removed.

Good luck.

[hollywd]

Yes, it is the 48" version. The red is a cool idea.. is that for night viewing?

Have you messed with the ballasts yet? Does it seem like it would be difficult to replace?

It looked like the endcap with the pins is riveted to the hood, I don't know if we'd be able to replace those. I'd really, really like to because then I could use the actinic 3 bulbs from customsealife. Someone at the pet store mentioned maybe an adaptor could be made for them, to go from straight pin to square.

I just wish there was a way to fit little VHO or T5's in there, heh.

[traveller7]

Originally Posted by hollywd

The red is a cool idea.. is that for night viewing?

That is my hope, either way it will look cool in the evenings

Originally Posted by hollywd

Have you messed with the ballasts yet? Does it seem like it would be difficult to replace?

Ballasts are out of there. Going remote for this application with Advance/cap/etc for the 150HQI and combo socket ballasts for 4-13wt PCs. I am looking for quiet low RPM fans for each end for additional venting and I may try to cram the whole kit and kaboodle back in the 48" shell. Here is a link to the PC bulb sockets and ballasts I am using: http://www.hellolights.com/13wretrokit.html

Originally Posted by hollywd

It looked like the endcap with the pins is riveted to the hood, I don't know if we'd be able to replace those.

Hmm, mine are phillips head machine screws.

Originally Posted by hollywd

I'd really, really like to because then I could use the actinic 3 bulbs from customsealife. Someone at the pet store mentioned maybe an adaptor could be made for them, to go from straight pin to square.

I recently replaced some straight pin PC connectors with these square pins: http://www.hellolights.com/moisproofend.html

Originally Posted by hollywd

I just wish there was a way to fit little VHO or T5's in there, heh.

Not sure how deep your tank is but with 250's I would only be adding a bit of accent color for early morn and late evening. Which is what I am doing with my lame-o 150's

Have fun and IF I am lucky I may get it done this weekend and post some pics.

Scott