[G7subs]

I'm setting up the hood on my 40 long.I went with the Icecap 430 and am going to use 2 110 watt bulbs along with 2 40 watt NO bulbs.

What would be a good combo of bulbs?

I was thinking 1 VHO actinic white,1 VHO aquasun,and 2 40 watt NO bulbs on a seperate ballast and timer.

My lighting schedule would be both 40 watt actinics coming on 1 hour before the VHO's and staying on 1 hour longer than the VHO's to attempt a "dawn to dusk" simulation.

Does this sound like a good plan?

[Bruce]

G7subs,

I would suggest 2 VHO aquasuns, and 2 NO actinics.

[Ninong]

Originally posted by G7subs:

I'm setting up the hood on my 40 long.I went with the Icecap 430 and am going to use 2 110 watt bulbs along with 2 40 watt NO bulbs.

Hi G7subs, welcome to Reefland! [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

The IceCap 430 ballast will not run 16 feet of fluorescents; it will only run 12 feet. You need the 660 to run four 4-ft fluorescents: http://www.icecapinc.com/apptab.htm

Ninong [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]



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"Thirdly, the explorationists are willing to only move equipment during the winter, which means they'll be on ice roads, and remove the equipment as the ice begins to melt, so that the fragile tundra is protected."—George W. Bush, Conestoga, Pa., May 18, 2001

[G7subs]

>>>I was thinking 1 VHO actinic white,1 VHO aquasun,and 2 40 watt NO bulbs on a seperate ballast and timer.<<<


I know...that's my original plan, as I said in my OP.

2 VHO's on the icecap,2 NO's on a "tar" ballast.

Any input on my bulb combo choices?

[Ninong]

Oops! I missed that part. If the two 40w NO fluorescents will be actinic, I would suggest Actinic White for both 110w VHOs. Another option would be to make the VHOs one Actinic White and one Aquasun.

Ninong [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

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"The legislature's job is to write law. It's the executive branch's job to interpret law."—George W. Bush, Austin, Texas, Nov. 22, 2000

[billzie]

Any of you see the article in FAMA by Sandy Cohen a few years ago about cheap flourescent lighting? I printed on line a few months ago but can't find it now. She (?) used the IC ballast and NO tubes from several widely available mfg (GE, Sylvania, etc) purchased at the hdwr store and had PAR results mimicking the VHO. I'm I on the right track here, I know (in my limited reefland experience) Ninong will reply soon. Bill.

[Ninong]

billzie ~

I did not read the article in question, but you are correct that the IceCap 660 ballast can over-drive normal output fluorescent lamps. IceCap can provide more information on that but I believe the output is almost double. I don't have any idea how this affects the life of the lamp, if at all. Just shoot an e-mail to: ash08648@snip.net if you have questions about that.

Ninong [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

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"The legislature's job is to write law. It's the executive branch's job to interpret law."—George W. Bush, Austin, Texas, Nov. 22, 2000

"I am mindful of the difference between the executive branch and the legislative branch. I assured all four of these leaders that I know the difference, and that difference is they pass the laws and I execute them."—George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Dec. 18, 2000

[Cajun]

Hey Billzie.....I have the article on cheap lighting options from Ice Cap...Enjoy......

www.icecapinc.com./famaarticle.htm

CAJUN