[mastaJ]

Ok, I've been hearing rumors, such as, there is no such thing as a PC actinic bulb, is that true? I've also heard that there is a new "03" actinic bulb or whatever...Is there a actinic PC bulb or not? And where can I find one online? TIA...

[Steve]

I hope somebody knows and replies because I would like an answer to this also.

[naser]

the blue pc's are labeled true atinic blue.. they also have new 03 bulbs for pc's. yet to see them though. heard there real close to the vho atinic though. i use the real atinic blues for dusk and dawn, and they stay on the rest of the day. evens out the yellow from the 10k metal halide. when i add a second mh bulb to the setup i will crossover to the 03 bulbs.

[Reinhold]

I've just replaced the actinics in my Custom SeaLife 4 X 65W PC hood with 55W 03 actinic PC bulbs from lampsnow.com and there is a huge difference! I highly recommend them.

[djheywood]

I agree. I have replaced several bulbs and gotten all of them from lampsnow.com. Search the boards as they frequently have a $10 off coupon. Like stated above . . .HUGE difference in the old Blue 7100 and these new 03 bulbs. The new bulbs make my green brains and green tree coral absolutely awesome in the actinic only lights.

Get 'em.

[Ltspd]

I have the 96w 03's from lampsnow and they are great, I am very pleased.

[mastaJ]

Ok, thanks everyone...But, there is definately a difference between the 7100K bulbs and the 03 bulbs, right? The 7100K bulbs won't do much for corals then huh? (or will they not flourense them?) Thanks guys...

[mastaJ]

Is this a "03" bulb http://store.yahoo.com/lamps-now/28watacblu.html ? It doesn't say either way, however it does say that it emits light at 420-430 nm...? TIA...

[Jase]

Having had both, I prefer the 7100s.
The 03s are very purple, but seem to lose their intensity really quickly. Greens glow amazingly.
But the 7100s burn longer, complement the 6700k daylaights a whole lot better, and really make the reds pop.

[Ninong]

Originally posted by mastaJ
Is this a "03" bulb http://store.yahoo.com/lamps-now/28watacblu.html ? It doesn't say either way, however it does say that it emits light at 420-430 nm...? TIA...

mastaJ ~

The short answer to your question is "yes."

Here's the long answer: The designation "03" is something that is totally meaningless. It was part of the catalogue number that identified an actinic fluorescent lamp produced by Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N. V. Since this lamp was held in high regard by hobbyists at that time, other manufacturers began referring to their efforts at producing an actinic type fluorescent lamp as being "03" actinic. Normal output actinic fluorescent and very high output actinic fluorescent lamps peak around 420-430nm and appear dark blue. Panasonic came out with a power compact fluorescent actinic lamp which they designated as 7100K (a designation pulled out of thin air that is as meaningless as the "03" designation), which peaked around 450nm and appeared medium blue. Because of the differences in the energy peaks, these lamps have a slightly different effect on fluorescing pigments in corals. After Panasonic came out with their "7100K" PC lamps, other manufacturers came out with PC lamps that peaked at 420-430nm (similar to the NO and VHO actinic lamps) and decided to call these "03" or "true actinic" PC lamps.

Originally CSL (Custom Sea Life) imported Panasonic PC fluorescent lamps for sale in the U.S. under the brand name CSL (it was an exclusive marketing agreement). More recently, CSL changed suppliers and their newer PC fluorescent lamps are manufactured in China (if anyone disagrees with this statement, I would love to hear from them, but this seems to be the current consensus of opinion).

The current practice in the trade seems to be that if your lamps peak at 420-430nm, you call them "03" or "true actinic," and if they peak at 450nm, you call them "7100K." Most of the online vendors refuse to say where their PC lamps are manufactured. Hamilton does tell you that theirs that have the German style pin configuration are actually manufactured in Germany (probably Osram) but they do not actually say where they are getting the 96w size with the "Panasonic style" pin configuration. Lampsnow.com and AHSupply do NOT tell you where their lamps are manufactured. I can tell you that I do have Osram PC lamps from Germany (that were actually made in Italy) and AHSupply PC lamps with German style pin configuration and they are not identical by a long shot. My best guess is that both Lampsnow.com and AHSupply are importing PC lamps from China. It seems that the Chinese make PC lamps with either "Panasonic style" pins or "German style" pins.

There, how's that? Clear as mud, right?

Ninong

[mastaJ]

Thanks Ninong and others... I will prolly go with the "03" actinic (420-430nm). All of my questions are pretty much answered except I've developed a new one: Which one is better for corals? Thanks guys you have really cleared up some confusion

[Ninong]

Originally posted by mastaJ
All of my questions are pretty much answered except I've developed a new one: Which one is better for corals?

I think I'll just give the short answer: Makes no difference.

The long answer involving the details of the physiology of zooxanthellate photosynthesis would take forever.

Ninong

[mastaJ]

Ok, so it is just personal preference...Thanks, you all have been alot of help...I'll just leave it at that...

[bbrook]

I don't have pc's but was wondering if people with 4x55 or 4x96 set ups could use two daylights, one "03" and one "7100". This way they could get the best of both true atinic and 7100-atinic.

Has anyone ever tried that?

[Ninong]

You can mix them any way you choose as long as they have the same pin configuration.