Custom Sea Life PC Light Bulbs

[Ian]

Has anyone else had a problem with the 96 Watt bulbs breaking? I have had two crack where they join at the top and can't figure out why.

Thank you

[icemark]

I have heard of the longer PC bulbs cracking because they were not supported correctly.

[Baxter]

I've also had trouble with replacement 96 watt lamps. The original ones that came with my PFO retro lasted over a year. One replacement lasted a week before cracking, the other lasted 3 months!

[Ian]

I'm happy I'm not the only one

Does any one know where I should put the support clips?

I thought heat might have caused it so raised the lights up about 10" from the surface and installed a 4" fan. Unfortunatly they broke any way!

[jgower]

I purchased two of the 96W lamps yesterday. They brightened my tank, (their size is smaller, almost like T5's), so I went back and purchased two more. When I first turned them on it took awhile for them to totally light up. I have my lights on timers, running the 10k for 10 hours and the Actinic 12 hours. One of the Actinic's shut down after 10 hours. I turning it off, unplugging/plugging back in, and turning it back on the bulb did not light. I thought the bulb had burned out and decided to wait until today to changer it out, but this morning they all came on. I have them plugged into two Coralife Aqualight Retrofit kits. I'm wondering if the electronic ballasts can't handle them? I'm scouring the net to see if I can find some specs. Only thing I found out about them so far is the company Custom SeaLife is out of business.

[ricksreef]

custom sealife has been out of the game for 3 years or so. they were bought up by current. if you bought sealife bulbs they were already pretty old to begin with.

[jgower]

3 years....thanks. Do you know if Current makes both sizes?
The ones I have are about the same size as T5 bulbs, hence, I believe the brighter bulbs. But then, I had made up my mind to switch to T5s.
My 125 came with VHOs powered by an Icecap 660. My thoughts are to use the Icecap to run four 4 or 5 ft T5s.

[ricksreef]

by sizes do you mean types? if so,current makes actinic 460, dual actinic 460/420, 10K, dual daylight 10K/6700K, 10K/460, and a few others. they make'em both straight and square pin.
if your talking glass thickness, I only know of them coming in one thickness.
if your talking wattage, they make'em all.
I prefer current for PC bulbs.

[jgower]

The Current 96W glass tube is 3/4 inch diameter and 32 1/2 inch long. The SeaLife glass tube I have is just under 5/8 inch diameter and 31 1/2 inch long.