cgrant Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 I have a roockie question on lighting. I purchased a fixture used. It has two 400w MH and two t-5's. It is time to replace the T-5's but I do not know if they are HO or standard. The only marking on the tube is Pacific Coast Imports. Does it matter what I replace them with. I read that the Icecap 660 ballast can run VHO's, T-8's and t-5's. So do I just need to make sure I don't exceed the wattage for my ballast? I have not looked at the ballast(not easy to get at). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewie Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Generally speaking if they say 24/39/54 watts then you can replace them with any bulb as long as the wattage is the same. The HO bulbs are designed to be overdriven off an Icecap ballast. Does the fixture use an Icecap ballast? If they're PCI bulbs then they are standard bulbs. I'd suggest any of the Giesmann bulbs for replacements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cgrant Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 OK, I looked at the ballast. It says it will take 1 or 2 54w. That settled i would like to get some opinions on bulbs. I like the geisemann bulbs as I have heard a lot of good things about them. I am currently running two 400w 14k MH. What would be a good complement to these? I opted for 14k on my last mh bulb change because I was tired of it looking like the mother ship had landed in my living room. I would like to get a little of the blue color back in my tank though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamatSLS Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 cgrant, Go for the Actinic+ from Geisemann. It's gonna give you the most blue and the most punch with your 14K bulbs.. Sam 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cgrant Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 Thanks Sam I will take a look at those. Are there any other brands that may be a good choice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamatSLS Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Yeah, ATI Blue+ would be another option, but it's impossible to find locally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cgrant Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 Thanks Sam. I will probably stick with the giesemann then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamatSLS Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Let us know what you think of it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cgrant Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 I will. I will try to post before and after shots if I can get some good pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R-3 Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Yeah I second what Sam said. The Actinic+ or the Blue+ whichever one you can find. Hey Sam has anyone released a nice purple actinic yet that is worth a hoot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamatSLS Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Not really. KZ makes a lamp called the Figi Purple, a lot of people like it, but I don't think it's the all that. It seems to have that cool brand appeal... Also, UVL makes Super Actinic which is supposed to be like the VHO, but it's too blue. The best color is the Pure Actinic but as I'm sure you know, it's too dim... Side note: UVL is about to release 2 new lamps, one to compete with ATI's pro-color, and the other is called the 454, just like the Geisemann Actinic+ I'm going to try out a line called Aqua-Science. It's supposed to be the hot new thing... I'll let you know what it turns out to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R-3 Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 Not really. KZ makes a lamp called the Figi Purple, a lot of people like it, but I don't think it's the all that. It seems to have that cool brand appeal... Also, UVL makes Super Actinic which is supposed to be like the VHO, but it's too blue. The best color is the Pure Actinic but as I'm sure you know, it's too dim... Side note: UVL is about to release 2 new lamps, one to compete with ATI's pro-color, and the other is called the 454, just like the Geisemann Actinic+ I'm going to try out a line called Aqua-Science. It's supposed to be the hot new thing... I'll let you know what it turns out to be. Yeah those Pure Actinic are defintely weak. Yeah let me know hows those Aqua Science bulbs go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 I was going to ask what I can do to improve the color of my corals. I just put a 150w MH 20k over them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coralreefaquarist Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 bump for the actinic plus is really blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamatSLS Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Cal, I hear they can be dyed. I'm not sure though. JK. Don't do that. Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 I was gonna try and dye it but I didn't know if they would shrink.rofl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowman Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Still the best actinics are vho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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