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Coralife PC Fixture

SirFragalot

SirFragalot

I have FINALLY aquired the 75g AGA RR that has been sitting at a friend of a friends house. Along with it, came a light fixture.

Coralife PC 2x65W Actinic 03 + 2x65W 10000K (straight pin). There were only two bulbs in it and it was FILTHY. I couldnt even get the lense cover off due to it being glued in with salt creep. So apart it went. I carefully cleaned everything that I could inside and out. Put everything back together and decided to plug it in. Only one of the blue LED's work. Neither of the two bulbs that were in the fixture worked. I took one bulb out to try in one of the other two sockets and without much effort, the pins separated from the bulb. So I tried to remove the other one and the same thing happened. I'm thinking they were the original bulbs. I'm hoping that it was just the bulbs. If not, is it worth replacing the ballasts @ 30.00 each and the end caps?

I have another question. I run a 4 bulb T5 HO fixture over my 55. I have measured and both the T5 and PC fixture will fit in the 75g hood. Has anyone run both t5's and PC's over one tank? Is this a stupid idea?
 
Phyl

Phyl

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
PCs are an abomination. My opinion? Throw the fixture away. Don't ruin your good T5s with such a thing.
 
SirFragalot

SirFragalot

Phyl said:
PCs are an abomination. My opinion? Throw the fixture away. Don't ruin your good T5s with such a thing.
Click to expand...

I know how much you hate them and I thought that would come up. HAHAHAHA!! Maybe I will just gut it and keep the reflector.
 
Phyl

Phyl

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
They start to shift color spectrum after about 4 months. The shift in color spectrum encourages algae growth. You get much better par per watt out of T5s. T5s don't shift until after a year. I've had two PC ballasts melt down on me inside the case. Always wondered why (but grateful that) they didn't catch on fire.

I could probably go on!
 
magic

magic

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Phyl said:
They start to shift color spectrum after about 4 months. The shift in color spectrum encourages algae growth. You get much better par per watt out of T5s. T5s don't shift until after a year. I've had two PC ballasts melt down on me inside the case. Always wondered why (but grateful that) they didn't catch on fire.

I could probably go on!
Click to expand...

Another strike against it is cost. Compare the replacement cost of the PCs to T5s. I have 2 PC fixtures in my garage that I don't use (sorry their only 36").

Bob
 
JRWOHLER

JRWOHLER

And they run hotter then T5s. Use more energy.
Summing it up for you.
1)Shorter bulb life
2)Color shifts quickly causing algae (or adding to problem, yeah yeah without nutrients you won't have algae ;))
3)Ballests are unreliable...think is due to heat.
4)Lower par...older technology
5)Cost of bulbs
6)Greater heat
7)Use more energy
One pro
Cheaper fixture.

Good sales pitch for T5?
One more..better bulb choice for T5
 
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