power compact spectrum of light

[wantsome48066]

i recntly bought a power compact light. it has 2x 50/50 bulbs half antic half ultra daylight should i replace them? with just ultra daylight or can the plants use antic spectum

[125gJoe]

Actinic and the 10,000K Ultra Daylight is for saltwater tanks. Return them. I also had to return the 50/50's that came with my Power Compacts from Custom SeaLife. I did try them (for about 10 minutes), and was shocked at how bad it looked! The colors were 'washed out' -- it looked very strange...

I'm using 6700K's now, but between 5500K and 8800K is good. The 8800K is the limit for me - I tried those too. When the 6700K's I have start to wear out, I'd like to try 5500K's... HTH

[wantsome48066]

thats what i bought a custom sealife pc. i cant return it. i only had ninty days to do so and i thought it would be ok i m looking in my pet warehouse catalog right now and i see a 8800k ultra daylight bulb would that be ok? also what the diference between 8800k 10,000k and lesser ones

[125gJoe]

5500K is 'warmer' looking light, where the 8800K is a brighter white light. 6700K is about in between..... I'd get the 5500K's or 6700K's..

[cpr4cpu]

highr number (Kelvin temperature) will give more white light. it is really the CRI or COlor Rendering Index that affects the true representation of colors so a 6800K with a CRI of 92 would be great.

I use 6750 or 6800K panasonic bulbs with good success, and sometimes I will do 5500K with tanin stained water to bring out the shy fish that don't like the intense white light.

10,000K is bright white, 20,000K is intense bright white and actinic bulbs are pure blue spectrum which simulates light at depth in seawater. About hte only thing that will use actinic light in a freshwater tank will be the algae.

[wantsome48066]

thx alot for the info i just hope i can find some bulbs that will fit with my fixture thx again