A question about CF bulbs for my Coralife Fixture

standardbyker63

standardbyker63

AC Members
Dec 10, 2008
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Bettendorf, IA
I recently bought a Coralife 30 inch double lamp fixture. It has two 65W compact fluorescent bulbs for a total of 130 watts, which is way more than I need for my 29g tank, but I got a really good deal on it. I'm currently running only one bulb. Does anyone with experience with these Coralife fixtures know if I could run two of the smaller compact fluorescent bulbs in this fixture without blowing them up, or is it only rated for the 65W bulbs? The bulbs I currently have are 21 inches in length and overlap each other (side by side) in the middle of the fixture. I was thinking of going with the two 36W bulbs that are 16 inches in length.

Reasoning: I'd like to have both bulbs on simultaneously for better light dispersion throughout the tank. Currently, only having one bulb on keeps one side of the tank from receiving as much light since the bulbs I currently have aren't as long as the fixture. It just seems to make more sense to have them both on, but with my current setup I think 130 watts is too much.

Also, the bulbs I have now are 6700k. If I do replace them, should I stick with 6700k or go to 10k or mix it up?

I realize I probably should have just waited and bought a more appropriate light, but I got this fixture brand new with bulbs for a good deal.

Thanks!
 
I see no problem going with the two 36w bulbs. Whether or not you decide to replace the bulbs with 10,000K or 6700K is up to your own visual preferences. The plants will do just fine with either.
 
It seems to me the ballast would be geared to the higher watt bulbs, and would be likely to burn out the 36w bulbs rather quickly.
 
You shouldm't have any problems going with the 36W. It's the amps or volts that are critical in lighting. Think of going from 60W bulbs in a light in your house to 45W. It just makes less light. Just my opinion. Any electricians out there?
 
fish-n-chips said:
You shouldm't have any problems going with the 36W. It's the amps or volts that are critical in lighting. Think of going from 60W bulbs in a light in your house to 45W. It just makes less light. Just my opinion. Any electricians out there?
Click to expand...
I'm not an electrician, and I can't give the theory behind it, but if this statement was true then why do people overdrive fluorescent bulbs to get more output? There are definitely ballasts out there that can fire any PC bulb to its proper output (Workhorse units for example), but I don't know if a CL ballast will do it. I know that CL did have a ballast which was sold as a retro with wiring and endcaps that would handle any size PC up to either 65 or 96 watts (I can't remember what the max size was), but I don't know if this is the same ballast as in the fixtures. Unless someone has specific info on this unit the only way to be certain is to pop out one of the ballasts and read the specs on it.
 
Or contact the manufacturer of the fixture or ballast and ask them. Most 2X 65W ballasts are interchangeable between 65W and 55W bulbs. Not 100% sure on the 36w bulb, however.
 
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