Old 48" Coralife 4 bulb PC Bulbs?

F

felixpaws

AC Members
Jan 10, 2009
212
0
0
50
Pocatello, Idaho
I just picked up an old light fixture for sale at my local thrift store for $5.30! It had bulbs, but I broke them trying to take them out. They didn't work. The fans work, and I cleaned it up, but what kind of bulbs does it take? It's a 4 bulb 48" PC Coralife, two cords, four fans fixture. I'd love to use the thing. I couldn't pass it up, at five bucks. I figured, even if it doesn't work . . . IT'S FIVE BUCKS! Anyway, I looked on petsolutions website, and they sell coralife bulbs, but there 65Watt, and 55Watt. Both seem to be 21", but I thought I'd check with you guys, before I go, and waste $30. :worthy: Besides that, what bulbs are good. I don't know about PC reef bulbs(which is what I now need, since I switched my 75 to a reef tank:)), just planted tank ones. Another question:Are the fans controlled by only one switch? It has two switches, but only one turns on any fans. Are the other fans broken or coming on with the switch of one switch? Any advice would be appreciated. I googled, but came up with no answers.
 
First, a word of caution... Be sure you purchase the correct pin style of PC bulbs. There's ones with a square pin configuration (4 pins arranged as a square) and ones with a straight pin configuration (4 pins in a straight line). The end caps will show you know which pin configuration you'll need to get.

If you really want to know if the fixture is intended to use 55w or 65w bulbs, taking it apart and reading the specs on the ballasts is likely the easiest thing to do. I believe that most of the Coralife fixtures have been for 65w bulbs (although I cannot swear to it). Even so, there's definitely bulbs that can operate with 55w or 65w. For example, if you shop HelloLights.com, they list them as 55w / 65w PC bulbs, not different bulbs for 55w and 65w.

On the 2 Coralife PC fixtures I've had, the fans were controlled by one switch and there's only 2 fans (the other space that looks like fans were just grill covers -- I'm guessing to allow air to be drawn in on one end and blown out the other).

Generally speaking, when used on a reef tank, the 2 bulb positions that are linked to the switch that also turns on the fans are used for actinic bulbs that come on a little bit before the white / daylight bulbs. That way, the fans are running as soon as any of the lights come on to help keep the ballasts cool.

You don't have to buy the Coralife brand PC bulbs, as there's other brands out there that might not cost quite as much. When it comes to PC lighting and reef tanks, there's not the greatest amount of bulb variety out there. Basically, it's actinic bulbs (blue-ish purple) and 10,000K bulbs (white). In a 4 bulb fixture, 2 of each would be what's typically used. There's certainly some other bulbs out there, but their look and function aren't so commonplace on a reef tank. That said, it doesn't hurt to experiment a little with different bulbs.
 
I thought so, but I use to see them marketed independently.
 
Fsn77, they are straight pin bulbs. I'll take apart the housing, and check there. Safaditm3, I'll look for a model #, and attempt to borrow my dad's camera for pictures, tonight. I'll post back, in a few minutes, with what I have. Thanks!
 
Thanks, anyway.

Sorry, it took so long to get back. I had to run an errand for my parents. I looked on the fixture, and there are no markings, other than the serial #, and the word Coralife. I didn't have time to take it apart, but I went out to the trash, and dug out one of the old, broken bulbs, and it did say 65Watt on it. I'll just try that, I guess. I can't afford to buy all four bulbs, right now, so, I'll wait to change them out. I planned to switch the pc fixture with my 2 bulb T5HO fixture, and just use the two, partially used T5HO bulbs as a replacement for two of the 4 bulbs on my other T5HO fixture, when they need replacing. Thanks for the advice. I figured it'd be easier to ask, than digging through the trash, but I guess not. Besides, I did want to make sure they were the appropriate bulbs for the fixture. Sorry, if I wasted anybody's time.
 
aXio, I had to buy two, 12000K, and 2, 50/50 bulbs(10000K, and actinic) from Aquatraders. They were all that was available at the time. They were very inexpensive, and they don't have to be super high quality, since it's just for the front half of the tank, which has one, single brown mushroom in that section. I plan to buy better bulbs, later on, when I can afford/need them. I got so lucky, finding this light for as cheap as I did. I just hope the thing works. There are real actinic bulbs in the T5HO, 4 bulb fixture, so I'm not so worried about that. Plus, the 12000K are a little more blue, from what I understand, so, should balance that out. The PC's aren't as strong as the T5's, but 4 bulbs, compared to two should be an increase. I had planned to upgrade to two 4 bulb T5HO fixtures, but this will do(for now, Bwaaaahaaahaaa! He said, with an evil look, whilst checking his wallet.)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom