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Subject Topic: Question about Lighting
 
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reefgirl888
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Posted: 08 Apr 2009 at 9:22am | IP Logged Quote reefgirl888

i don't know alot about lighting for reef tanks, so why can't i  buy a stronger light in the same size bulb that i'm useing now? 

i have 1-18 watt true actinic 03 blue straight pin

1-18 wat 10,000k daylight straight pin

2-.75 watt lunar blue-moon-glow LED

i know you can take the hood off & build your own lighting but i just don't get it, why i can't i buy 2/ 24 watt the same size as the 18.  is it cause they want you to spend $?

 

Christine.
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kyroguy
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Posted: 09 Apr 2009 at 6:41pm | IP Logged Quote kyroguy
Lighting goes, for the most part based on the length of the bulb. The length of the bulb more or less is proportional to the wattage.

With that said, it is also true that the ballast drives the bulb. This means that if you hook up a 32w ballast to a 28w bulb, the bulb will burn at 32w. This is not a big deal unless you hook up a bulb that is rated at significantly less than the ballast it is paired with. I have heard it will still work but will change the characteristics of the bulb and shorten its life.

My recommendation is switching to a 28w/32w setup. This is very common and easy to do. Look around and you will find some pics. Hope that helps.


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reefgirl888
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Posted: 09 Apr 2009 at 7:09pm | IP Logged Quote reefgirl888

Thanks for answering i was starting to wonder if that was a stupid question i asked since nobody else answered.  i will look into it. 

Christine.
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