CSL Smartlite?

[Mother Reefer]

Is there a benefit to the CSL Smartlite Retro w/Smartlamp 32watt $99.99 when a 65watt is $119.99. For the extra $20 isn't it worth double the watts?
Is that a good price for the units?

[Coffeeman]

Not really, J&L has the 65 watt strip for $79.00 plus $10.00 for the legs if you need them.King Ed also has very good prices on those lights too,I bought a 32 watt smarlight bulb from king ed for $29.00 and bought a ballast from Albright lighting,then made my own retro light.

[Mother Reefer]

I just looked at the online prices and they are no where near that cheap, maybe this is an in-store price?

[Coffeeman]

http://www.jlaquatics.com/cgi-bin/sh...gno=pc-al24065

[Coffeeman]

One thing I have noticed about these lights is that the bulbs seem to lose intensity very fast.After a few weeks the 10k side appears yellow.

[Bob I]

Originally Posted by Coffeeman

One thing I have noticed about these lights is that the bulbs seem to lose intensity very fast.After a few weeks the 10k side appears yellow.

What you observed is certainly true. Although a few weeks is a bit of an overstatement. I have recently measured my 96W tube with my Luxmeter, and found that it had lost 50% of its intensity in about eight months. So unless you really overkill from the start, you probably will have to look at replacing bulbs every eight months.

[Mother Reefer]

Ah!! Is it this particular bulb that has the problem or is it the ballast that runs them out?

Is there a comparable system or a better bulb (depending on where exactly the problem is) that I should be looking
at?

ps. Thanks for all the input guys

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Bob_I

What you observed is certainly true. Although a few weeks is a bit of an overstatement. I have recently measured my 96W tube with my Luxmeter, and found that it had lost 50% of its intensity in about eight months. So unless you really overkill from the start, you probably will have to look at replacing bulbs every eight months.

In some ways I am surprised that it was that much of a lost but in others I would expect it to be that high. Also another wonderful tidbit I found out about PC is that as they get older they are susceptible to use more power and at the end of there life they can actually draw up to 5X there original current, so this might be another thing for those with PC bulbs to monitor as it could cause overheating of the bulb.

Steve

[Mother Reefer]

I've never used PC lighting before and this bulb deterioration is making me think. If I have to replace the bulbs 2x/yr it really isn't a big problem but at replacing those bulbs 2x/yr then I'm spending about the same as what a MH bulb would go for and that would last me a yr.

I don't want to spend a ton on a MH ballast (& they all seem quite expensive) so I guess I'll look at a DIY MH ballast or going with PC and changing them 2x/yr

Has anyone made a DIY MH ballast?Or a more efficient/economical lighting idea?

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Mother Reefer

I've never used PC lighting before and this bulb deterioration is making me think. If I have to replace the bulbs 2x/yr it really isn't a big problem but at replacing those bulbs 2x/yr then I'm spending about the same as what a MH bulb would go for and that would last me a yr.

I don't want to spend a ton on a MH ballast (& they all seem quite expensive) so I guess I'll look at a DIY MH ballast or going with PC and changing them 2x/yr

Has anyone made a DIY MH ballast?Or a more efficient/economical lighting idea?

I think 2x a year would be excessive but once a year would be a good schedual. don't forget Bob is measuring one set of bulbs so the average could be a bit better.

Steve