CSL vs. Coralife PC Bulbs (opinions plz)

[Brisc0]

Hey Everyone!

I have two PC hoods on my tank a CSL PC moonlite fixture and a Coralife Aqualight PC hood. I have noticed a few differences that made me want to inquire with all of you.
1.) Coralife 03's make corals glow in the dark very brightly, the CSL
03's have no visual effects on the corals.
2.) The CSL 10K's make water look yellower, the Coralife bulbs appear
to make the tank look very crisp and clear.

Normally I would just assume that the coralife bulbs are better, however! Nothing in this hobby is normal or as it seems so my questions are: Do I want this glow in the dark effect, or is it a product of an inferior bulb? Secondly, does it just sound like I have bad CSL bulbs perhaps? Lastly, please tell me any of your experience or link any facts regarding these bulbs. I want a more uniform look in my tank, so I am going to replace one set or the other. Thanks again all!

 

[pecan2phat]

The way it was explained to me is that there are 2 blue bulbs on the market.
One being whay they call true 03 actinic and 7100k blue bulb. The latter is a brighter blue bulb but does not serve any beneficial qualities to corals. Are both the CSL & Coralife true 03 actinics?
I also understood that 10,000k is a bright, crisp white light whereas the 8800k is a strong bright crisp light. So in englishnese, this sounds like the 8800k is a brighter bulb. (probably less blue than the 10,000k)

 

[reefrunner69]

1.) Coralife 03's make corals glow in the dark very brightly, the CSL
03's have no visual effects on the corals.

You did not have CSL true actinics. I just changed to CSL PC actinics and it makes the corals glow way more than the hellolights.com actinics I got last year.

 

[Brisc0]

Okay Kevin, Im a little confused. The CSL bulbs are labeled "Custom Sealife Ultra Actinic" Which bulbs are you recommending? I just realized that coralife doesn't make a 22" square pin so if there is a better 22" square pin CSL bulb I want to get it.

Thanks

 

[captivereefs]

Always make sure you get the true 03 actinics. The 7100k blue actinics that are standard in the CSL fixtures are basically a blue tube with a white light inside. Hamilton also makes an awesome true actinic 03 bulb!

 

[reefrunner69]

My CSL actinics are marked on the bulb base "Actinic 03 blue" 32W square pin.

 

[Brisc0]

I just did some looking, and think im hosed. No more CSL bulbs, and nobody else makes 22" square pin bulbs that are 65W. The other funny thing is that the 65W CSL actinic is the only one thats called "Ultra Actinic" the others are all marked like yours Kevin. Oh well, guess when its time to change the bulbs in four months I'll just have to change the fixture, unless someone else whips up a bulb to fit it before then.

 

[pecan2phat]

You can use any 22" 55w/65w bulb. Square pin bulbs are 1" longer and a little bit wider than the flat pin bulbs (21"). The wattage will be determined by your ballast which is a 65W on your CSL hood.
Go to www.hellolights.com and you will see that the bulbs under power compacts are marked 55w/65w.

 

[Boxster]

What is the difference between the "Actinic 03 blue" and the "true 03 actinics". Is there a wavelength difference?

 

[reefrunner69]

Actinic 03 blue" and the "true 03 actinics

These would be the same. The difference is in the 7100K bulb that is simply painted blue and the light is actually white. A true actinic bulb has blue phosphors that cause the light to peak at ~420nm, that is actinic light.