lighting ?

[MRICKEN1012]

My friend just picked up a 55g...it has 4 vho bulbs in the canopy...icecap ballast and end caps...

1st will 4 vho's be enough to support all coral? Or would he be better to remove 2 and add a halide?

Also the lights arnt working and the lady who had them said she doesn't know why...she said they started flickering and then went out.... I assume its the ballast, bc I can't see all lights going out the same time.... Does anyone know how we could test it?? May sound weird but I smelled the ballast thinking It might smell burned or something but didn't......

 

[amonchak]

I have a couple Icecap 660 ballasts that could be used to test and verify if its the ballast or not.

 

[spstimie]

Icecaps have a fuse. Check that first. The lighting can be checked with a multimeter.

 

[asn-naso]

I don't know what sort of corals you are planning on growing, but if you do decide on more lights, I have some brand new (been used for less then a week) PC bulbs, ballasts, etc..... I am getting ready to sell.

The are the ones that come with the biocube 29. I just bought the tank, and I ordered a LED retro-fit kit last night.

These are 36 watts each, and there is one Actinic and one day light bulb.

If I remember correctly, the 4 foot VHO's are 110 watts each. The PC's are 36, but their PAR output when comparing them to VHO is equivalent to a 72 watt VHO bulb. Not enough to run your tank, but enough to supplement the blues, or add extra lighting.

 

[B-Willz]

If one bulb goes out it will kill the circut which would be 2 bulbs in the standard 660 wiring. The VHO will support just about everything. I ran VHO with sps, slower growth but maintained. I would not go with halides on a 55, to much heat. If you were to change the lighting, T5's will support it all or LED. Also they are going to stop making VHO bulbs and just make T5 bulbs.

 

[MRICKEN1012]

Icecaps have a fuse. Check that first. The lighting can be checked with a multimeter.

Will the fuse looked burned or anything???

Do you know where I could find a multimeter?

 

[MRICKEN1012]

I have a couple Icecap 660 ballasts that could be used to test and verify if its the ballast or not.

Thanks I will see if he would want to stop by.....he mentioned taking it to aquamart....unless anyone knows a better store.

 

[MRICKEN1012]

If one bulb goes out it will kill the circut which would be 2 bulbs in the standard 660 wiring. The VHO will support just about everything. I ran VHO with sps, slower growth but maintained. I would not go with halides on a 55, to much heat. If you were to change the lighting, T5's will support it all or LED. Also they are going to stop making VHO bulbs and just make T5 bulbs.

Funny you say that about the 2 bulbs.....2 look very dark and burned out. Hopefully its just bulbs!

 

[dworkman]

I've got a couple vho ballasts and bunch of bulbs that I couldn't bare to throw away. You can have them if you want.

 

[MRICKEN1012]

Sure I will let him know. He's on a budget so I'm sure he will take them......where is lafayette?

 

[dworkman]

20 mins East of Boulder

I think most, if not all, the bulbs are used. But they'll get him going at least.

 

[MRICKEN1012]

If your not in a big hurry.....we can take a trip up either nxt weekend or the one after...whatever works for you