Power Compact (PC) lights are basically fluorescent lights bent in half. Power Compact bulbs require a ballast to drive them and are available in a number of Daylight, Actinic Blue and 50/50 spectrums. The wattages available range from 9 watt to 96 watt. PC's come in "straight pin" (4 pins arranged in a straight line) and "square pin" (4 pins arranged in a square). As science marches on, medium base screw-in (like the incandescent bulbs in your home) PC bulbs in Daylight, 50/50 and Actinic Blue have been created. SmartPaq also now make a 17" Quad Daylight and 50/50 in a Square Pin configuration.
Straight Pin
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Straight Pin (4 pins arranged in a straight line) are available from Coralife, Current, GE, JBJ, All-Glass, Arcadia, and others. The bulbs range from 9 to 96 watts in Daylight, Actinic and 50/50 spectrums.
Square Pin
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Square Pin (4 pins arranged in a square) Coralife, Current, and others. The bulbs range from 9 to 96 watts in Daylight, Actinic and 50/50 spectrums.
Screw-in Mini Compact
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Screw-in Mini Compact (like the incandescent bulbs in your home) are made by Coralife and others. Mini Compact bulbs have their own built-in ballast. These relatively inexpensive, cool running, long life bulbs are available in Daylight, Actinic and 50/50 spectrums. For the DIYers, these bulbs are also available in a wide variety of wattages and spectrums at home improvement retailers.
Power Compact Fixtures
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These Top Pick units are ideal for saltwater aquarists who want to step things up and move into the realm of reef keeping with corals that require high intensity lighting, and enhance the growth of corals, live rock with coralline and beneficial macroalgae.
Power Compact, Metal Halide Combos
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A combination of Metal Halide and Power Compact lighting gives you the most lighting power for your deep reef tanks.
Mini Reef Tank PC's
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Mini reef tank lighting has been a challenge in the past. The invent of the smaller (down to 12") Power Compact fixtures has filled that gap with a number of high output Mini PC's are now available at reasonable prices.
PC Retrofits
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Upgrade your hood or canopy with Power Compact lighting retrofit kit to receive the benefits of more lighting for your reef tank. Relatively inexpensive and easy to install in just a few minutes.
