Coral Life Aqua Light

what size of tank is it on?

 

What kind of corals?

 

Which coralife light is it as in size, bulbs, watts

 

If it has power compacts in it....it's JUNK!

 

Hey Reefman!
I don't quite know what Andy's post means as a simple statement of "If it has power compacts in it....it's JUNK!" really doesn't help you out.
I'm not aware of the PC version having a higher failure rate than other fixtures on the market and power compacts do have their place in a reef environment based on current and future lighting needs.  I started with a Cora Life 4x65 power compact and had thriving low light anemones, zoas and LPS for years of trouble free use.  I used the light for 3 years and eventually gutted it and used the power compacts as actinics to supplement MH's.
As the previous posters questioned - it would be helpful to know the fixture you're looking at, the tank and corals that you either have or are looking to have in the future.
Thanks!
-Eric

 

Okay, I was a little rash, but allow me to elaborate.
Power compacts 1) don't produce a true actinic spectrum of light 2) have a rapid florescent decay, bulbs have a usable life span (depending on the application) of

 

I'm with Andy. If you're doing softies, they are probably fine, but for anything else (including anemones) PC's terrible... There are just so many better options on the market today for the same $$$, I just see why anyone would chose PC's at this point.

 

For the price of a PC Coralife you could purchase T5's or used Metal Halides which would be a better alternative.  I would also research LED's as the prices are coming down to being affordable.
If the light you're looking at has Power Compacts you'll be very limited as to what you can keep in the tank - softies, some LPS and the only anemone would be a well fed condy.  Hard corals won't do well (if they live at all) under PC's.
-Eric