Item Code: 3254074


*96 Watt - 34" 50/50 Compact Fluorescent Lamp - Square Pin Base

*50/50 lamps combine 50% 10,000K with 50% True Actinic 03 Blue phosphors for essential biological reactions.

FAQ:
Q. What's the difference between CF 50/50 and standard fluorescent 50/50 bulbs?
A. Well, by design, the CF 50/50 has a tremendous advantage over standard fluorescent bulbs. The CF design allows for 2 individual tubes to be coated with their own phosphors. This means you can have true actinic phosphors coating one tube, and 10,000K phosphors coating the other. It's better (in our opinion) to have the daylight and actinic phosphors separate, rather than mixing them together. Standard fluorescent 50/50 tubes mix the phosphor powders together, and then coat.


General Compact Fluorescent Questions:
Q. I don't see a particular color temp (K) or base style (Square / Straight pin) that I am looking for. Can you get it?
A. We stock the most popular color temps and bases available. We also can have a new style bulb made, if demand warrants. Let us know what you're looking for. If we get enough requests, we'll try and source it, or have it made.


Q. My CF bulbs keep breaking, why is that?
A. We'd suspect that your lamp clips are too tight. Stretch them out lightly. The most common breaks we hear about are on the ends of the 2 tubes, where they are connected. This is a fragile area, and it can crack if you are not careful.


Q. What is better, Square Pin or Straight Pin??
A. This is a matter or opinion. But, Square pin is the more popular of the two. Square pin is also a little longer and wider than straight pin, so theoretically, you'd get more surface area that's lighting your tank.


To avoid problems with CF bulbs & ballasts, we recommend:
1) Mount electronic ballasts as far away from heat sources as possible (this would include bulbs as a heat source).
2) Do not mount ballasts in any high humidity areas (ie. above sump, etc).
3) Avoid unnecessarily removing Compact Fluorescent bulbs once they are in place. Glass bulbs are fragile, so take care when handling them.
4) Make sure they are pushed all the way into their sockets.
5) Mount behind glass or acrylic 3-6" above the water. Do NOT operate any bulb directly over exposed water!
6) Securely mount all endcap cords, as loose cords can be pulled on accidentally, resulting in bulb breakage.
7) Most photo periods are between 8-12 hours, depending on specimen needs.