It isn't 6 feet long. It is about 4 feet long. I have 4 x 96 watt PC and a extra "48 55 watt helio actinic03 bulb. Each bulb in the PC is different though. One set is Actinic03 and actinict blue, the other set is 10k and 6500. I don't know why it came like this. I bought the whole setup at my LFS. From my understanding it covers more wavelengths by doing it like this. I do know that I have to add one more actinic since I feel that it needs to be more blue. I'll give more details when I get home since the box has all the specs.
an article I found:
"Q. What's the difference between a "Blue 7,100K" and "Actinic 03" bulb?
A. Excellent question! OK, a little background: The original "Actinic 03" bulb was made by Philips. They were not made for aquarium use, but were adopted once news spread about the beneficial aspects of using this bulb over reef tanks. Nowadays, "Actinic 03" has become the marketing term used to identify "blue" looking bulbs. Many bulbs are passed off as "actinic", when they are just a blue bulb.
So, to answer the question, Blue 7,100K bulbs are visually brighter than HelloLights Actinic bulbs. Blue bulbs will NOT fluoresce your animals as well as our Actinic bulbs. Many others sell "actinic", but they are really selling blue bulbs. The phosphors coating the interior of our Actinic bulbs are specially formulated to produce a narrow spike of concentrated violet/blue light. This is why they appear to be more faint than blue bulbs. If you have tons-o-corals, then we suggest going with Actinic 03. Remember, a visual measurement of a lights utility is a poor one.
Q. Why would I want a Blue bulb vs. an Actinic 03 bulb?
A. Blue bulbs definitely have a good use. If you have a "yellow" looking tank, then get the "Blue 7,100K" bulbs. Since it is visually brighter, they are GREAT at washing out yellow, and causing a tank to look whiter. But, if you want to benefit your corals with a very strong spike in the violet range, then go with Actinic 03.
Q. What's the difference between all the daylight bulbs?
A. Here’s the best way to summarize it:
5,000K = Warm daylight, slight hint of yellow when fired next to a 10,000K. Great for freshwater fish and plant tanks.
6,700K = Nice white, not as visually bright as a higher K bulb. Not as yellow as a 5,000K, also great for freshwater fish and plants.
10,000K = Bright crisp white light.
10,000K powercompact bulbs are the most popular daylight compact fluorescent we sell!
* Very popular in reef applications, this bulb is also great on freshwater plant, community, goldfish and cichlid tanks (South American and African)!
* The standard when people talk about "crisp white light".
* High intensity bulb simulating a bright, clear tropical day.
* Promotes the growth of zooxanthellae algae, essential for the growth and well being of all photosynthetic corals and invertebrates.
* Panasonic style “Square Pinâ€
