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Collected Lighting Acronyms
By Joe Anderson

NO - Normal Output NO is Normal Output (regular flourescent)(usually standard fluorescent bulbs you can get at most hardware stores)

HO - High Output (specialty bulbs that aren't used very often any more)

VHO - Very High Output (specialty flourescent bulbs used in fresh and saltwater; usually requires a special ballast)

PCF/PC - Power Compact Fluorescent (the thinner, specialty bulbs similar to VHO bulbs; These are bent in a u-shape unlike VHO's that are straight)

MH - Metal Halide (high out bulbs that also require special ballasts and casing; used for both freshwater and saltwater)

Actinic - lighting in the blue range (10000 kelvin temp or greater?; used most often for saltwater reef tanks)

Sunlight - lighting used for freshwater plant tanks (5000 kelvin to 6700 kelvin)

CF is Compact Flourescent (same as PC's as near as I can tell)

ODNO is Over Driven Normal Output

T8s, T12s, and T5s also refer to types of flourescent bulbs.. these #s relate to the diameter sizes.. T12s are the regular (NO normal output) flourescent bulbs most of us are familiar with (the dimensions are 1.5"), T8s are the 1" diameter bulbs, and T5s are a newer kind whose dimensions I am unfamiliar with. (sorry!)

Also see an article on Lighting Alternatives by OKCAA Member, Joe Anderson.

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