A Question On Lighting

[BigC]

Can Daylight spectrum Mini Spiral light bulbs be used over planted aquaria (6500k)
ATB
BigC

 

[Geoff1991]

I saw a similar thread the other day. That one was asking about regular energy saving light bulbs.

If i remember rightly, even with a reflector a lot of the light would be lost due to the odd shape.

Edit: (found the thread) Heres my source if you want to have a read through the rest of the thread. (although not a lot else to read)

Click

 

[BigC]

Ah OK.
But what if you have the ability to fabricate a special reflector from mirrored acrylic or some other reflective material. Large enough to allow for heat issues and such like. The original question is still valid... Can Daylight Spectrum Mini Spiral light bulbs be used over planted aquaria (6500k)
ATB
C

 

[Geoff1991]

Right, in that case im going to say yes. Providing its fluorescent and not incandescent. Although you may need a couple depending on the wattage and a custom setup to house the lighting safely (a condensation tray may help)

Although the lighting may not be distributed as evenly as it would be with a standard tube so you may need to make interesting use of custom reflectors.

 

[BigC]

http/www.bltdirect.co.uk/item3762.htm

 

[Geoff1991]

Im no expert but id say it should be ok... Im sure someone else will either confirm or correct me soon.

 

[lljdma06]

I've seen planted tanks done this way. It can be successful, but I think your biggest problem is going to be spread and lack of light efficiency.

You'll get spots with more intense light that others, which will make for challenging scapes because light is uneven no matter the reflector because of the nature of the bulb. LEDs can have this problem as well, though their intensity more than makes up for that, and they can be more flexibly position to avoid the "spotlight" effect.

In the tanks that I've seen of this nature, people usually admire how clever they are and then change to linear fluorescents in a matter of months. The spread is so much better and your aquascaping is more flexible.

Just an observation of the pattern I see. I've never used this light fixture.

llj

 

[SuperColey1]

Can Daylight spectrum Mini Spiral light bulbs be used over planted aquaria (6500k)
ATB
BigC

BigC

You can use whatever light you want over the tank, even incandescent.

The question is does using something more readily available outweigh the eventual cost over time.

6500K is ideal for our viewing pleasures. May err slightly on the green side but fine for the plants.

You will struggle to get a reflector made that would be anywhere near as efficient as a bent reflector over a linear tube.

The ballast is actually part of the fixture. That is the bit that gets hot and houses the entry/exit of the CF.

So in essence it is fine to use these in tanks, however you will then have the ballasts within the hood and you may well need 2 or 3x the wattage to get anywhere near matching a linear with reflector.

If you do choose to use them I would suggest not using a reflector as for what little efficiency gain you get it may be more trouble than the gain is worth from the heat and I wouldn't want the ballast housing melting.

I would use many at the lowest wattages possible (7,8,9W) and spread them out a little rather than using 2, 3 x 20W.

Personally I think buying a cheap ballast for £5/£10 off ebay and then some cheap end caps for £5ish each, reflectors £6 each in P@H and then T8 tubes would mean using a third of the power consumption to gain better light and over a year that would be a much greater saving than the equipment saving.

Just my 2 penneth but the way electricity is at the moment the equipment is cheaper than the power. And it will get worse.

AC

 

[Geoff1991]

I use these

http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?...Path=414_12_205

Buy an bulb, bit of silicone and instant lighting.

 

[SuperColey1]

Apart from the fact they are £20 each they are also magnetic/electric ballast which wear the tubes out more quickly (hence the old replace every 6 months/1 year 'myth')

The ballast within that housing is the magnetic/electric part and then they use the circular starter to 'flicker start' the tube.

What I am talking about is buying just the ballast part (no housing) but electronic and not magnetic/electric. Then there is no start. It either instant or delay starts the tube with no flicker and the tube will then last up to 8000 hours with only 5% loss.

Then you buy the end caps clip them into the ballast's terminals. The end caps should be mountable if you buy splash proof ones.

Using electronic ballasts therefore will save you buying the tubes every year. Possibly 5 years from one tube!!! That saves a fine amount already. Then the ballast and end caps would be the same as the magnetic starter unit you linked to even though it is better and much more efficient technology.

This is what I mean for example on a 3ft tank 2 x 18W T8 tubes:

Electronic ballast for 2 x 18W tubes:
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/Tridonic-2-x-18w-T8-...:1|293:1|294:25

Tube holder leads, caps and mounts (the new fancy dan style. lol)
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/Arcadia-Ultra-Seal-T...:1|293:5|294:25

AC

 

[lljdma06]

I agree with Andy, it will so much easier, cheaper, and better to just use the T8s. Trust me, you're not going to like the spirals. I'm not a techie, but I think know how to grow plants. They will do better on a standard fluorescent bulb. The light spread is superior.

llj

 

[aaronnorth]

I think everything that needs to be said has been

Dont worry too much about the kelvin & spectrum. Stick to 5000-10 000k and the colour will be green or white so the colours of the fauna & flora will be most natural.