Another Noob Mistake?

[Steve H.]

Hi again!

I've been doing a lot of research, studying, and lurking this forum to learn as much as I can about fishkeeping.
But in all this time I have not come across much about lighting as I do not yet have a planted tank.

Today during my maintenance I broke the small 15w bulb that actually came with the tank. I went to the store and picked up a replacement bulb which I put my thumb through before I even got it out of the package.
A second trip to the store I picked up 2 15w bulbs, and saw some 40w florecent bulbs that would fit the ballast. Since I always thought the 15w was a bit dim I decided to put in the 40w.

Now the tank seems incredibly bright.
Since I did not research this before hand is this shift in light going to effect my fish?

 

[afremont]

Hi again!

I've been doing a lot of research, studying, and lurking this forum to learn as much as I can about fishkeeping.
But in all this time I have not come across much about lighting as I do not yet have a planted tank.

Today during my maintenance I broke the small 15w bulb that actually came with the tank. I went to the store and picked up a replacement bulb which I put my thumb through before I even got it out of the package.
A second trip to the store I picked up 2 15w bulbs, and saw some 40w florecent bulbs that would fit the ballast. Since I always thought the 15w was a bit dim I decided to put in the 40w.

Now the tank seems incredibly bright.
Since I did not research this before hand is this shift in light going to effect my fish?

I put two 40w equivalent CFL spiral thingys into an incandescant hood for a 10g tank. It's pretty bright, but I think it's fine. It runs cooler too. I used "daylight" bulbs, but I may try changing one bulb to a warmer color and see how it looks. It's very white looking light right now; maybe a little too white, hospital like. My bulb shield allowed room for the spiral bulb, but if yours doesn't then one of the aquarium lighting companies makes a CFL that is the same size and shape as the tubular incandescant bulbs. You can obtain it in color temps that may look better and be more suitable for growing plants than the generic "daylight" bulbs. They make you pay for it though. ;-)

 

[Steve H.]

Hi again!

I've been doing a lot of research, studying, and lurking this forum to learn as much as I can about fishkeeping.
But in all this time I have not come across much about lighting as I do not yet have a planted tank.

Today during my maintenance I broke the small 15w bulb that actually came with the tank. I went to the store and picked up a replacement bulb which I put my thumb through before I even got it out of the package.
A second trip to the store I picked up 2 15w bulbs, and saw some 40w florecent bulbs that would fit the ballast. Since I always thought the 15w was a bit dim I decided to put in the 40w.

Now the tank seems incredibly bright.
Since I did not research this before hand is this shift in light going to effect my fish?

I put two 40w equivalent CFL spiral thingys into an incandescant hood for a 10g tank. It's pretty bright, but I think it's fine. It runs cooler too. I used "daylight" bulbs, but I may try changing one bulb to a warmer color and see how it looks. It's very white looking light right now; maybe a little too white, hospital like. My bulb shield allowed room for the spiral bulb, but if yours doesn't then one of the aquarium lighting companies makes a CFL that is the same size and shape as the tubular incandescant bulbs. You can obtain it in color temps that may look better and be more suitable for growing plants than the generic "daylight" bulbs. They make you pay for it though. ;-)

Thanks for the reply.
That's exactly what I have now a 40w daylight, but its not the large spiral. It's a mini spiral encased in pointy candle shaped tube that I got at the Depot. It fits in my hood, so popped it in.
I know what you mean about "hospital white", and I think that's why I was concerned just because of the shocking difference.
I can relax now knowing someone else is using the same thing.
The only other choice I saw was soft white...I could try that if I don't take to this one. Maybe it will be a little warmer in color.
Thanks!

 

[Steve H.]

Hi again!

I've been doing a lot of research, studying, and lurking this forum to learn as much as I can about fishkeeping.
But in all this time I have not come across much about lighting as I do not yet have a planted tank.

Today during my maintenance I broke the small 15w bulb that actually came with the tank. I went to the store and picked up a replacement bulb which I put my thumb through before I even got it out of the package.
A second trip to the store I picked up 2 15w bulbs, and saw some 40w florecent bulbs that would fit the ballast. Since I always thought the 15w was a bit dim I decided to put in the 40w.

Now the tank seems incredibly bright.
Since I did not research this before hand is this shift in light going to effect my fish?

I put two 40w equivalent CFL spiral thingys into an incandescant hood for a 10g tank. It's pretty bright, but I think it's fine. It runs cooler too. I used "daylight" bulbs, but I may try changing one bulb to a warmer color and see how it looks. It's very white looking light right now; maybe a little too white, hospital like. My bulb shield allowed room for the spiral bulb, but if yours doesn't then one of the aquarium lighting companies makes a CFL that is the same size and shape as the tubular incandescant bulbs. You can obtain it in color temps that may look better and be more suitable for growing plants than the generic "daylight" bulbs. They make you pay for it though. ;-)

Thanks for the reply.
That's exactly what I have now a 40w daylight, but its not the large spiral. It's a mini spiral encased in pointy candle shaped tube that I got at the Depot. It fits in my hood, so popped it in.
I know what you mean about "hospital white", and I think that's why I was concerned just because of the shocking difference.
I can relax now knowing someone else is using the same thing.
The only other choice I saw was soft white...I could try that if I don't take to this one. Maybe it will be a little warmer in color.
Thanks!

Found a 25w "cool white" at the depot. Much better lighting. Much more natural looking with Orange/yellow color rather than the hospital white.
But, cool white is much better than the day light as far as the tank is concerned.

 

[Prime Ordeal]

Just a note of caution. Make sure the ballast unit is rated for the higher wattage, i.e. 40W instead of 15W. If it's not you just might be having bonfire night a mite early this year.

 

[OldMan47]

That is not a 40W replacing a 15W PO. Read through the thread and you will see that a 15W incandescent was replaced by a 40W equivalent compact fluorescent. That means that the incandescent fixture went from supporting a 15W heat load to a 9W heat load. It has reduced that heat load.

I always use compact spirals rated at 60W equivalent, 13W actual, in my 10 gallon tank light strips. It runs slightly cooler than the 15W incandescent does and gives me enough light for a low light plant regime. As far as color is concerned, the color rendition chosen is up to personal preference. The cool white and warm white look very yellow to my eye while a daylight at around 5500K looks realistic to me. I find the 10000K tubes just much too harsh with a bluish cast to them.

 

[Prime Ordeal]

That is not a 40W replacing a 15W PO. Read through the thread and you will see that a 15W incandescent was replaced by a 40W equivalent compact fluorescent.

Sorry, I can't see any mention of replacing a 15W with a 40W equivalent in the OP's post. He said he swapped a 15W for a 40W (no equivalent mentioned).

 

[Steve H.]

PO....thats ok. because it is not here.
OM is confusing this post when I first got the bulb, and a question I recently asked in plant chit chat if the bulb is capable of growing plants.

You're not crazy.

Thanks for your concern. I did not realize the term "equivalent" on the package until OM pointed it out answering my question in the plant section.

 

[Prime Ordeal]

PO....thats ok. because it is not here.

Thank goodness for that!


You're not crazy.

I am you know.

 

[OldMan47]

When someone says they replaced a bulb, it means incandescent to me. That is why I said it had been mentioned already. The reference to a ballast caused me a bit of confusion at first but a fluorescent in a fluorescent fixture only lights to the level that the ballast supports. By saying the new bulb was brighter, the chance that we started with a fluorescent and replaced it with a higher rated one was completely eliminated. I always read all of the posts to build a picture in my own mind and this was a picture of a person replacing an incandescent bulb with a fluorescent tube. That is why I said read the whole thing.