Help With Lights!

[paradiddle]

i bought a second hand fluval vicenza 260 and i want to replace the lights to be sure of their reliability
BUT i have NO idea what lights to get, or what are in it now but the owner had the tank 3 years and didnt replace them once

HELP!

 

[techen]

Okay, Look on the lights. It should tell you what they are and what watts they are. Good start.

 

[paradiddle]

ahah this is my issue, apparently he never changed them, i dont know if its true...
BUT what ever is in there they are so "used" that there is no writing on them, or if there was any at all...
Reason i ask is because i can get some "free" t5 lighting i just need to know what size and wattage lol


AND!!!!!!
The reason i want to change them is because for some reason when they are on with the lid closed they heat my water to 30 degrees which killed off alot of my plants
so i want bulbs that are going to be good for a medium planted tank that WONT make my water 30degrees lol

 

[techen]

Turn of the light unit, remove the light. As I said they'll be writing on it saying if it's T5-T8, what wattage etc.

Nevermind

One Power Glo T5 Fluorescent Bulb High Output 39w 91cm (34in)
One Life Glo T5 Fluorescent Bulb High Output 39w 91cm (36in)

Is what it came with, So your looking for T5s at 39 watts each. Make sure there 91cm (36inch)

if you want to grow plants I suggest you get what they had a above, daytime lights for good plant growth.

 

[paradiddle]

Ok ill wait 15 mins for them to cool, they were just on lol

but aside from that surely they shouldnt heat my water from 26-27 to 30
and i bought a new heater, and when that comes on (its set at 22) my temp is already 27, so wth is going on?
my lights heat to 30
and my heater heats up when its at 27 according to the thermo

 

[techen]

Lighting does heat the water, Some lighting needs fans to pull the heat from them. Depends where you live too, If your room temp is high so will your tank.

 

[paradiddle]

nah the house temp is 23*
i removed the lights and then the bulbs from the strip and they are so worn and caked in what looks like limescale that no writing is visible

so the lights you suggested, why is one 34" and one 36" lol and im noob at this but whats the diff. between life and glo bulbs

http/www.greatmagazines.co.uk/store/displayitem.asp?sid=1413&id=60315

practical fish keeping are offering 3 free t5 bulbs with every subscrption

 

[techen]

It could be a typo but I got that information off google, Just google your fish tank name and you can find out what lights it takes.

Well that's not a bad deal worth a shot.

 

[paradiddle]

yeah they have a list of normal sized T5's wwhat ever normal size is, you can have any 3 of them OR any 2 Halide lights.

Inside the lighting strip it says 2x FD 39W and then what looks like G0 or something (its scratched off a little)

they have in the normal T5's, 24W,39w,54w and 80w

im thinking of going with 24W, would this be ok for plants? i have "hardy" plants like anubia and java moss

 

[Essjay]

With fluorescent tubes, the wattage goes hand in hand with the length. You can't change the wattage of the tubes, you have to buy ones the right length for the fitting. If you have a 39 watt fitment, 24 watt tubes will be too short to fit.

 

[daizeUK]

and i bought a new heater, and when that comes on (its set at 22) my temp is already 27, so wth is going on?
my lights heat to 30
and my heater heats up when its at 27 according to the thermo

 
Is it possible that either your thermometer or heater thermostat is malfunctioning?
My heater does exactly what I tell it to

 

[snazy]

and i bought a new heater, and when that comes on (its set at 22) my temp is already 27, so wth is going on?
my lights heat to 30
and my heater heats up when its at 27 according to the thermo

 
Is it possible that either your thermometer or heater thermostat is malfunctioning?
My heater does exactly what I tell it to

 
That's what happens to one of my tanks. I thought my first heater was broken because I had it set at 22 only but the next one is exactly the same. Temperature can't drop below 27.  I've tested with digital thermometer too so it's not that. It's the lights.