Juwel Tubes

[Truck]

i have recently started to plant my tank and the bulb i have in at the moment is t8. i am going to replace the tube next time i visit my lfs.

do any of you know from experience which is better the daylight tube or the warm light tube, for plants. the tube i have at the moment is a daylight and the light penetration isnt great. its a year old and needs replacing and do you think i would benifit from a reflector

 

[aaronnorth]

one is not better for the plants, just get one that brings out the plants natural colours, see here for cheap tubes: http/www.lampspecs.co.uk/Light-Bulbs-Tub...34Pa38Ta38NaNj0

and here for a colour view that they give: http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/lighting.htm

you could also get a T6 tube that outputs 40% more light: http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?...mp;cPath=12_207

sorry for giving you options but i thought it might help you get a cheaper tube lol. Relectors help alot, definatley worth the investment.

 

[Truck]

the light unit is a t8 unit would a t6 or t5 tube work? and do i have to buy jewel ones. and do they come in standard sizes

 

[aaronnorth]

T6 are designed to fit in any T8 fitting, just check the length before you buy, email Richard at aqa essentials and he gets back within 24hr. I have heard Juwel are a funny length so make sure before you do buy one!

T5 wont work, the need a different type of ballast

 

[Truck]

the tubes for my tank need to be 438mm.

the tubes on the t6 site are wrong size unless there is any play in the fitting

 

[Truck]

it looks like i will have to use the jewul tubes. can anyone recomend which ones are best. day light or warm light, for plants if theres no difference ill get a reflector

 

[Essjay]

If you want to stay with T8, look at the Arcadia tubes, and I think Interpet ones fit as well. I have a Rio 125 which takes two tubes. I have one Arcadia Freshwater (says 'shows the rich greens of plants' and 'encourages plant growth') and one Arcadia Original Tropical (says 'optimum light for photosynthesis' and 'promotes plant growth'). I just didn't like the colour of the Juwel tubes. Other people may be better able to advise what you need for plants if your tank only uses one tube.

 

[Truck]

i want a whitish tube

the arcadia ones arent the right length for a rekord 60. they need to be 438mm

 

[Essjay]

Have you actually measured the Juwel tubes and the Arcadia tubes? The reason I ask is that they seem to measure them differently! Arcadia include the pins in their measurement, Juwel don't. For my tank, Juwel say the tubes I need are 590mm. If you measure them from the outside edge of the metal cap to the outside edge of the other metal cap, they're 588mm. If you measure them from the ends of the pins, they're 600mm. The Arcadia ones quote a size of 600mm, but the actual measurements are cap to cap 588mm and pin edge to pin edge 601mm. In other words, they are exactly the same size even though the quoted sizes are 10mm different!

I also have a 60 litre tank that's got an Arcadia tube. I've just had a look, it says 15w, 450mm on the tube itself. It's measurements are 450mm pin edge to pin edge, but 435mm from metal cap to metal cap. Try meauring your existing Juwel to see what it's actual measurements are. By the way, its the Freshwater tube, and it's white.

 

[Truck]

but it says 438mm on the tube ill check it though. nut its still 15 watts never the less

 

[pirate monkey]

I put a T8 arcadia tube in my Juwel rekord 96, fits lovely. Take your tube to your LFS to check sizes! I think it's just the Juwel T5s where you can only use Juwel tubes...

 

[aaronnorth]

get a tube with a kelvin around 6700k-9000k for white light although it may vaary if it says otherwise.