Lighting

[DeepSeaFishin]

I have found my lighting on my tank, its 5500 k. What measurement the "k" is I dont know. My question is how can I covert this 5500k to watts, so I can figure my watts per gallon so I can figure out if I need co2 injection. Also, if I have 2 or over, would adding black strips of plastic inbetween the glass and light so It blocks out more light, would that be a possibility to lower wpg?

Need a little help.


Tom

 

[nry]

Don't think you can convert k (kelvin) to watts. I had one tube which was 11,000k and another which was around 6700k. Both were rated at 15watts. Is the wattage not written on the tube? If not then do you know the brand/model of the tube?

 

[frozenbarb]

the watts should be printed on the tube, the kelvins are for colors only, and that color only reflects to your eyes

 

[Davver]

The 5500k refers to the coloour temperature in Kelvin. This equates to the colour of the light. If you can tell us how long the tube is and whether it is T8 1" diameter or T5 5/8" diameter then you can work out what wattage they are.

Dave

 

[SuperColey1]

You can tell the approx wattage for the length and diameter not the exact

For example:

Hagen 24" T8 bulbs say 20W (or at least the ones I got with my Fluval did)
Arcadia and most other brands say 18W

 

[DeepSeaFishin]

Alright, when I get home Ill have to measure it, and no, theres no watts label on the light, why I dont know. Its about 6 months old so maybe some of the ink rubbed off, idk. Ill get the measurements soon as I get home.

 

[DeepSeaFishin]

Okay I found it
http/www.fish.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=710464...rccode=FSHNXTAG

18 watts, so thats around 1.6 wpg.