Lighting

[kribensis12]

Okay, im moving towards a planted tank. I bought a light today, and this is the " stats":

Lmens: 950
Watts: 20
Life: 9000 hrs
CRI/IRC: 67
Kelvin: 9325
Length : 24 inches

Okay, i put it in, thinking it was going to be blindingly bright, but it was any different from my old light! ( the new one's bulb it twice as thick). Could this be right? The box says
" Supports growth of Freshwater plants requiring high levels of light". The front says " Ideal for growth of Corals and other Marine invetebrates in SW aquariums".

So, is this light okay? The old one , was as far as i know, a regular bulb.

 

[three-fingers]

Sounds fine, most plants aren't too fussy, as long as there is enough of the light and the colours look good to your eyes

Although you haven't mentioned what kind of bulb your talking about? Is it a tube? If so, T8 or T5?

What wattage is it And what size of tank is it?

 

[joshrm115]

Well it might it be a new bulb but it is definitely a different kind of light the kind that does support plant life..Witch the old one might not.

 

[jonnyf84]

The statement above is wrong, a lot of plants are fussy, or at least at the lower light levels which i presume yours is. Without sufficient light most plants will die and the ones that do survive (crypts and vallis spring to mind) they will grow so slowly that algae will soon take over their leaves.

You say its 20W, what size is your tank?

If you are not going to use CO2 injection then its best to aim for 2WPG as of course more light requires more co2 and other nutrients, if your tank is less than 20G or over 50G then your plants won't do well no matter how hardy they are.

If the tube is thicker than your last one then i don't know what it is as T10 is generally the thickest of the most common lighting, T8 tubes are skinnier and T5 even more so with deeper water penetration. Its hard to answer your question without knowing what kind of lighting it is and what the size your tank is.

 

[kribensis12]

The tank is a 30 gallon. I don't have CO2. The tube is very thick. I can't describe it, but it is huge. I didn't think it would fit in the fixture.

 

[jonnyf84]

mmm strange. so you have 1.5WPG which won't be enough to get a lush growth. From your past posts it seems to me like your pretty knowlegable so i'm baffled to why you would buy such a obscure light. Try looking at the Hagen T5HO, they are very cheap and top notch lighting which will even reach carpet plants.

 

[kribensis12]

Thanks. I have enver had much luck with plants. I do know that this bulb is 3 W brighter than my old one. I didnt know any better about the light. I haven't done much research on plants. I can't really afford anything that penetrates the bottom of the tank ( im 15). What is a T5HO bulb? Where can i buy if from, and how much is " cheap?"

 

[jonnyf84]

just type into google 'hagen GLO T5HO' and you should get pleanty of results, here is one:

http/www.edirectory.co.uk/pf/88888/mia/d...gle/pid/7227895

 

[kribensis12]

Thats the problem. Thats E 35, so what, 70 dollars? I can't afford that.

 

[aaronnorth]

The statement above is wrong, a lot of plants are fussy, or at least at the lower light levels which i presume yours is. Without sufficient light most plants will die and the ones that do survive (crypts and vallis spring to mind) they will grow so slowly that algae will soon take over their leaves.

Threefinger's said "most plants aren't to fussy" (reffering to the spectrum/ kelvin) and "as long as there is enough light" (enough wattage/ wpg) so it is a good statment

If you are not going to use CO2 injection then its best to aim for 2WPG as of course more light requires more co2 and other nutrients, if your tank is less than 20G or over 50G then your plants won't do well no matter how hardy they are.

Having 2wpg will need CO2, best to stay at 1.5wpg to have pretty fast growth, without the need of CO2. Why can't a tank less than 20g, or over 50g do well?
Tanks over 50g - http/showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2008...ory=0&vol=3
Tanks under 20g - http/showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2008...ory=0&vol=0


Krib, do you know the diamter/ T rating of the tube? It just seems as though you have bought any tube without giving thought to it!

T12 - 1.5"
T10 - 1.25"
T8 - 1"
T5 - 5/8th of an inch

 

[drobbyb]

It's probably a T12 bulb as the T10 bulbs are not as readily available here (I say that, but there are always exceptions!) How much did the light cost? If you bought just the bulb to replace the one in your standard fixture, then it's most likely not a T5 power compact (they are very thin.)

 

[aaronnorth]

If you bought just the bulb to replace the one in your standard fixture, then it's most likely not a T5 power compact (they are very thin.)

Power compacts is a tube that is bent back on itself:

http/img.aquaristic.net/dyn_images/1/int..._compact_p1.jpg

The single tubes are HOT5 or linear T5's

 

[drobbyb]

If you bought just the bulb to replace the one in your standard fixture, then it's most likely not a T5 power compact (they are very thin.)

Power compacts is a tube that is bent back on itself:

[URL="http/img.aquaristic.net/dyn_images/1/int..._compact_p1.jpg"]http/img.aquaristic.net/dyn_images/1/int..._compact_p1.jpg[/URL]

The single tubes are HOT5 or linear T5's

My mistake, but they are still thin.

 

[kribensis12]

grrr. This planted stuff is too complicated.

 

[aaronnorth]

grrr. This planted stuff is too complicated.

the simplest way to put it:

Buy a tube the correct length, diameter, and wattage with a colour that brings out the fish and plants best.

do not bother with 'plant tubes' they do not bring massive benefits to them,

simple?