T8 tubes

[Waterloo Kid]

I've just started re-scaping my tank and I'm a bit concerned that I'm going to suffer from the typical Juwel low light problem. I have replaced the two bulbs that have been on the tank with one 40W Aqua Glo and one 40W Flora Glo tube. I know this still represents just under 1 wpg, I can't do anything about the quantity. What I want to know is whether the tubes will give the correct quality of light. Will the spectrum be correct for the plants. The Flora Glo tube is very cool (2400K) and cases a fairly pink light while the Aqua Glo is warm (18000K) and blue. I wouldn't like using two Flora Glo tubes for aesthetic reasons. I am using reflectors to maximise lighting. The plants chosen are generally low light plants.

Any comments about which tubes people have found to help in cases like this?

WK

 

[schizo_fish]

If your wanting to stick with the hagen lighting (aqua-glo, sun-glo etc etc) i would recommend using either power-glo or life-glo.
I say that because im currently using aqua-glo and sun-glo, and my plants aren't doing very well.
So i did a little research into the subject and found out that ideal lighting for plants would have a Kelvin temperature of around 4000 to 8000, a relatively high CRI, and a high lumen rating.
Although the hagen lighting doesn't say much about these requirements, i looked into the different tubes that Hagen produce and decided that the power-glo and life-glo were the closest matches.

 

[abstract]

but aren't the Power-Glo's 18,000K?

 

[luxum]

I like Zoo Med Tropic Sun 5500K Daylight T8 tubes.

 

[fraservet]

I have a power-glo and a life-glo 2 in my Juwel
so far the plants seem to be doing very well, even though the wpg is not great.

Of course, having a high wpg would be ideal, but where it is not possible, having high output tubes with the required spectrum certainly helps

 

[abstract]

As of two weeks ago I was using 2 18watt eclipse tubes (4100k) and my plants were surviving but I did not notice any exceptional growth. About 4 days ago I purchased one Life-Glo2 and have already noticed a great increase in growth (java ferns and a couple swords). I did not repalce both bulbs because i wanted to see how noticeable replacing just one would be and I'm very impressed. Now I am looking at getting another bulb to replace the remaining eclipse tube and will probably go with another Life-Glo2 unless there's something else someone suggests.

 

[Sanj]

I hve three juwel aquariums and gone mad on lighting. however reading PFK (again) The resident plant expert claims you only need two flouresent tubes with reflectors in upto 18" deep aquarium. he also recomends light in the white spectrum and not the likes of Powerglo (which I have some) which he claims does more to encourage algae.

 

[schizo_fish]

the power-glo has a high kelvin temperature i must admit, but it is still a good source of light, and can bring out the colours of fish really well

 

[Dubby]

I have a Juwel 60L and I use 1 18W Grolux and 1 regular 18W Daylight tube and they are both being overdriven at 20W.

 

[Paul_MTS]

in my 3ft tank I have 2 20" arcadia original tubes and my plants do just fine, i need to trim cabomba every 2 weeks ish so it doesn't look all messy and also the one that looks like oxygenating weed(sorry don't know my plants names)

I took cuttings from both of these and put them in my lobster tank, this only has a 14W arcadia tube in and the cabomba has already reached the surface in 2 weeks

It also depends on how close the tubes are to the water, on my old hood it help them a good 5inch aboth the glass covers now with annew hood i have there 1-2inch above the glass and i noticed the difference in brightness.

My main tank also has Co2 injections via Hagens botte unit.