Tank Lights

[Phantom Thief]

92cm (L) x 46cm (W) x 52cm (H)

36" x 18" x 20"

How many watts to achieve 'medium' lighting?

Thanks guys

P.T.

 

[guppygirl]

A great calculator is here.
HTH!
Robin

 

[Phantom Thief]

Ok, thanks guppygirl

Says here i should get about 200 watts for a medium-bright tank, that sound right to you guys? And what kind of light should i get?

Thanks again

P.T.

 

[guppygirl]

Personally, I would go compact fluo. But Konrad would probably know a little more about this.

 

[blue_ram]

Says here i should get about 200 watts for a medium-bright tank, that sound right to you guys? And what kind of light should i get?

I concurr with guppygirl. At 200 watts, you'll definitely have to go with compact lights (or overdriven T8). I would definitely look for high efficiency electronic ballast, as the cost of electricity will eclipse the initial savings using cheap magnetic ballast.

BTW, overdriven T8 is not recommended unless you know what you're doing, as it can be an electrical hazzard.

 

[guppygirl]

overdriving the T8 can also be a fire hazard...

 

[Phantom Thief]

Ok, ended up with dad whining about the cost, so the light i managed to get is a compact fluorescent 36 watts. There will be more coming, but this is the first.

P.T.

 

[Barday]

What do you mean by overdriving?

 

[kenneth_kpe]

overdriving means running more power into your fluorescent tube since typically normal fluorescents can handle more power but have to be replaced more often as compared to normally operated T8's

http/www.plantedtank.net/odno.html

heres a article on it

personally i dont recommend it because i talked to the electrician where my sister works and he said its really not safe and can be a really big fire hazard

 

[Barday]

I take it that the balasts for normal flourescent tubes are magnetic?

The only reason I ask, is because I recently bought some 40w starter units for 30w and 18w tubes.

If this is a fire hazard i will definately not use them.