Which Bulb Is Best?

[Super Dude]

Clicky!

Which type of bulp would be best for growing an average amount of plants in a 10G aquarium? I currently have the "Aqua-Glow" Will that work fine?

Also, is there a type of dimmer that I can get so the fish don't freak when it gets turned on?

 

[aaronnorth]

I like the life gol tubes, they bring out the greens in plants well - aqua glo's are too pink for my liking although if you have more than 1 tube then miixing them both together works pretty well so i have found as it helps with the red plants

None will be better than another (excwpt marine tubes lol), go for which colour you like best or alternatively buy some cheap tubes from lampsecs - you can see the colour of each tube HERE

 

[Truck]

why pay all that extra money for hagen to be written on the lamp?

go to a hardware store and pick one up for a few quid

 

[SuperColey1]

I've heard a lot of people talking about fish 'freaking' when the lights go on recently. Is this a new problem in the hobby?

Their reaction is the same as ours when we get home and turn the lights on in a dark house. Our eyes take a minute to adjust but no harm done.

AC

 

[Tigermoth]

why pay all that extra money for hagen to be written on the lamp?

go to a hardware store and pick one up for a few quid

So ordinary fluorescent tubes are ok with planted tanks then? I need to replace two 42" tubes which wouldn't leave me much change from £30 where I normally get them from. Seen some normal tubes online for £2 each plus VAT. Anyone know if Triphosphor tubes are suitable, they supposedly have a longer life.

 

[Truck]

all tubes between 3500-10000k are fine. as long as there the same length wattage, and type (T8 or T5) theyll be fine

 

[Tigermoth]

The tubes I have are 42" long, 40W.

The ones I've seen online state 3.5 foot (which is the same as 42"), but are 38W.

So is wattage really critical, or will these do the job?

Cheers

 

[Truck]

well if you use tubes of a lower wattage then the ballast will over power them and it will blow them, or shorten there life

 

[Tigermoth]

Just looked on the ballast, it says 36w to 40w.

 

[Truck]

shoudl be fine then is it a T8 or T5 ballast and are you buying a T8 or T5 tube?

 

[Tigermoth]

Should have said, both T8.

 

[Truck]

good

 

[Tigermoth]

The £2 tubes I referred to were from here if anyone is interested.

 

[aaronnorth]

The £2 tubes I referred to were from here if anyone is interested.

That was the company i siad in my first post, if you look there is a lnk showing the different colours produced by each bulb - very useful.

 

[Tigermoth]

The £2 tubes I referred to were from here if anyone is interested.

That was the company i siad in my first post, if you look there is a lnk showing the different colours produced by each bulb - very useful.

Sorry about that, hadn't read your earlier post, jumped in near the end.

I found lamp specs through a link to James' site on a different forum. Small world hey.