Which Lighting

[PrettyDiscus]

I want to change my 40g tank to a heavily planted Discus set up. I want to use pressurised co2 and i dont know which lighting to get. Threre are so many different types i dont know which ones to get. Tank is 48x15x15 inches. Can you tell me which online site sells them?
Thanks

 

[thefirethief]

High power T5's are probably the easiest option in terms of space and output.

http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/catalogue/lighting.asp

You also get High Power Compact T5's (PC) lights which are ideal for smaller tanks.


A single unit can equal the output of 3 or 4 normal flourescents bulbs, which as Im sure you can imagine, isn't always feasable under a tanks hood. Ive recently bought a twin 55W PC unit giving me 110Watts over a 100L tank. Overkill? Yes....

 

[Neal]

thefirethief, how exactly do you install this item? I'm wanting one for my 30" tank, i'd be getting the 55W one. Are they easy to install and are they stable? Could you please post picture up of yours, and can you take it out or do you have to unscrew it or something?

Neal

 

[thefirethief]

Good questions neal, I'll let you know as soon as mine arrive.

I had the same concerns about the interpet units but Ive been informed by a few people that they are easy to install and the bulbs connections are sealed and safe.

Im just in the house and there was a note from the courier so they are getting re-delivered this afternooon. I'll let you know how I get on!

 

[thefirethief]

Right, got the unit in today. Looks pretty simple to install howver doesn't look as if the fitting that holds the unit on the hood is all that reliable.

Ive also just come across this thread



If you cant be bothered reading through it all I'll give you the basics. Interpet T5 Compacts are crap. They overheat, melt the rubber casing and shatter the bulb. Im not willing to risk it so Ive just e-mailed the guys I got it from explaining my concerns and requesting a refund.

I think Im going to go for an ASL PC unit . They seem to more reliable, easier to fit and have the built in reflector. A bit more money but what can ye do.

 

[Themuleous]

The interpet twin 55w units are supposed to have been redesigned to stop the overheating issue. Don't know anyone that has tried one of the new units (their reputation took a beating cos they didn't think to test a simple thing like this ) but as I understand it the new sets should be OK. Worth checking that you're getting a new kits though.

Sam

 

[thefirethief]

Do you know if the units themselves were re-designed? Im aware that the bulbs were re-designed to allow better air circulation but I think people still had some problems with them. I cant imagine this unit fitting into my hood without problems. Im convinced the clips aren't strong enough and the unit will slip into the water. I really hope I dont have to argue with the guy for a refund. He said a lot of customers had been returning them but had checked the latest delivery before sending them out and there were no problems. Cant wait for his reply.

 

[Themuleous]

As far as I can remember I thought the unit itself had been changes as well, but I could be wrong?

Sam

 

[Dave Spencer]

I have been running two Interpet 55W T5 lamps for the past week, and when I read the linked thread to the melting end fittings I panicked and rushed over to my tank to check things out. Anyway, as they are brand new, mine are the modified type.

I checked the temperature of the rubber end fittings and, whilst they are hot, it is not excessive. The lid is quite hot around the areas where the mounting screws have gone through but, once again, not excessively so. My feelings are that the problem has been solved, but have made one observation from the linked thread:

The heat damaged end fittings were under the reflectors. On my set up only the lamp is under the reflector with the rubber standing proud outside the end. I am sure that the reflector could put a lot of extra heat in to the rubber.

Anyway, this news came as a shock to me, but now I think I can sit back and enjoy the light quality and pearling plants. Needless to say that if I have any problems (these are early days) I will post them on here.

 

[Themuleous]

Cheers for that Dave, good to know it looks like they have sorted it. It is the tube that's been modified on yours or the convertagear itself?

Sam

 

[Dave Spencer]

Cheers for that Dave, good to know it looks like they have sorted it. It is the tube that's been modified on yours or the convertagear itself?

Sam

I believe that it is just the tube that was modified because the whole of the lamp fitting is still inserted in to the convertagear end caps.

 

[thefirethief]

Well, they've agreed to take the unit back. Just gonna cost me a bomb to send it back down south. Ive ordered a 36W ASL unit from aquatics-online.co.uk which is a less ridiculous wattage and will be reliable hopefully. Ive had a search through some forums and haven't read a bad thing about them. Fingers crossed...

 

[Themuleous]

Sorry, so just to get this right, it was the interpet convertagear that was faulty? and NOT the bulbs?

Sam

PS - if you have to send something back cos its bust, you should get the postage cost back as well as the cost of the item. So I would def ask, you shouldn't be out of pocket cos they arsed up.

 

[thefirethief]

The interpet unit I got in was completely unused and would have probably worked fine. How long for I dont know. I just didnt trust it and said to the guy I would rather get it sorted sooner rather than later, and didnt want to start drilling into my hood only for the thing to pack in 2 months down the line like a majority of peoples did.

I had no way of proving the item was faulty so the only option I had to was to send it back and get a refund, minus the sellers postage and ebay fees. I wish I hadnt agreed to that part now.

 

[Fwapp]

As people are talking heat, the maximum temp allowed om exposed metal, due to electrically generated heat, is about 60C, if I remember correctly. This is from BS7671 (16th wiring regs), but it has been years since I looked that up.

Thats about hot enough to touch for a couple of seconds.