Wpg

[fish.com1]

Hi,

I am thinking of upgrading my lighting from an 18 watt T8 tube a 20 watt T6 tube. My tank is 96 litres or 21 gallons and at the monent i have 0.85 wpg. I am wondering what wpg my lighting will be if i use a T6 tube because i have read they give out 40% more light than standard T8 tubes.

All help appreciatted.

Thanks.

 

[fish.com1]

Hi,

I am thinking of upgrading my lighting from an 18 watt T8 tube a 20 watt T6 tube. My tank is 96 litres or 21 gallons and at the monent i have 0.85 wpg. I am wondering what wpg my lighting will be if i use a T6 tube because i have read they give out 40% more light than standard T8 tubes.

All help appreciatted.

Thanks.

Anyone?

 

[Truck]

same WPG roughly, but the light "intesity will; change not the wattage.

 

[SuperColey1]

The intensity won't change because the lamp will still be putting out 18W and spread over the same length of tube will still be the same!!!

T8 or T6 doesn't matter if you are using the same ballast. If the ballsat is 18W then putting a 24W T6 will still be putting out 18W because the ballast will only provide 18W. You will get a little more light down to the tank as the thinner tube will mean less restrike from the reflector.

However finding a T6 reflector is nigh on impossible and the T8 ones are bent to reflect according to the circumference angle of a T8 tube. Therefore using a T8 reflector on a T6 tube may lose the slight advantage the lesser restrike may have given!!

T6 will fit into the T8 endcaps with the brushings and will give you the potential for more wattage in the same area BUT to get the extra wattage you then need to change the ballast to one that provides thepower the T6 wants.

Sold as 40% extra but they don't tell you you have to do other things first.

For the effort I think people are better off buying a T5 starter with T5 lamps and T5 reflectors. Won't cost too much more than replacing with expensive branded T6 tubes, buying brushings, buying a new ballast, buying new reflectors etc.

AC

 

[fish.com1]

The intensity won't change because the lamp will still be putting out 18W and spread over the same length of tube will still be the same!!!

T8 or T6 doesn't matter if you are using the same ballast. If the ballsat is 18W then putting a 24W T6 will still be putting out 18W because the ballast will only provide 18W. You will get a little more light down to the tank as the thinner tube will mean less restrike from the reflector.

However finding a T6 reflector is nigh on impossible and the T8 ones are bent to reflect according to the circumference angle of a T8 tube. Therefore using a T8 reflector on a T6 tube may lose the slight advantage the lesser restrike may have given!!

T6 will fit into the T8 endcaps with the brushings and will give you the potential for more wattage in the same area BUT to get the extra wattage you then need to change the ballast to one that provides thepower the T6 wants.

Sold as 40% extra but they don't tell you you have to do other things first.

For the effort I think people are better off buying a T5 starter with T5 lamps and T5 reflectors. Won't cost too much more than replacing with expensive branded T6 tubes, buying brushings, buying a new ballast, buying new reflectors etc.

AC

sigh...

Is there any way i can upgrade my lighting? My tank is a juwel rekord 96 with the monolux 80 hood.

 

[Truck]

The intensity won't change because the lamp will still be putting out 18W and spread over the same length of tube will still be the same!!!

T8 or T6 doesn't matter if you are using the same ballast. If the ballsat is 18W then putting a 24W T6 will still be putting out 18W because the ballast will only provide 18W. You will get a little more light down to the tank as the thinner tube will mean less restrike from the reflector.

However finding a T6 reflector is nigh on impossible and the T8 ones are bent to reflect according to the circumference angle of a T8 tube. Therefore using a T8 reflector on a T6 tube may lose the slight advantage the lesser restrike may have given!!

T6 will fit into the T8 endcaps with the brushings and will give you the potential for more wattage in the same area BUT to get the extra wattage you then need to change the ballast to one that provides thepower the T6 wants.

Sold as 40% extra but they don't tell you you have to do other things first.

For the effort I think people are better off buying a T5 starter with T5 lamps and T5 reflectors. Won't cost too much more than replacing with expensive branded T6 tubes, buying brushings, buying a new ballast, buying new reflectors etc.

AC

sigh...




Is there any way i can upgrade my lighting? My tank is a juwel rekord 96 with the monolux 80 hood.

yes there is, i have a rekord 60 which i want to go marine with, im making my own hood out of MDF, buting some intepet compact T5 lamps, for the marine im using the twin 55watts, and im fitting them to the new hood. ill be doing a journal kinda thing, ive cut out the peices of wood, i shall be building tommorow, and fitting the lights after christmas, all the interpet stuff im buying is on charter house aquatics