Let there be light!

Vivid-Dawn · 07-02-2005, 03:15 PM

Is there any sort of regular tube fluorescent light I can put in my hood that’ll give more light, but not blow a fuse? The box says 19watt bulbs...but I’ll want more like 25 watts at least.

The lights I got with my new tank are rather pitiful for keeping live plants. There’s only 38 watts, for a 60 gallon tank. Even if I only put 55 gallons in it, that’s still just barely over half a watt per gallon!
I know that the Halide lights are great for giving sufficient (in fact, quite a lot!) light, but they’re also a couple hundred dollars.

I figure my plants will probably survive with half a watt... the ones in my 10 gallon tank are getting just barely over 1 watt, and while they haven’t died, they’re not nearly as healthy and vibrant as the ones in my tank that’s getting 2 full watts.

**Damon** · 07-04-2005, 05:51 PM

Odds are no. Most ballasts can power stronger bulbs but you still have 2 problems.

Magnetic Tar ballasts (like the old ones used in all glass standard hoods that come with most fishtanks) are not safe to link or run pc bulbs.
For NO flourescent bulbs, increased power means a bigger bulb. For instance a standard f14T8 15 inch bulb is 14 watts. For a more powerful bulb in No flourescent, you'd have to buy a bigger bulb (longer that is) and this wouldn't fit into your fixture.

Your best bet is to purchase a PC retrofit from AHsupply or a new Power Compact fixture from somewhere like Big Al's or the like. You're probably wanting 2-2.5wpg over your tank which means 150 watts of power. There are many ways to accomplish this. But none are going to be cheap. Cheaper than MH but still not cheap.

**Osiris** · 07-04-2005, 05:56 PM

u can get some good lighting output for cheap but at your own risk from this place:

www.aquatraders.com

Huugs · 07-06-2005, 05:33 PM

Out of interest why do you say 'at your own risk'?

Vivid-Dawn · 07-06-2005, 09:21 PM

I figure buying anything online is a risk

Anyhoo... I decided I won't have as many plants as I first planned. I'm gonna make a little 'box' to hang on the side, and just keep a few sprigs up near the top. I think that'll get them enough light, without spending more money (that I don't have anyway) on new lights.

I mainly want it for keeping down algae and nitrates anyway. I hope a square foot of Anacharis will do that, decently.

07-02-2005, 03:15 PM	#1
Vivid-Dawn Blue world bungler! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Utah Age: 30 Posts: 225	Let there be light! Is there any sort of regular tube fluorescent light I can put in my hood that’ll give more light, but not blow a fuse? The box says 19watt bulbs...but I’ll want more like 25 watts at least. The lights I got with my new tank are rather pitiful for keeping live plants. There’s only 38 watts, for a 60 gallon tank. Even if I only put 55 gallons in it, that’s still just barely over half a watt per gallon! I know that the Halide lights are great for giving sufficient (in fact, quite a lot!) light, but they’re also a couple hundred dollars. I figure my plants will probably survive with half a watt... the ones in my 10 gallon tank are getting just barely over 1 watt, and while they haven’t died, they’re not nearly as healthy and vibrant as the ones in my tank that’s getting 2 full watts. __________________ I may be crazy, but it's kept me from goin' insane... ~~~ 50g/189L 3 Electric Yellow Cichlid (single male, pair female) 1 Kenyi Cichlid (male) --- 20g/75.5 1 fancy guppy (male) 5 long-fin Zebra Danio

07-04-2005, 05:51 PM	#2
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	Odds are no. Most ballasts can power stronger bulbs but you still have 2 problems. Magnetic Tar ballasts (like the old ones used in all glass standard hoods that come with most fishtanks) are not safe to link or run pc bulbs. For NO flourescent bulbs, increased power means a bigger bulb. For instance a standard f14T8 15 inch bulb is 14 watts. For a more powerful bulb in No flourescent, you'd have to buy a bigger bulb (longer that is) and this wouldn't fit into your fixture. Your best bet is to purchase a PC retrofit from AHsupply or a new Power Compact fixture from somewhere like Big Al's or the like. You're probably wanting 2-2.5wpg over your tank which means 150 watts of power. There are many ways to accomplish this. But none are going to be cheap. Cheaper than MH but still not cheap. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

07-04-2005, 05:56 PM	#3
Osiris Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Age: 25 Posts: 3,714	u can get some good lighting output for cheap but at your own risk from this place: www.aquatraders.com __________________ Reality is for people who can't handle Science-Fiction

07-06-2005, 09:21 PM	#5
Vivid-Dawn Blue world bungler! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Utah Age: 30 Posts: 225	decision I figure buying anything online is a risk Anyhoo... I decided I won't have as many plants as I first planned. I'm gonna make a little 'box' to hang on the side, and just keep a few sprigs up near the top. I think that'll get them enough light, without spending more money (that I don't have anyway) on new lights. I mainly want it for keeping down algae and nitrates anyway. I hope a square foot of Anacharis will do that, decently. __________________ I may be crazy, but it's kept me from goin' insane... ~~~ 50g/189L 3 Electric Yellow Cichlid (single male, pair female) 1 Kenyi Cichlid (male) --- 20g/75.5 1 fancy guppy (male) 5 long-fin Zebra Danio

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07-06-2005, 05:33 PM	#4
Huugs Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: London UK Age: 23 Posts: 251	Out of interest why do you say 'at your own risk'?

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