Anyone replace incandescent hoods with CFLs?

[slipstreamv2]

I have a 5 gallon AGA mini Bowfront tank with an incandescent fixture rated for 15w. Any suggestions (brand, exact bulb, guidelines) for replacing it with a compact fluorescent bulb?

I want to grow any plants I'd grow in my regular fluorescent 10g tank, so I'm looking for a 15W bulb, but I'm not sure I can find one that'll fit. The hood space for the bulb is pretty narrow, and it certainly won't fit a standard size bulb that people replace with 13W CFLs.

I'd like to hear your experiences, even if it wasn't this specific hood that you replaced.

Thanks.

[DarkSoul]

I dont know what coulod be done about your tank, but this is what I did with my daughters perfecto hood.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121322
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123794

[slipstreamv2]

very nice, DarkSoul! I have minimal skills in DIY stuff unfortunately. I'm going to go over to HomeDepot as soon as I get a chance, but I just wanted to see if anyone had a heads up on a (ideally 15W) CF bulb that would fit (the opening allows for no larger than ~1.5 to maybe 1.75 inch diameter bulb).

The current bulb is ~1.6 inches, flame/torpedo shaped with a standard base.

If I can find something like this -
http://www.bulbs.com/eSpec.aspx?ID=13428&Ref=Compact+Fluorescent+Screw-in&RefId=20&Ref2=Light+Bulbs

it would work, except the "NOT RECOMMENDED for Use In Enclosed Fixtures" part.

Any comments on the appropriateness of the Lumens (900) or the color temperature (2700K)?

[feemia]

I use these by Lights of America in all of my incadescent light fixtures. They're smaller than other CFL that I've found. The one of the left is a 14w Lights of America bulb and the one on the right is the standard size 13w GE bulb.

[slipstreamv2]

feemia, that sounds perfect! Color Temp seems to be in the correct range too, from what I've been reading. Is "Lights of America a common brand"? Do they sell them at places like Target, Walmart, HomeDepot?

Thanks.

[feemia]

Lights of America is a common brand, but I've only seen these particular bulbs at Fred Meyer stores. I haven't checked Target, maybe they have them as well.

[DarkSoul]

I use these by Lights of America in all of my incadescent light fixtures. They're smaller than other CFL that I've found. The one of the left is a 14w Lights of America bulb and the one on the right is the standard size 13w GE bulb.

seems the bulb only has a shorter ballast, the bulb width looks the same, and looks like the ballast is just as wide, which with my hood was the problem.
anything larger than 15W wont fit in mine, unless they use straight tubes.

Straight tubes also reduces the amount of restrike significantly. (you know the sprials that arent spirals, they use 2 or 3 U shaped tubes instead.)

[vampie]

AGA and Coralife makes the non-spiral screw-in CFLs. I'd have to assume AGA's bulb would fit it's own products.

Lights of America has a major retailer listing
http://www.lightsofamerica.com/retail.htm

[slipstreamv2]

Thanks guys. I guess I'll try getting the non-spiral CFLs first, and if not readily available, then the Lights of America CFLs.

[vidiots]

I have done this for tanks 10gal and under and it works great, although I haven't used the ones you can get at the hardware or grocery stores. I've only used the ones made specifically for aquarium plants. All-Glass Aquarium makes a 10W one, and Coralife makes a 20W one. The All-Glass brand costs about $7 per bulb, and I've recently seen them in Walmart. In the past I've orderd them online. The reason for getting the ones specifically for plants is that they have the 6700K color spectrum and look very white to the eye, where as most of the cheaper ones either don't specify, or are 2700K and look yellowish to the eye. In my opinion the bulbs in the 5000-7000K range look the best and have enough light in the proper part of the spectrum for plants to grow well.

If you do use the other ones I would avoid exceeding the rated wattage of your light fixture, most of the incandecent hoods are marked like 20W max. If you do exceed this it may get too hot and damage the hood.

Oh and another reason I shy away from the cheaper hardware store bulbs is they tend not to be labeled with their actual wattage and only the incandecent equivelent which is useless for estimating your watts per gallon. The brand in the pics above seem to be and exception and are well labeled..

[FryingPan]

I use two GE 20 watt (75 watt equiv) spiral lights on my 20G, and they're great. Awesome plant growth.

[ThePBM]

Home Depot's store brand, nVision, has a good selection of smaller cfl spirals that will fit in your hood.

[slipstreamv2]

Thanks vidiots, frying pan, and ThePBM. I've got more than enough selection and info get some great bulbs for a planted tank. I've been so busy...I just need to go out and get some now.

[jlp0017]

slipstreamv2, I recently bought a Minibow 5 too to have while I'm at college and I was wondering the exact same thing. I'm just curious, are you keeping the plastic guard in the hood? It seems as though it would block some of the light but perhaps taking it off wouldn't be the safest thing to do?

[slipstreamv2]

jlp, sorry, I haven't had a chance to do it yet.