First just wanted to say hello!
I had several very successful low light tanks a few years ago but do to several moves haven't been able to set up until now.
I am looking to redo my hood for my 29 gal planted. Several years ago I had retrofitted an electronic ballast so I could drive a couple of t-8 bulbs to get at least 40 watts.
With the lowered cost and availability of daylight screw in cfl bulbs I was looking at building a new hood using them.
I have to stay really cheap and I have a few questions.
In looking through some posts I see some people using them and referring to them by their stated wattages rather than their supposed equivalency. Which number should be used when figuring out wpg? For instance a 14 watt actual claims to be equivalent to a 60 watt incandescent.
Second are there any major disadvantages to these bulbs (besides coverage) over longer straight pin bulbs?
Third does any one have sources for cheap parts for building a straight pin cfl hood?
I had several very successful low light tanks a few years ago but do to several moves haven't been able to set up until now.
I am looking to redo my hood for my 29 gal planted. Several years ago I had retrofitted an electronic ballast so I could drive a couple of t-8 bulbs to get at least 40 watts.
With the lowered cost and availability of daylight screw in cfl bulbs I was looking at building a new hood using them.
I have to stay really cheap and I have a few questions.
In looking through some posts I see some people using them and referring to them by their stated wattages rather than their supposed equivalency. Which number should be used when figuring out wpg? For instance a 14 watt actual claims to be equivalent to a 60 watt incandescent.
Second are there any major disadvantages to these bulbs (besides coverage) over longer straight pin bulbs?
Third does any one have sources for cheap parts for building a straight pin cfl hood?
