Power Compact lighting Question

[plantass28]

Im sure by now all are familiar with this type of lighting, I have used them personally since they were first introduced and find them to be very useful, albeit Im not a fan of how they tend to wash out the color in everything.

It is said that one power compact bulb is equivilent to three and a half flourescent bulbs in the same size. Meaning if you have say a 55watt 24in pc bulb it is equivilent to three and a half 20 watt flourescent bulbs.

Also you see marketing jargen like equivilent to 60, 100, 150 watts on the commercially available screw in varieties for home use.

I've been perplexed by this for a while and have wondered if this is true then does the same watts per gallon rule apply to PC Lighting?

Any and all comments welcome.

[jra]

The watts per gallon "rule" is more of a general guide line than a rule. Although CF lighting is slightly more efficient, it is still a good guide line to follow to give you an idea of your lighting needs.

[DIYMatt]

In my somewhat limited experience with CF I have found that the biggest advantage is in the intensity and the depth the light penetrates. Meaning the light from a 32w compact flourescent bulb will penetrate deeper into the tank than a 30 w normal flourescent. But, I still think the general watts per gallon rule applies somewhat equally. But, it is just a general rule that is affected by many things. IME - the heigth of the tank affects the lighting requirements greatly.