Not enough light?

[Jag1980]

I was using a 15 watt fluorescent tube light for my planted shrimp tank, but I wanted more watts and better color. So I bought some compact spiral florescent bulbs that are 9 or 10 watts each at 6500k. (I have 2)

after about 7 to 8 hours my plants look like this, they they are folding up for sleep.. They seem to open up with the sun that comes into the house, but after the sun goes down they fold up a few hours later..

More watts of spiral fluorescent light is not as good as 15 watts of fluorescent tube light?

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f192/Picturesfrom2006/CIMG6302.jpg

[macbrush]

Generally, no. Since a lot of light is wasted in the centre of the spiral, and there is no way to reflect them out.

[Jag1980]

So if I wanted to get the actual full wattage of these type of lights, I would need to point them downward like the way bulbs are used in reptile dome lights correct?

[Canuck]

Nope. Think of it this way. The light is emitted in straight lines. With a regular flourescent tube maybe 90 degrees of the surface of the tube emits light that immediately hits the bottom of your tank. Assuming a perfect reflector, the rest of the surface of the light hits the reflector and then is "bounced" into your tank. With a spiral bulb a fairly significant portion of the light "shines" on another part of the tube and is "absorbed" by that surface without reaching the tank. Look at your spiral bulb ffrom any angle, the light from the parts of the tube you can't see is lost or reduced. (The 90 degree reference is for illustration only, this would be largely dependent on the height of the bulb in relation to the tank. This is one of the reasons skinnier tubes are more efficient, and also why a good reflector can make such a big difference.

[Fordtrannyman]

More watts of spiral fluorescent light is not as good as 15 watts of fluorescent tube light?

Depends on how you housed the spirals.
I use a double Edison socket inside an AGA Housing. I paint the inside of the housing gloss white. These setups grow plants way better than my 15Watt T8 strip light.

[jmhart]

With sprial CFL's, assume you lose at least 15-30% of light due to restrike compared to tube fluorescents.

[Canuck]

With sprial CFL's, assume you lose at least 15-30% of light due to restrike compared to tube fluorescents.

Or I could have just said this:thm:

[Jag1980]

Nope. Think of it this way. The light is emitted in straight lines. With a regular flourescent tube maybe 90 degrees of the surface of the tube emits light that immediately hits the bottom of your tank. Assuming a perfect reflector, the rest of the surface of the light hits the reflector and then is "bounced" into your tank. With a spiral bulb a fairly significant portion of the light "shines" on another part of the tube and is "absorbed" by that surface without reaching the tank. Look at your spiral bulb ffrom any angle, the light from the parts of the tube you can't see is lost or reduced. (The 90 degree reference is for illustration only, this would be largely dependent on the height of the bulb in relation to the tank. This is one of the reasons skinnier tubes are more efficient, and also why a good reflector can make such a big difference.

I understand now, thanks :thm:

[Jag1980]

What is a AGA Housing?

I need to make my light strip better..

What type of place can I get reflective backing for my T8 tube light and is there a special name for the product I'm looking for?

Which bulb would be better:
Plant bulb they sell at the pet store
or
6500k GE bulb from Walmart

I want to use my light strip, but I need just a little bit more light..

[Jag1980]

Is this such a stupid question that no one wants to answer :confused:

[fishorama]

Can you fit higher watt screw in CFLs in your strip? I have 2x 15w over a 10g. There are even higher but the bulbs are even bigger diameter & may not fit.

[jmhart]

Can you fit higher watt screw in CFLs in your strip? I have 2x 15w over a 10g. There are even higher but the bulbs are even bigger diameter & may not fit.


That's what I was going to suggest. The GE 6500k bulb at Wal-Mart comes in wattages up to 26, just depends on whether the 26w would fit.

I have a 26w in a clip on reflector(like the kind you buy at Home Depot for a garage) over a 5.5g and it's really nice low light setup.

[Riiz]

What is a AGA Housing?

I need to make my light strip better..

What type of place can I get reflective backing for my T8 tube light and is there a special name for the product I'm looking for?

Which bulb would be better:
Plant bulb they sell at the pet store
or
6500k GE bulb from Walmart

I want to use my light strip, but I need just a little bit more light..

AGA = all glass aquarium

Best reflective material for a DIY'er, plain ol' gloss white spray paint.

Between those 2 lights, I say GE 6500k, since I dont know what exactly is that "plant bulb" is.

[mellowvision]

the way I see it, your plants are in rythm with nature's light source, since they've been relying on it when you had just a flourescent tube. they may need some time to rearrange their sleep paterns. I see my plants closing near the time that the lights are going to go off, and later once they're off, the plants that close are closed. if I turn the lights back on they don't usually reopen or anything...

[Jag1980]

Can you fit higher watt screw in CFLs in your strip? I have 2x 15w over a 10g. There are even higher but the bulbs are even bigger diameter & may not fit.
10 watts is the highest I seen this size, all other higher wattage bulbs where larger in diameter.
The tiny ones I got in there now are touching the light fixture :silly:

[Jag1980]

AGA = all glass aquarium

Best reflective material for a DIY'er, plain ol' gloss white spray paint.

Between those 2 lights, I say GE 6500k, since I dont know what exactly is that "plant bulb" is.

I'm pretty sure the light strip light fixture I have is AGA.
It has the white plastic already there, but the bulb is very cramp in the space it sits in, not much room for any light reflecting..

These are the type of plant bulbs I was talking about
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/204569/product.web?gdftrk=xh23lc0p/7HDy~g3JgKLc~RezRmUyfzQm5DSh7OhOgxgtUGpqWcjAMpUobG DrT~SbT0EF8FmRgLMv~oowd~O9JFaYr0oeoUeLc1opB5eTB7PB q77RGOEZy~KMfXPhG02Gkl04DF9o6SdRPoHyghIDlH2PS5oxxB AhBZu1L0l2XpfC~gi7xyuMPyl0cZtOA7mGaiEwMURmU90BXySD SOTA11PlszsC3S2B3M08p6e0F9oBX6HuhIAKGIyqGpjCqPy

[coach_z]

your plants are also getting much brighter light from the windows in your house as you said in your origionalpost. once the sun goes down they think that it is like sleepy time because of the major lack of light

[Jag1980]

This is the type of light strip I'm using, looks like I'm only getting about 35% of the light..

Is there any way to modify this light strip cheaply?

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/images/Categoryimages/normal/p_rd_930585_21233D.jpg