Basic Light Theory

[EvanH]

Hi all,

I'm trying to do a poor-man's planted tank. I've got a 44 gallon hex, I know, hell for plants. My tank came with a 19 Watt florcent, which obviously can't do the job at all. I found in my basement a light strip from an old hermit crab setup i had. It has slots for 2 incandecent bulbs, the only information it has on it is "max bulb 25 watt." I'm assuming that means each slot contains 25, for a total of 50?

My question is this, do those lights add up to 69 watts? Or can you now add the wattage to get a total? Thanks!

[happychem]

Basic light theory, eh?
Fluorecent and incandecent work on two different principles, resulting in different "qualities" of light, if you will.

The power consumption will add up to 69watts, I think. But you won't get the 69watts/44gallons that I think you're looking for, that estimate only applies to fluorecents.

Go the hardware store, you can pick up a 2-tube fluorecent for pretty cheap (less than $30). Make your own reflector out of aluminum foil. I don't know the dimensions that you're working with, but if you picked up a double 36W, then you'd have yourself about 91W over your tank for the additional cost of about $30, plus bulbs.

[anonapersona]

See if the Home Depot 19 watt screw-in daylight spectrum spiral flourescent will fit this hood. It may be too wide. With each light at 19 watts, you are fine for the 25 watt per bulb limit.

Still low light, if it fits, what are you trying to grow? You cold easily do some java fern on branchy wood high in the tank, maybe some crypts below.

[EvanH]

Hi there,

I was hoping to grow some anachrius... The LFS i use has anachrius and some other plants in a tank w/ standard 15 watt light, and they're doing fine (for a month now at least). I'm not so much looking for growth, just survivability. Could my 50 W incandecent, ad 19 watt florecent keep the plants alive?

Best,
Evan

[EvanH]

Also... the tank is located by a window on the south side of the house... would opening it help at all?

[Captain Hook]

Sunlight will cause more problems than good in the tank, like algae. How tall is your tank?

I think if you use 2 compact fluorescent bulbs (twisty looking bulb) and a good fluorescent bulb you would be ok for some plants. Definitely crypts, anubias, java moss and java fern. I think anarchis but that might depend on the height of your tank.

19 watts is a weird number for a fluorescent tube. How long is it? I know 24" bulbs are 20 watts. I'm asking because if you get a new t8 bulb in there that will give you the most possible light.

[EvanH]

My tank is 29 inches tall...

In short, can someone tell me what the best setup is for less than 100 dollars? Minding that I have a 19 watt florecent, and a 50 wat incandesent.

[plantbrain]

Evan, I just got back from a friend's that has a 35 gal with a couple of those screw in PC FL lights, the tank is packed full of water sprite, bacpoa and Hemianthus(pearl grass), Ergeria will do great also.

2 x 15-20w PC replacement lights should do pretty good.

It's not an issue of spread so this should work quite well on a Hex.
0.8-1.0w/gal should be enough.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[EvanH]

Thanks Tom!

Hate to make it even more clear that I'm a newbie.. but could you tell me what PC FL means? Thanks!!!

[plantbrain]

PC= plant challeneged ....................no...:)
PC= Powercompact, those incadescent replacements they sell at Home depot etc.
FL = Fluorescent
NO= normal output

Regards,
Tom Barr