View Full Version : 6500 K power compact screw in bulbs
Hey!
how come I don't hear more about power compact screw in bulbs? The kinds you can buy at your local hard ware store. I bought some 19W pc 6500K bulbs from home depot a while back, and put them above my 10g tank. (that's 3.8 watts per gallon, yeah, with some CO2)
The first amazing thing is that I can fit two of them above my 10 gallon tank. I could fit four if I needed to!
Secondly they are so efficient, and put a great spectrum out . My plants love them.
third of all they are only like 8$ each which puts them in at one of the cheapest bulbs, in the cheapest light socets. (they have the balast inside the bulb so you don't need any extra stuff)
soooo is there something taboo about these things? How come people aren't more excited about them?
-Josh
karfixer
03-25-2003, 9:53 PM
I've got those bulbs over my 20 gal tanks, they look nice.
Stias'
03-25-2003, 11:01 PM
Once in a while the power companys run rebates on florcent bulbs too. Last time they ran around here, the 2300K bulbs were $2 and the 5100K bulbs were $3. I bought boxes worth.
Stias'
BluEyes
03-25-2003, 11:02 PM
I think because most people don't have hoods that will fit the screw-in bulbs.
I have a 15g and a 20g both with hoods that started out as a 10g dual incandescent hood. Glass cover and two screw in CF's makes for some wonderful lighting! They even come on slowly (full brightness takes ~1min), not full brightness all at once, which the fish probably like (of course, that is kinda annoying sometimes with the ones lighting the room...)
I wish my power company would start a power compact rebate program! That would be so great. They're a bit expensive still here. You can get a decent 2700 K lamp for about 4$, but the ones to use above a tank are still ike 8$ each...
do bulbs in the 2700K range still promote plant growth?
Oh, and I see your point blueyes - it takes a different system than most people have... However, maybe we could reccomend it to people who are asking how to light their tanks. It's such a modular system! You could build a sweet hood and use normal light fixtures. It'd be so cost efficient.
-Josh
xtremeyolks
03-26-2003, 2:24 AM
I wish I could find the 19 watt bulbs. My Home Depot only carries the 13 watt and 16 watt varieties. Is the 19 watt one made by commercial electric? Also, how do you know they are 6500k? All the ones I have seen don't put a kelvin rating on the packaging.
Yes, they are commercial electric. I believe they are the only bulbs that they actually do post the wattage on the packaging. It also says on the base of the bulb on the ballast. I think on all of the other bulbs it says so there as well.
praise the Lord for good things like power compact light bulbs
-Josh
BluEyes
03-26-2003, 11:34 AM
Originally posted by josh
do bulbs in the 2700K range still promote plant growth?
dunno the K on mine - got them at Wal-Mart, so I'm pretty sure they're low K, and the plants seem fine.
I am just growing sag, crypts, apon, anubias, and wisteria under them, though, but they all grow very well...
Hebdizzle
03-26-2003, 5:41 PM
Can you go into more detail about these bulbs?
heating?
do they just screw into a incandescent fixture?
etc.... thanks :)
karfixer
03-26-2003, 9:18 PM
Yes, they simply screw into a regular incandecent fixture. they don't heat that much - far less than a normal incandecent bulb.
wetmanNY
03-26-2003, 11:34 PM
I'm lighting one of my planted tens with one of these bulbs in an adjustable desklamp. Works great!
Stias'
03-27-2003, 1:10 AM
The rebate ones I got were 15, 23 and 28 watt. I dont really see a difference in the light output of the 23 and 28 watters. THe 15s are fine after a minute when they warm up. I have been slowly changing over the house to the screw in florcents as the incandecents burn out. The 23/28s are great in the bedrooms when you leave one incandecent and one florecent, the florecent is even brighter than the 100watter when warm. I like to keep one incandecent in also for the "instant on" that they give. I dont think the power company had me in mind when they gave the rebate but I find the best thing about them is I can leave the kitchen, entry way and basement bathroom light on all the time and it still costs about the same as always turning them on and off. I think if they rebate the switches that automaticly turn the light on when you enter the room, that might actually save some money then, I think I am at a wash right now.
2 of the 15s over a 10 gallon in one of the cheap black hoods is really bright. Another cheap alternative is the little under cabinet florcents, about 18 inches long and 15 watts. About $7 from Menards (or Home Depot) and it must be a higher K rating, plants are doing very well under it.
Josh, THe 2700 are what the 2 - 15 watters are and they grow plants but I think the Menards light I got is working better and its half the wattage, if you are looking cheap, try the strip light. I am just using the screw in ones because I had the hood and a ton of bulbs
Ya rebates are good,
Stias'