spiral cpf bulbs

[andrew.ars]

i have a 30 gallon hex and is really hard to find lighting for it
i would like to grow plants moderate light
regular cf bulbs fixtures are hard to find in 20 inch length and quad bulbs i can only find for salt water and they are very costly.
i found a reptile hood that excepts 2 spiral compact fl bulbs each 25 watts (real wattage) with reflector

i would add 2 25 watt 6500k spiral cfl bulbs and a 15 watt 8500k plant bulb

total 65 watts would that be enough

the tank is 24 inches deep

if any body could post pictures of plant setups with spiral cpf or plants grown under them.

 

[Bk718]

 

[Bk718]

they are just like any other bulb.. With the 65w/30g you would have 2.2wpg thats good but if you can find the space to add another 25w bulb it would be even better.

 

[andrew.ars]

questions

thanks its so hard to light small hex aquariums

what is the k value on the bulbs and how long did it take for your plants to fill in like that

 

[br553]

Here is a couple of pics of my planted tanks.
The 5g hex has a 14 watt spiral CF

My 10g has two 20 spiral cf

The plants are various aponogeton bulbs. I dose Excel for carbon every day, NPK every other day and traces twice a week. The color temp on all 3 bulbs is 6500K

 

[Bk718]

thanks its so hard to light small hex aquariums

what is the k value on the bulbs and how long did it take for your plants to fill in like that

They are daylight so i believe 6700K.
With the layout of a 30 hex you can fit atleast 3-4 25w cf

 

[andrew.ars]

i dont want to buld my own canopy i built a tank stand for a 100 gallon no more wood working for a while

 

[smyke]

wow BK, awesome tank.
are you running CO2 and dosing ferts? I will have a canopy on my 45G soon with 4 of those CFLs.

 

[Bk718]

i dont want to buld my own canopy i built a tank stand for a 100 gallon no more wood working for a while

no need to really build your own canopy.. Take a picture and measurements of your current hood and we can work something out.

wow BK, awesome tank.
are you running CO2 and dosing ferts? I will have a canopy on my 45G soon with 4 of those CFLs.

Thanks alot
That picture was when it was just diy co2 and regular flourish..
The cfl are great and affordable. Just have to find a way to put them to use so that they are working at their full potential on the tank.

 

[Greg J]

i would add 2 25 watt 6500k spiral cfl bulbs and a 15 watt 8500k plant bulb

That's very close to what I just set up over my 30g hex tank.
I used two 26w and one 15w spiral CF (all 6500's)
It's only been running a couple weeks, but so far it's looking good. I'm thinking about changing the 15w to a 26w bulb though.