Combo Lights?

[0live]

I was wondering if anyone used this, or something similar?

If not, why? I like DIY, but DIY electrical scares me a bit.. so this seems to be a pretty good compromise.

 

[jmhart]

Combo? Like Combo Flourescent/Metal Halide? I don't use them but I've thought about it. I'm fan of the effect metal halides create, the ripples are nice, but I don't like the way plants grow under them, so a combo between these two would be nice...albeit a little pricey.

 

[0live]

no, combo fluorescent tube/incandescent fixture. they're designed for reptile lighting, but I really like the prospect of using 1 fluorescent grow tube and a number of CFLs for the incandescent fixtures over my tank...

 

[jmhart]

If you already have it, sure that'd work, but I wouldn't buy it. For the planted aquarium, CFL's are wasteful compared to regular fluorescents. I'd just buy a light with two tubes, no CFL's.

But, if you already have it, it'd be a good ligth to use that would save you some money.

 

[0live]

2 tubes isn't really much for a 55 planted though.. or am I wrong.

 

[jmhart]

The depends, 2 40w tubes over a 55 isn't bad for a low light setup. How many cfl's could you put in that hood? What wattage tube can you use in the back? Keep in my, the highest wattage CFL's on the market are 26w. If the hood you are talking about only takes two, that's 52 watts, but since CFL's are only about 86% efficient, that's now down to 44 watts. If the back bulb is only a 40watt tube, added with the two CFLs, that's only 84 watts, same as two tubes, and you have the option of putting 10,000k bulbs in if you like....and option not available with CFLs.

Of course, if you can put 4 CFL's, for 144 watts, factor in the inefficiency plus a 40 watt tube...now you've got 130w of useable light over that 55g, and that is a perfect amount of light.

 

[Spewn]

Wal-mart, home-depot etc carry 42w cfl's. Some places carry 65w. You can buy up to 200w online.

 

[jmhart]

Wal-mart, home-depot etc carry 42w cfl's. Some places carry 65w. You can buy up to 200w online.

CFL, not power compacts. We're talking about the spiral/twisty bulbs. I think I saw a 27w at one time, but other than that, there is nothing on the market.

 

[0live]

yeah, the 48" hood takes 4, which is why i was considering it..
in terms of WPG, it would be somewhere between what you would get with 3-4 48" tubes.

 

[Spewn]

CFL, not power compacts. We're talking about the spiral/twisty bulbs. I think I saw a 27w at one time, but other than that, there is nothing on the market.

http://www.1000bulbs.com/2-to-200-Watt-Compact-Fluorescent-Screw-In-Light-Bulbs/

Those are ALL screw-in, spiral CFL's just like you'd buy at wal-mart. If that's not enough, hopefully someone else will show up and tell you that you can indeed buy 42W and sometimes 65W(if you go to the right store) in local retail outlets. I have two 42W bulbs(one 3200K, one 4500K) in a cabinet in my basement right now, growing catmint. Since I bought them at wal-mart, they're definitely "on the market".

Edit; I spoke to soon, now they have even larger bulbs in more common stores. See this link for an 85W CFL(85W draw, 425W equivalent) at Home Depot.

http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/...Ntx=mode+matchall&recN=0&N=0&Ntk=P_PartNumber