Compact Flourescent Lights

[sdb]

My 10g has an incandescent light setup that I would like to switch to CFL's. The only problem is, the only ones I can find are the spiraly ones (energy savers or something-expensive) and ones that have 4 long horseshoe shaped tube things in each light @ $4 each(better!). Very hard to explain, but it's a CFL. The lowest wattage I can find are 13W (says it replaces a 60W standard bulb). The bases on these CFL's are kinda fat, too, above the screw in part. I'm just not sure if these will work, or are the right kind that will work. For others who use CFL's to replace incandescents, what do they look like? Does anyone recognize my description of the cheaper ones, and do they sound right? I was told to get some at WalMart, but our store doesn't sell them. Not in the pet dept or the light dept. Thanks!

 

[Seaman]

Look online at big als site (dont have the site handy--should be able to google it) they have what you are looking for, at good prices.

like this?

 

[OrionGirl]

Walmart carries Corallife bulbs for use in incandescents--I have 2 of the 50/50 for my reef, and the 10,000K on my 5 gallon planted tank. Cost a bit more than the soft lite ones sold at Home Depot/Lowe's, but they are a better spectrum, and still cheap.

 

[WharfRat]

Try Home Depot or Lowes

 

[sdb]

Those spiraly ones are the same! Yipee!!They are the more expensive ones, but that's ok, it says they last forever. We don't have a Home Depot (small town), but we have another place called Canadian Tire that sells them. Could you recommend a wattage that each one should be for a non planted tank? That 10,000K doesn't sound familiar. I'm sure the bulbs said 13 watts, and up. Thanks so much for the help!

 

[Seaman]

10,000k bulbs are the closest color temperature to the sun at high noon. If it holds two get a 6700k and a 10,000k bulb.

 

[sdb]

OK, I'll give it a try, but I think the bulbs only had watt size, nothing about "K's". I've wrote down the numbers, and I'll see what I can find. Thanks.

 

[slipknottin]

Originally posted by Seaman
10,000k bulbs are the closest color temperature to the sun at high noon.

depends where you are on earth

At the equator the sun is closest to 5,500-6,000K at midday

 

[Seaman]

Originally posted by slipknottin


depends where you are on earth

At the equator the sun is closest to 5,500-6,000K at midday

I stand corrected.

 

[ChicoRaton]

I believe 10,000k is most natural for a reef tank because they are a ways under the water and water filters out red light and passes blue, raising the color temp as you go deeper.