lighting option

[ctaylor]

You know those twist compact fluorescents sold to save energy that you can screw into standard light sockets? Can you use those as tank lighting? I found a place online that sells 15w 5000k and 25w 6500k bulbs. Can these be used as plant lights? My idea is to attach track lighting to the wall above the tank and have 4 lights pointing down at the tank. If I use 4 25w that will give me 100w over a 29g tank. Great lighting for plants. It will also cost me about $100 for 4 bulbs, track system, and 4 lamps. I spent more than that on my 55w strip light and bulb. I am redecorating part of my living room and want it look a little artistic, contemporary and all to be kind of a conversation piece. I just want to make sure these bulbs will work. Thanks for any advice.

Chris

 

[carpguy]

I think that from so far away and not being oriented towards the tank, you'll be getting much less than 100 watts actually in to the plants. All the light in the room is light not in the tank.

If your looking for a contemporary artistic kind of thing, and you have a way to build a canopy, you could build one with slats across the width of the tank that would throw vertical lines up the wall in a less than well-lit room and still get lots of light in the tank. Kind of a Dan Flavin-y look:

 

[ctaylor]

Perhaps I didn't explain it well enough. The lights would be no more than say 5 inches above the tank. Enough room for me to open the lid and work in there. No more. With that said, any opinions? Specificly on the bulbs and if they are the same kind of compact fluorescents you would normally buy for a planted aquarium.

Chris

 

[carpguy]

And the schemes were just starting to get going…

Yes, from what I've read, those are good for plants. The one criticism I heard was that the increased thickness (in relation to a reflector) and amount of light directed inward makes them less intense than similarly wattaged (word?) strips. I still think you may lose some of the intensity because of the directional issue and because the light isn't being focused the way it would be with a reflector in a canopy or strip, so you may need to go with more to compensate.

 

[Gumby7]

That would be my take as well.

A lot of light is trapped inside the twisted lamp, and at least half the light emitted is going up the wall and ceiling.

Additionally I think you will find the illumination contrast too much. The room and your immediate view above the tank will be very bright while just below the tank will be moderate (at best). Starring at the bare bulbs may be uncomfortable. There is something almost magical about a properly lit tank in a dark room.

Gumby7