Low Output WalMart Lighting Fixture

C

catemu

Newbie
Mar 16, 2005
16
0
0
Toronto, Ontario
Thank you beforehand for your replies guys. After doing a lot of reading I've been able to get over the cycling process learning curve pretty well without asking anything on this forums (after all everything is there!...) But this time I guess I need a more personalized help from someone regarding plants and lighting. Here is the deal: I went to the local Wal-mart on the last days of February. Got a 29gal aquarium and started into this hobby, after about a month I decided to put some cheap real plants in my tank. Of course my fishies seem love the real stuff (and I might go fully planted),but I think that the plants would do much well with better lighting. An 18W light on a 29gal gives about 0.6wpg, Am I right?... The wal-mart light fixture wasn't made for a planted tank and I've put the details below.

Light Fixture: (Space for only one light tube)
Aquarium Equipment Model: 30RFH
Rated 120V AC. 60Hz, 20W

Fluorescent Starter:
FS-22 Starter (974c)
4...22W
110V/130V-Single
220V/240V-Series

LightTube:
Eclipse
18W
F18T8 Natural Daylight 23"

I'm down about over $400 since I started this hobby so, buying another light fixture for $75 or more is not an option unles absolutelly necessary. Here, I'll pop the question that puzzles me straight at ya:"Can I change that Fluorescent Starter (The FS-22)for one with a higher rating so that I can put another Fluorescent tube with a higher rating?... Maybe 60w or so?... "

Any of you guys familiar with this light fixture that has done some sort of modification to it so that it will have a higher output?... any help appreciated...

My tank water readings:
Ammonia: 0.0 ppm
Nitrites: 0.05 ppm
Nitrates: 4.0 ppm
pH: 7.6
KH: 7.0 dH
GH: 11.0 dH
CO2: 5.3 (calculated)- thinking of DIY generator
 
I'd say the best option is a retrofit kit from www.ahsupply.com - you can gut your current fixture and replace it with a power compact fluorescent fixture, it's much cheaper than buying a new PC fixture. It sounds like you have a 24" fixture, which would fit a 55W or 65W PC bulb - this would give you enough light to grow many types of plants.
Another option might be Ebay - sometimes you can get a real deal on PC fixtures.
 
I got a pretty good deal for a sweet light fixture on www.aquabid.com check that out, it's not nearly as high traffic as ebay so you don't have to compete with other bidders as much.
 
You can OverDrive Normal Output bulbs (also known as ODNO). This is usually done by using twice the amount of power for a given bulb. Using a ballast designed for 2 24"bulbs to power only 1 bulb for instance. Here are some details...

http://www.plantedtank.net/odno.html

Not sure if this is what you were looking for but I like it. :)
 
Thanks beviking, I'm not very much of an electrical guy, but I got an electrician friend to whom I'll give this 'ODNO' article to read, maybe he can help me out. Well, I'm learning as I go, hopefully I will be able to modify this to get the light output I want.

To all of you guys: :bowing: :bowing:
 
No problem. Just don't skip the part (maybe it's the link within the link?) that shows that even though you double the power to the bulb, it doesn't actually give you twice the output. So even if you double what you have now, you will have enough light to grow low light plants only.
If you're into doing it yourself (DIY), check out the DIY forum here at AC for some great ideas!
 
catemu said:
Thank you beforehand for your replies guys. After doing a lot of reading I've been able to get over the cycling process learning curve pretty well without asking anything on this forums (after all everything is there!...) But this time I guess I need a more personalized help from someone regarding plants and lighting. Here is the deal: I went to the local Wal-mart on the last days of February. Got a 29gal aquarium and started into this hobby, after about a month I decided to put some cheap real plants in my tank. Of course my fishies seem love the real stuff (and I might go fully planted),but I think that the plants would do much well with better lighting. An 18W light on a 29gal gives about 0.6wpg, Am I right?... The wal-mart light fixture wasn't made for a planted tank and I've put the details below.

Light Fixture: (Space for only one light tube)
Aquarium Equipment Model: 30RFH
Rated 120V AC. 60Hz, 20W

Fluorescent Starter:
FS-22 Starter (974c)
4...22W
110V/130V-Single
220V/240V-Series

LightTube:
Eclipse
18W
F18T8 Natural Daylight 23"

I'm down about over $400 since I started this hobby so, buying another light fixture for $75 or more is not an option unles absolutelly necessary. Here, I'll pop the question that puzzles me straight at ya:"Can I change that Fluorescent Starter (The FS-22)for one with a higher rating so that I can put another Fluorescent tube with a higher rating?... Maybe 60w or so?... "

Any of you guys familiar with this light fixture that has done some sort of modification to it so that it will have a higher output?... any help appreciated...

My tank water readings:
Ammonia: 0.0 ppm
Nitrites: 0.05 ppm
Nitrates: 4.0 ppm
pH: 7.6
KH: 7.0 dH
GH: 11.0 dH
CO2: 5.3 (calculated)- thinking of DIY generator
Click to expand...


Theres a place in Vancouver that will delivery for around 10 bucks Canadian to Toronto. Their prices are also excellent, and simply the best in Canada!

Heres a 24 inch PC light with bulit in fans, which puts out 65 watts for 75 bucks canadian.

http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/store_pages/details/l-pc.php?product_ID=pc-alf24065

If you need a different bulb, just ask them, they are usually quite flexible from my experience.....
 
Ok Guys, I'm sort of getting the idea on the different classes of Fluorescent Tubes in the market. Please give me your opinion (I hope you're around Blinky)

I went to the the local CanadianTire and found a particular lamp for $19.99, it is called "Gro & Sho Lamp" from GE, 3050K-3450K, 33W, T-12, 24", No special wiring required - just plug in to use. They are small enough to fit two of them in the current light fixture from Wal-Mart, I want to remove the current 18W tube from the fixture and put the two Gro & Sho lamps. I would end up with 2x33Watt. In the box they give you all the details about lumens, kelvins, lux, hours, watts, but I can't remember them exactly off the top of my head . It seems that I can definitelly change the T-12 bulbes if necesary in the future. Removing the current 18 W and putting the two 33W will be an easy enough task for me and I can definitelly handle it.

Thanks again for your opinions and ideas.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom