Screw-based compact fluorescents

[ArkyLady]

Has anyone had any experience using the screw-based compact fluorescents in an aquarium hood?

I have an extra 10 gal that I want to setup as my first experimental planted tank. I have an old incandescent hood for it that holds two bulbs. They are slim, straight tube-like bulbs (about 1.5-2" diameter and 4-5" long), but they do have standard sized sockets. It's the hood that comes with the 10 gal "kit" from Wal-Mart.

Do compact fluorescents burn any hotter than incandescent bulbs? That may be an issue if the bulbs are bigger and end up sitting too close to the plastic hood.

PS I do have a fluorescent hood that I can use that holds a 15 watt bulb, I assume this will be sufficent for what I'm doing. Just wanted to make use of this old hood also if possible.

 

[TKOS]

I have been using them for 4 months now and I love them. The colour quality is much better and they really help the plants grow. They actually are cooler than incandescent bulbs as they are 13 to 15 watts instead of 60-70 watts. Plus they use a lot less energy.

 

[andruboz]

home depot has daylight spiral wound [edit: oops..they werent 10,000 k. they were the 6500k sumpin fish was talking about] 19watt bulbs but they are pricey- $7-8 a piece. really nice white light. have 5 plants under 2 of them but its only been a week. its almost too bright for the fish, so where the plants arent, i put some deep blue cellophane on the glass hood to darken it a bit. they dont get as hot as a 15watt incandescent. i will stick with them as long as i get good long life out of this first batch.

 

[Sumpin'fishy]

I bought some 15 watt compacts meant for yard light posts. They come with plastic covers for moisture prevention. I added those to my hood and things have been going great for about 2 and a half months. The bulbs I got are from Home Depot (or Lowes maybe!) and come in "super daylight" 6500K, which is perfect for plants. They cost somewhere around $10-$13 each, if I remember correctly. It has been a worth while experiment and I've enjoyed the added light to my normal (DIY)double Flourescent strip light, also made from items at Lowes or Home Depot. While they do not run hotter than incandescents, they still get too hot to leave your hand against. The casual touch (by accidently rubbing it) will let you know it's hot, but not outright burn you (at least IME). Try them and see what you think.

I do not think these bulbs are more efficient long term than using CF lights or even just NO Flourescent bulbs over your fish tank. Each bulb has it's own ballast that must be purchased over and over again (with the lights) as you need to replace them, vs just changing bulbs in conventional aquarium light setups.

 

[morleyz]

I tried these for a few months, but then started to have problems relating to low light. Rather than replace the bulbs every 2-3 months, I bought a new kit...I put them side by side for light output comparisons:

Top: 110W CF
Bottom: 19W Spiral (2 x 75W incand. equivalent).

 

[isaac newton]

I use compact florsesents for my 10 gallon tank.. I use to have the NO florsent ballast (15 watts) and was not satisified.. I got a incandesent hood (perfecto) and now have 2 15 watt bulbs.. For me there working great.. I change them every year... (its recomended u do it 2-3 months. I like to kinda save money and the enviroment and keep them on for 1 to 1.5 years .. Pump all the juice they have in thoes little suckers )

 

[GDominy]

I use screw in Compact flourescents in all of my tanks under 27 Gallons (it started because like you, I had many many incandescent canopies, nice old 70's throwbacks). I have had the most sucsess with my 22 gallon tank.

This tank has 4 x 23 watt CF bulbs in it. They are Panasonic bulbs, 5000k, 88 CRI, certified for high moisture environments, and high heat tolerant. Great little bulbs.