soft white bulbs... good spectrum?
- Thread starter DarkSoul
- Start date
well, im not looking for a full out planted tank, but i really like the looks of those tanks that have lots of plants 
I would like to avoid CO2 if possible, but if I can keep it going long enough, I can get a small CO2 tank, and get a system setup.
like a paintball sized CO2 tank.
I would like to avoid CO2 if possible, but if I can keep it going long enough, I can get a small CO2 tank, and get a system setup.
like a paintball sized CO2 tank.
If I remember correctly, correct me if I'm wrong, the tank is a hexagon? If so, look for the add on light kit for a ceiling fan. Home Depot has some that have 3 sockets that are cheaper than buying the individual sockets. I'm probably going to do the same thing you are with lighting my smaller tanks. As everyone else has said, go with the daylights. Soft white is a bad spectrum both in appearance and K value for aquarium use.
no, its rectangle.
I should be able to obtain some sockets cheap, just some basic ceramic sockets
I also dislike the softwhite, and wish id paid more attention when I bought this thing, instead of being stricken by the size and potential
I dont even use softwhite in my apt. all my home bulbs are 5500KThe plan, is to modify a perfecto hood, into something entirely different, while keeping all the parts and components inside the original fixture.... think Monster Garage for aquariums
it will be easier to do if I just go with the 15W bulbs.... but man do I want two of those 45W monsters in there..... now what do I do with it lol.
....... I bet it will fit in my 55g hood.......
holy crap, i just went to Canadian tire to get some sockets, but they want $7 for a basic ceramic socket..... screw that, I can loacate them elsewhere... I have some chandiliers I can take apart i think.
I don't think the spiral bulbs grow very effectivly. That type of bulb wastes much of the light thru restrike, where the light from the tube hits nothing but the adjacent tube. The reflector is also likely to be ineffective and the light not spread out well over the tank. If you want good lighting, look at http://www.ahsupply.com/twox.htm.
I use the spirals on my 10g and it grows just fine. Remember those lights do have a lower wattage and the package will tell you what the comparable normal bulb would be. So if your fixture is rated for 50w don't but a 50w spiral, or you could have a fire.
kj5kb
KEEPER OF CATS, FISH AND CATFISHES
OK...why not...the fixture rating (lets say 60W) is rated for the HEAT of a 60W lamp. a 17W spiral CFL is ~ equivalent to a 60W bulb....but it's MUCH cooler. I admit I haven't done any scientific studies, but I bet it would take 3-4 17's (51-68W) of CFL to even come close to the heat of a 60W bulb. and since the heat would be more spread out, that changes the equation too.
Maybe someone will confirm/correct me on this?
For example, many folks use 2 17W spiral CFL's in the old dual 15-25W fixtures with no problems...and get WAY more light.
I have a light over my shower that is rated 40W max. I use a 23W CFL (rated 100W) in it...and it's still way cooler than a 40W bulb.
--DB
