light help andrew or anyone

[fishyjoe24]

can i put a higher wattage bulb in the light strip with out it effecting the vales. what are better t5,t8,or t12 lights. do they make a 6 foot long light strip and 6 foot bulbs. give me some ideas i'm trying to make my aquarium brighter, the 2 20 watt bulbs are just not doing it. my take is 30 something inches tall also.

[flamenco-t]

Depending on your light type, but most of the time each light strip have a ballast that requires a specific amount of wattage. For example, 55 watt ballast, can only accept 55 watts bulbs.

Now, You may want to look at T5HO, you can pick up a 72" T5 HO with 4 or 6 bulb configurations and it will give you enough par of light to reach the bottom of the tank.

T8 and T12 is fine as well, but usually power consumption is also higher with those 2.

T5 is the best bang for the buck, strong light par, energy efficient and not to mention , each bulbs have 1-2 years of life versus any other bulbs..

stan

[AndrewH]

:eek:

Good grief Joey, 40 watts of light over a 240? You definitely win the prize for lowest wpg I've ever seen (0.16667) :hehe: . I imagine it's pretty hard to see anything in there.

I assume you're not wanting to grow any plants... just view the fish, etc. inside the tank?

On the cheap... I'd suggest you get two $8 double T8 strips from Wally World, Home Depot, or Lowes (etc.) and stagger them so that the strips reach the ends of the tank and over lap in the middle. (this assuming you're not trying to grow plants). Main problem is there's not many options for 6' or 3' lights. 2' and 4' are more common. And you can get some 5'er if you look hard, but you'd have to order the lamps online or special order them at the LFS/Light company (= big $$$ :spend:)

Blake has a nice little setup over his 180 that's deep as the Grand Canyon and great lighting to the bottom. I think it's the same fixture I have over my 33 - duel T5HO (about $65-$80), though his might be the 4 bulb version ($120).

[xtc]

I thought it couldn't be done. :hehe:

Blake has a nice little setup over his 180 that's deep as the Grand Canyon and great lighting to the bottom.

[AndrewH]

I didn't either see how deep that dog gone thing is (31" I think). Deepest tank I've seen and the lighting he has over it works perfect for that application.

[biggin]

Mine is the 4 bulb version.... total cost was a little less then $120 I think it was $108 or something....

[AndrewH]

Awe even better.

Problem is, it's only 4' long, so maybe Joey should get a couple of the 2 lamp versions like I have and stagger them.

[xtc]

I have a nearly 8' tank and I have 4 4' t-12s (shop lights) on it. If I put them in the middle, only- it's not horrible. I doubt 2 4' shop lights is going to cause Joey any problems at all. Hell- he's runnin one on it now- a little shadow in the corner ain't gunna hurt anything!

[AndrewH]

good point!

[AndrewH]

Depending on your light type, but most of the time each light strip have a ballast that requires a specific amount of wattage. For example, 55 watt ballast, can only accept 55 watts bulbs.

Now, You may want to look at T5HO, you can pick up a 72" T5 HO with 4 or 6 bulb configurations and it will give you enough par of light to reach the bottom of the tank.

T8 and T12 is fine as well, but usually power consumption is also higher with those 2.

T5 is the best bang for the buck, strong light par, energy efficient and not to mention , each bulbs have 1-2 years of life versus any other bulbs..

stan

Actually, for the linear ballasts, they typically will accept a range. From 17 watts to 40 most of the time (or double that for a ballast which controls two lamps).

Please provide a link for a 72" T5HO lamp because every manufacturer's catalog I have at my desk stops at 60". The only thing I can find in a 72" is a T8VHO (165W) and those things are expensive.

Power consumption on a 4' T8 or T12 is lower than a 4' T5HO. 32W - 40W - 54W respectively.

PAR is only use when describing lighting specifically for plants. If it's fish only big lumens are what you're after.

Actually the T8s and T5s have the exact same life ratings* - 30,000 to 36,000 hours (10 hours per day - 365/1 year - about 10 years).




* per GE and Osram Sylvania's catalogs - other manufacturers may vary ;)

[greeneyed]

http://item.express.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ExpressItem&item=110210093430&FROM_MERCHANDIZING=1QQssPageNameZKP_Merch_CLOSED_I TEM_SIMILAR_LINK

[biggin]

:owned:



Please provide a link for a 72" T5HO because every manufacturer's catalog I have at my desk stops at 60". The only thing I can find in a 72" is a T8VHO (110W) and those things are expensive.

http://item.express.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ExpressItem&item=110210093430&FROM_MERCHANDIZING=1QQssPageNameZKP_Merch_CLOSED_I TEM_SIMILAR_LINK

[xtc]

good gawd- we're talkin about Joey's tank people. :eek::hehe:

[kewlkatdady]

I have a hamilton VHO 72" dual 165W system on my 125 (1) blue ac. and (1) white act.

I also have a HD dual 40W 48" shop light on there with (2) 6500K GE bulbs.

This is 410 W for a 125 with prolly around 100G of water...

4.1 W/G.... and no plants

:cool:

Its so bright I can see light coming through 2" of crush coral from the bottom of the tank.

[tsunderl]

I'd love to replace the 2 36s on my 135 with a 72, but I can't justify spending more on lighting for it than I did for both my 135 and 180 combined!!! http://www.pushupstairs.com/images/emoticon/extra3/no.gif

[kewlkatdady]

Mine didn't cost me much...
CL is your friend... or at least it was mine.

[tsunderl]

Yeah, I've made that part of my daily search on CL, but no luck. So far. Or, did you get the lights that were ment for me??????? http://www.pushupstairs.com/images/emoticon/neptune/Animated/Angry/angry040.gif

[kewlkatdady]

I've only seen one set....

and I grabbed it...

> $100...
:D


bulbs included.

[fishyjoe24]

ok, guess still confused. i'm not growing plants i just want more LIGHT in the tank, what would you guys do?

[biggin]

A shop light from Walmart or wherever, maybe 2.

[fishyjoe24]

ok how many shop lights, single or double shop lights with t8 or t12 bulbs?

[biggin]

Just get 2 double shop lights and they should be fine for your needs.

t8 or t12 there will not be a huge difference.

[fishyjoe24]

ok, i will go to home depot on saturday day, do you know about how much i'm looking to spend, hopefully no more then 50 to 75 for everything give or take a few dollars.

[biggin]

You should be able to get a 48" for around $10 maybe $15 and bulbs should be no more then $10.

[fishyjoe24]

ok cool.

[tsunderl]

I've only seen one set....

and I grabbed it...

> $100...
:D


bulbs included.

Grr!

[flamenco-t]

No flash, 31" tall tank with 2 - 36" T5HO's 4 x 39W each on each fixtures.

Alltogether, 8 33" bulbs T5HO at 39 Watts each.

Bright enough for ya ?

[fishyjoe24]

No flash, 31" tall tank with 2 - 36" T5HO's 4 x 39W each on each fixtures.

Alltogether, 8 33" bulbs T5HO at 39 Watts each.

Bright enough for ya ?

yeah that is bright what about two / 4 foot double strips with t8 32 watt bulbs each would that work.

[supersmirky]

Where'd you pick up your lights Flamenco? How much?

[AndrewH]

http://item.express.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ExpressItem&item=110210093430&FROM_MERCHANDIZING=1QQssPageNameZKP_Merch_CLOSED_I TEM_SIMILAR_LINK

The fixture might be 72" (my guess is that it's a misprint), but the 80 watt bulb is a 60" lamp :) (as in, you have 6" at each end of the tank without light ;))

http://www.1000bulbs.com/F80T5-HO-Mini-Bi-Pin-Programmed-Start-Fluorescent-Light-Bulbs/


And now that I re-read... Stan was referring to a 72" fixture with a combination of 2' and 4' T5HO lamps. I would imagine a pair of 3' T5HO lamps would be more practical (you only have to keep one lamp size on hand, plus the "dark spot" in the middle of the fixture where the center sockets will line up with the center brace of the tank).

:owned:

Owned... I ask for a link, what's owned about him providing me one :noidea:

[AndrewH]

yeah that is bright what about two / 4 foot double strips with t8 32 watt bulbs each would that work.

Yes Joey, that's what you need for your tank.

[AndrewH]

No flash, 31" tall tank with 2 - 36" T5HO's 4 x 39W each on each fixtures.

Alltogether, 8 33" bulbs T5HO at 39 Watts each.

Bright enough for ya ?

Now that looks like some great plant lighting!!!

And all the bulbs being 36" would be perfect for only having to keep a few spare of the same size instead of having to keep several different sizes on hand ;).

Tank looks great. Are those real plants in there with the monster fish?

[flamenco-t]

Andrew,

Yes, the 72" Fixture usually consisted of 48" bulbs staggerred. It's cheaper in the long run as far as bulb usage. Anything from 24 to 48" is somewhat affordable, the 60" is pretty expensive.

Those are all Current USA 4x39W T5HO. I tried T8 and T12, but never get the results tha I wanted.

Sadly, those are all fake plants :) My fei Feng would eat all the live plants in a week...

stan

[xtc]

Tank looks great. Are those real plants in there with the monster fish?

Those are $3 Garden Ridge plants- I love em too!

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l282/Fishgallery/newfish059.jpg

[AndrewH]

Andrew,

Yes, the 72" Fixture usually consisted of 48" bulbs staggerred. It's cheaper in the long run as far as bulb usage. Anything from 24 to 48" is somewhat affordable, the 60" is pretty expensive.

Those are all Current USA 4x39W T5HO. I tried T8 and T12, but never get the results tha I wanted.

Sadly, those are all fake plants :) My fei Feng would eat all the live plants in a week...

stan

Yeah, staggering is definitely a nice, cheap option if you don't require a ton of light. And those 80W T5HOs are even pretty expensive with the "discounts" I can get :eek:. Not to mention buying a ballast that'll handle 'em.

I've heard a lot of good things about Current fixtures. You like yours?

Yeah, reaching over 28" through water is pretty demanding of any light source and T8s and T12 just don't have enough ars behind them to get it done extremely well.

What size tank is that? Looks like a monster.

Those are $3 Garden Ridge plants- I love em too!

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l282/Fishgallery/newfish059.jpg

They look great for simple greenery in a tank!!! Dang peanut's getting big.

[flamenco-t]

My tank is a 240 gallon with 31" height (72x24x31), I like the current usa, I bought 2 36" fixtures for seceral different reasons.

1. Bulb cost is more effective with 36" than 60"
2. I can turn one side off if I am adding a new fish and give them time to acclimate to the environment.
3. T5 ballasts are a lot cheaper than PC, so in the event that I need to replace them, I can buy some ballast and mount them externally if it comes down to that.

[fishyjoe24]

chris where in garden ridge can those plants be found, i want to go get a few for my tank.

[AndrewH]

3. T5 ballasts are a lot cheaper than PC, so in the event that I need to replace them, I can buy some ballast and mount them externally if it comes down to that.

Most PC and T5 ballast are interchangeable, FYI.

[flamenco-t]

I know Icecap can, but again, they're $ 100 each on the 430. I run the 430's on my reef tank..

stan

[AndrewH]

I have some (well one left) that'll handle 2 lamps from 40W to 65W each lamp (T5 or PC). I think they're about $35 each.

[EAST_TX_RN]

Hate to do a little high-jacking, but how do you tie your fake plants down and keep them down? I have gone from fishing line tied around a rock, to aluminum wire tied around a rock, and either I mess them up during a w/c or the fish get them loose. I got frustrated and threw some out because of this problem. Help!

[xtc]

I use heavy duty twine- it's color matches the basic colors in the tank (better than cotton thread) and it won't corrode. But the larger ones are hard to get anchored- you really need a heavy piece of wood or bury it under rocks.

Joey...they're in the fake plant section of Garden Ridge. (Back left corner- just off the 2ndary main isle- not the primary isle that runs front to back of the store)

[fishyjoe24]

thanks chris will also try to stop in there saturday, but do not know when the check will come in the mail.

[flamenco-t]

I use a small rock and zip tie the plant root to the rock lol

[fishyjoe24]

cool, check out my lighting post i post a before and after.