Energy Saver Bulbs And Reflectors

[shrimply]

Just a small question. I was wondering if anyone had fitted reflectors to energy saving spiral bulbs I am going to be using them in my planted tank. I was thinking about buying a T8 reflector and halving it. Would this worrk?

Thanks people.

 

[SuperColey1]

Why do you want to buy energy saver bulbs? They are normally 2700K and thats not good for plants. Look in planted, Themulous has just posted a great site for cheap bulbs and the do the 6500K versions of most.

 

[shrimply]

This was posted this morning before you suggested the interpet starter which I am looking into. But energy saving spirals are cheap and easy to fit and I am well aware of the rating needed. I am looking at these ones here. They are 6400K

Bulbs

As for the link by Themulous I still have space issues and there is no way I can afford one of the Luminaires suggested. I am just looking into all the options at the moment to find out what will be cheapest as my budget is all ready pretty tight. Thanks again for the help.

 

[SuperColey1]

I stand corrected, I meant by the link of Themulous about the link to a bulb shop where you can get cheap fluorescent lights.

As for space issues, what tank have you got?

You can get a starter for 24W twin compact which is only about 14" tubes

 

[shrimply]

The tank is just a tank and I belive the stand and hood were bought seperatly.

I picked it up 3 years ago for £40 thinking it was a bargin but as with most second hand tanks this is rarely true nearly everything has had to be replaced apart from the light and light tube . So the whole light thing is very new to me.

The hood is 12" by 36" and is shaped like this.

The hood is such a stupid shape there is so much space wasted by the flat area at the back. A twin 24 w might be a good size but just not enough wattage I am beggining to get frustarted,lol. I feel I should aim for 120w since it is a deep tank and I want a carpet but it is just so damn impossible in the hood shape.

Thanks for all the help I know I am a pain.

 

[shrimply]

sorry double post

 

[SuperColey1]

My tank is a similar size to yours it is 30" x 14" and 18-20" deep (dependant on water level) I am aiming at 3 WPG which means on a 29G capacity tank it will have approx 26G water, therefore 78 is 3 WPG.

I would suggest you could get somewhere similar i.e. the twin starter for 2 x T5 TC 36W or if you really want to go tech planted i.e. 4WPG Plus (this is gonna take some looking after and dosing) a 2 x 55W starter.

They should fit in that hood next to each other they are only 2" wide at the cap end and if you can't fit 2 caps in then put them in so that each tubes cap is at opposite end of the tank. i.e.

|--------------------------------
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As for overheating the biggest problem is that when the tank's hood is enclosed the tubes give off so much heat. One way around this is to drill vent holes at the ends, or get some cheap fans (i.e. like the sort that keep a PC Processor chip cool) and put them at 1 end blowing throught the hood and out the vent holes.

There are some quiet ones on the market, In the pinned hood making thread he uses 2 such fans, you could probably get some ideas on making your own hood, although I wouldn't use the chipboard material like he has. lol

 

[shrimply]

Thanks again i will look into it. I have actually had another thought on the matter. Please let me know what you think. The diagram isn't great but it should give you a better idea of what I mean. I am still heading down the spiral energy saving route as they won't give off a lot of heat and give of a lot of light and should all fit in. I dicided I cold get a large metal drill bit and put 4 holes in the back of the hood then the bulbs could go on the inside a the fitting round the back. I am considering just using 4 of these 30w bulbs and I am just going to buy one 5ft reflector that I will dice up and this should leave me a 30" plus to use with and interpet daylight plus jsut for asthetics. I figured out the this 120w of lighting will only cost me about £35 so feel it might be a good idea. your opinions are of course welcome.

 

[SuperColey1]

As long as its safe and condensation isn't gonna blow up your house, then it should be OK. Not really that experience with this sort of thing.

 

[bingy_bong]

Found this on the web if its any use that is if yuore still after using energy saving bulbs



http/www.growlightsdirect.com/acatalog/Lamps.html