Interpet Compact T5 Question

[GUB]

I have a trigon 190l that currently has 2 x 24W Arcadia Plant Pro T5. The problem is with the trigon that the light bar sits over the front third0 of the tank, thereby leaving the back with lower light levels (and in my case causing the hygrophilia at the back to bend forwards). So I am considering popping a 12" Interpet compact towards the rear of the tank to counteract this. My question is do I need to go for the Triplus lamp, or can I get away with daylight or even a beauty or daylight blue light. Reason I ask is I wonder whether the triplus will give more pink/red hue to the lighting which already has a hint (albeit an acceptible level for me). Anyone had experience with lighting this tank, or with the compact triplus?

Thanks in advance!

 

[aibo210]

I have a trigon 190l that currently has 2 x 24W Arcadia Plant Pro T5. The problem is with the trigon that the light bar sits over the front third0 of the tank, thereby leaving the back with lower light levels (and in my case causing the hygrophilia at the back to bend forwards). So I am considering popping a 12" Interpet compact towards the rear of the tank to counteract this. My question is do I need to go for the Triplus lamp, or can I get away with daylight or even a beauty or daylight blue light. Reason I ask is I wonder whether the triplus will give more pink/red hue to the lighting which already has a hint (albeit an acceptible level for me). Anyone had experience with lighting this tank, or with the compact triplus?

Thanks in advance!

I had the 18w T5 compact triplus light in my tank its an extreamly bright bulb for 18w that cause me alot of algea problems it does have a little hint of pink to it but it gives a white bleached look to the tank with its brightness mine failed after a year the cap broke away from the bulb and also it melted the rubber on the ballast leaving the bulb holder useless so I had to throw both away! in my opinion a very dangerous design!! id stick to normal t5s and arcadia tubes!

Carl

 

[Jonno]

i've bought 2 compacts for my trigon 190 - 55w which i'm going to mount under the front hood and a 36 for the back.

 

[garuf]

I use a powercompact, I prefer the daylight bulbs over triplus, you can actually get superior bulbs from lampspecs.co.uk for half the price thats where I now get mine. If I where you I would look into these before buying, just make sure you get a nice green spectrum 6700k for example.
You'll need reflectors too, either those by arcadia or the new hagen glo reflectors, although I aren't sure if those can be made to fit.

 

[Jonno]

just fitted my power compacts - the clips are pretty rubbish and unsafe my 36w beauty fell off (cable was snagged on something) and went into the water so now it looks like i'm going to have to buy a new one if i can't dry it out. wasn't too convinced with the light from it anyway as the light wasn't bright enough to extend around the juwel filter properly so may opt for a second daylight plus.

one thing i have noticed is the light from the standard juwel tubes is pretty shocking in comparison to these, need to upgrade these now

garuf - does the daylight plus ones provide a good light spectrum on it's own?

 

[garuf]

just fitted my power compacts - the clips are pretty rubbish and unsafe my 36w beauty fell off (cable was snagged on something) and went into the water so now it looks like i'm going to have to buy a new one if i can't dry it out. wasn't too convinced with the light from it anyway as the light wasn't bright enough to extend around the juwel filter properly so may opt for a second daylight plus.

one thing i have noticed is the light from the standard juwel tubes is pretty shocking in comparison to these, need to upgrade these now

garuf - does the daylight plus ones provide a good light spectrum on it's own?

Yeah far far superior to the beauty lights, which are shocking I doubt they're any good for growing any kind of plant.
I use Osram powercompacts because they're triphosphor unlike those you get from interpet and are therefore better for plant growth. they seem to be better quality too!