Lighting Help Please!

[Madhousedavy]

hi

im slowly trying to make my tank a planted tank but a lot of the plants die im pretty sure its to do with the lighting. so i wondered could somebody please explain about the lights on tanks as i have no clue.

what does t5 and t8 mean?

in my secondary tank it has a single light which is not very bright could i get i.e. a juwel light that is the right length and place that in there or would i need to get a light made by the company that makes the tank because the only ones ive seen are only about 8w!

any help would be brilliant thank you!

 

[aaronnorth]

Hi, to work out lighting levels:

total watts / total US gallons = wpg

T8 - 1" diameter
T5 - 5/8"

T5 are more efficient and they penetrate deeper into the tank. Having HOT5's (high output) soubles the wpg.

Take a look here http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=96754

For replacment tubes, get one that is the correct length and wattage, brand doesnt matter. Try lampspecs for cheap deals: http/www.lampspecs.co.uk/Light-Bulbs-Tub...uorescent-Tubes

 

[Madhousedavy]

ok thanks

what part of the light do i measure is it the tip of the prongs or the actual cylinder part?

and i was hoping to get a higher wattage as that makes it brighter doesnt it? so would it be ok to get a higher wattage

 

[Rooster]

Fluorescent tubes for aquarium use come in two commonly used sizes, T5 and T8, which refers to the diameter of the tube. The number refers to how many eighths of an inch in the tubes diameter, so a T5 is 5/8ths of an inch and a T8 is 8/8ths of an inch - or just 1 inch!

A Tubes wattage depends on its length and diameter. The table below shows the wattage for different types and lengths.

Length (cm/inches) T5
54.9 / 22" 24 watt
84.9 / 34" 39 watt
114.9 / 46" 54 watt
144.9 / 60" 80 watt
Length (inches) T8
15" 15 watt
18" 15 watt
24" 20 watt
30" 25 watt
36" 30 watt
42" 40 watt
48" 40 watt
60" 58 watt

You will find that for a given tube length, the Wattage will be the SAME - so its not simply a case of swapping the lamp !

 

[Madhousedavy]

ok cheers i was wondering about the wattage because the tank was a bit dark. given the wattage was the same for a certain length i was wondering about homemade reflectors ie. does any one know how to make them or if you actually can make them

 

[Colin_T]

Reflectors can be made out of polystyrene foam or cardboard covered in aluminium foil. You can make them out of sheet metal too if you want. They can be anything that reflects the light downwards into the tank. If using cardboard or polystyrene foam, make sure they aren't resting on anything hot because they can burn.

Make sure you buy true aquatic plants rather than marsh plants. true aquatics will be unable to support their own weight when removed from the water. Marsh plants will continue standing up when taken out of water. However, some true aquatic plants are grown in marsh conditions in a greenhouse and will stand up when taken out of water. Hygrophillas and swordplants are commonly grown this way but will do well under water.

Good plants to try include Ambulia, Elodia, Ludwigia, Hyrgophilla polysperma, common Swordplants & Narrow Vallis.

 

[Madhousedavy]

ok thanks do you know of a link or page that can tell me how to make one as i have a little idea but would rather do it "properly" but more importantly safely.

 

[Colin_T]

Sorry can't help with a link. Reflectors don't have to be anything special. Just a piece of reflective material that covers the top and side of the globe will do. The main thing is to stop the light going up and to direct it down into the tank.

 

[SuperColey1]

for the price of reasonably good reflectors is it worth bothering DIYing?

Arcadia polished metal ones are only £5 each from Pets at home!!!

AC

 

[Madhousedavy]

thanks i'll look around for a reflector that will fit but that will be very difficult as the light doesnt have a gap above it so it might be a case of making one

 

[SuperColey1]

No gap at all? Is it touching the hood? Surely there is at least ¼inch due to the end caps being larger than the tube?

If so then the cheap reflectors clip onto the tube and then the tube is fitted. ¼inch is all you need!!

AC

 

[Madhousedavy]

Close please mods i would change the title of this thread but dont know how!

 

[aaronnorth]

Close please mods i would change the title of this thread but dont know how!

why are you going through your threads wanting them closed after like 9 months? Am i missing something?
Usually people ask their threads to be closed if tempers are flaring or it was posted by accident, but 9 months down the line is a bit strange


To change the title Edit your original post.