Lighting Questions From A Light Noob

[Phoenixfish]

ahh never noticed that, see thats why i wasn't sure, i have gravel so it shouldnt look that pink and i wanted a dayglow to balance out the pink plant growth tube,maybe if i get the plant growth t6 and find a tri colour t6 or failing that t8? then if all gows well get a starter unit and add more T6's

whatsyour current set up?
1 PC bulb at the back and 1 Arcadia T8 at the front?
3because they had loads of bulbs there its just choosing the right one, T6's were surgested becasue they are brigher the T8's,but dont get as hot as t5 (yeh i realise t5's are in a whole class above so i cant really compare them)
so i should look for 1 bulb thats in the 5000-7500 range and one bulb thats probibly higher to balance out the red with the blue, but trying not to get a marine bulb aka look for a tri?

looking on the net the interpet Daylight Plus bulb is suitable for coral as well as plants so wouldnt it be more eficient for my perposes to get a plant perpose one?


basically i have acsess to realux t6's and alot of t8's what would be a good/the best combination (2 bulbs atm)

 

[SuperColey1]

If you look at my journal. I used to have Arcadia Freshwater 18W T8 in the back and Arcadia Original Tropical 18W T8in the front.

I ended up hating the original Tropical for it's pink glow.

I thought when I upgraded to the 55W daylightplus PC that the Orig Tropical might balance the colour so I left it in the front......for 2 days before I put the Freshwater in.

Realy doesn't do anything for the plants IMO and is the 'budget' lamp of Arcadias range, much like the Interpet beauty light (less brightness)

It was from reading comments by George Farmer in some planted articles praising the InterpetTriPlus and DaylightPlus that I decided on this route, after all if he says its OK for plants then its gotta be, and I can only say Damn you George for giving me so much pruning work.

T6 will be better than T8 and if you can fit them into the T8 end caps then its probably worth doing as long as you have reflectors, but I can't really see the point of adding 2 more T6 as well.

If you've decide to upgrade, I'd rip the lot out and get T5s in there as changing will almost certainly cost about the same as upgrading, and for the benfits of the T5s it can only be worthwhile.

My T8 is only in the front until:

I get the right balance of CO2, light, dosing etc.
Then when I get my new filter, inline heater, in line UV and pressurised CO2, I will be putting another 55W daylightplus in the front (110w/3.8WPG) but I need everything else before lights.

It really is a must to get the hang of everything else i.e. dosing and get your CO2 consistently @30ppm before lights go in or it will be algae heaven and you will really regret jumping in lights first.

Read my journal matey. It may look a little daunting but it starts from a bare tank in November with just the original kit, and goes right through to where I am now. Lots of problems in there as well (I jumped in lights first a little and I didn't have my CO2 sorted properly)

Andy

 

[Phoenixfish]

okay hmmm lots for thought now, ill read up on your journal i need to get some figures off my locals now and raise the cash ive only got £10 after buying my Ehiem 2213 (which they sent me the wrong one for the same price i got the 2215 )

 

[SuperColey1]

I have an internal still at the mo but am looking at the eheims with a heater included or a tetratec , supposedly really good but lets see as I will be buying bargain basement and second hand.

andy

 

[Phoenixfish]

im soo glad i got my ehiem and got rid of my old internal, i had to raise the shelf in the jewel cupboard by abotu 2 inch to fit mine in though, horrid stuff the putty they use to attach the internal with though be prepared to do a fair bit of elbow work to get it off

 

[SuperColey1]

Its not a fixed in unit like the Juwels. Its a sucker job. I take thw whole thing out every week when I do my 50% water change, and clean it up and the spray bar etc.

No probs with it, just want an extra 3" x 3" to plant in and also use the filter pipes from an external to blow the CO2 mist around better.

And

 

[Phoenixfish]

Brought a T8 (which willeventually hold a T5) starter unit, i was tossing wether to buy the 18 watt or the 25-30 watt starter unit, i ended up buying the 18 watt one for £14 what i thought wasnt bad seeing as one LFS sells them for £20-22 ish
the reason why i got the lower wattage one even though they were the same price was because i had 2 resevations 1) i wasnt sure if the 30"-36" (25-30 watt standard T8 lengths) would fit physically in my tank + another 1" each end for end cap things and 2) if this was the case how would a 25-30 watt ballast cope with an 18 watt/20(or was it 24?!?) watt bulb would it over heat or something or would it have made more sence to get the stronger unit for the same price? (i can still return it if this is the case for possible future plans)

AKA

1) would a 18/20(or 24watt if thats the other bulb thats 24" long (and also copatable with the jewels apparently )) work in a 25-30 watt ballast and not explode/over heat/create a black hole etc
2) and if so should i go and return it (to pets at home saying that they looked fairly clean today only one dead body)for the higher ballast unit if i can get a lift?
mucho thanks
Luke

 

[SuperColey1]

You are OK using a lower powered ballast with a higher powered tube. It will just provide the tube with less than the wattage it says. so 18W ballast will turn your bulb into 18W light.

The other way round is the dangerous part. Not seen it happen but I would have thought trying to put 25W power into an 18W bulb might cause a problem but I could be wrong .

Andy

 

[Phoenixfish]

You are OK using a lower powered ballast with a higher powered tube. It will just provide the tube with less than the wattage it says. so 18W ballast will turn your bulb into 18W light.

The other way round is the dangerous part. Not seen it happen but I would have thought trying to put 25W power into an 18W bulb might cause a problem but I could be wrong .

Andy

s'good job i got the 18watt ballast then, think i may pick up a T6 tomorrow if i feel up to it