Replacing A T8

[Juggler75]

After initially setting up my 80cm tank, I have replaced the built in light with one of these, however this still only leaves me with 1w per gallon (slightly less). It's specs on the box are 130Lux, 1470 lumen and 6700k (not sure what these mean tbh)

I was wondering if its possible to replace the bulb with a t8 led lamp, in order to get a bit more light into the tank as the plants seem to be wilting. There is only one fixed unit in the hood and don't really want to mess about cutting it to fit another so after reading about leds giving off more light I wondered if led t8's would fit straight in or would I need adapters etc.

If it is possible which bulbs do you recommend?

Thanks in advance for any pointers.

 

[Juggler75]

I was looking at something like these;

http/www.lampshoponline.com/products/T8-2ft-10w-Led-Tubes.html

http/www.swelluk.com/aquarium/fish-tank-lighting-28/led-lighting-1494/arcadia-eco-aqua-led-daylight-241184.html

but unsure if they would be an improvement, any better ideas are welcome.

 

[Mikaila31]

Those type of LEDs are generally not suited for plant growth.

 

[SuperColey1]

On the LEDs I haveno experience with the tubes but from what I gather some fit straight in. others have adaptors with them to enable them to do so.

However as pointed out above I think they are a bit of a marketing victory in reality. The key to LED is being able to spread the light out where those tubes have all the LEDs in a line like the flouro tube. therefore missing a key advantage of LED over other light sources.

Therefore just as you would need to add flourescent tubes you would have to add LED tubes. 1 won't suffice if you are after a hi tec setup.

TBH I think your options are limited without DIY because single tube hoods (like the Fluval Uno Deep) don't often leave room to fit another tube in there. If it does then you can get a glomat twin starter to add 2 tubes in there. If it is a Fluval you could search around for someone selling a Duo Deep Hood (Uno/Duo is the number of tubes in the hood) but you could be waiting a fair while.

So apart from that your only options to increase the light is to either DIY your own hod and then have 2 lamps or to go open top with a luminaire.

On a side note I wouldn't bother with those 20W tubes. It is unlikely you have a 20W ballast indeed you may even have a 15W ballast powering the lamps. Stick to the 18W as the 20W is unlikely to be giving you the extra 2W. If it is a Fluval Uno then it is very likely you are only getting 15W.

You can continue with what you have though. Just need to concentrate on lower light plants and get the whole internals spot on (filtration, circulation, substrate and minimal ferts) and then you can grow anubias, ferns, mosses with no problem.

I might be able to suggest an alternative in a few months time but I have yet to trial it and therefore do not want to suggest it would be viable as it would indeed contradict statements I have already given let alone what others have stated. Watch this space.

Andy

Andy

 

[Juggler75]

Many thanks, it was a 2nd hand tank so unsure of make (it has a light glo sticker on it) but I bought the tube to replace the 20w tropical tube that was in it as I didn't like the red light.

Look forward to your updates Andy

 

[SuperColey1]

it has a light glo sticker on it

It is a Fluval Uno Deep. Some of them have 'light Glo' on the canopy (mine did.) It is highly likely (99%) that the ballast powering that 24" tube is a 15W magnetic ballast so the 20W is a little pointless. A sales ploy to the masses if you like. You will be underpowering it so 18W tubes will give the same result The Arcadia freshwater (or whatever they call it these days I think classic daylight or something) is a good tube. white to green in appearance. I have used one of these over a tank that size before (with a reflector) both the tube and reflector available from P@H.

If you don't want to pay aquarium tube prices then that the tube I mention is 7500K with a CRI in the 8 region so the CRI number would be 875

The 8 meaning the tube is between 80 and 89?% accurate in colour rendering. The 75 meaning the colour of light the tube is trying to achieve is 7500kelvin.

IME/IMO lights that are 860-880 are best if you are only using 1 tube. Even better if you can find a 960-980 as they will be muich more accurate still but they are few and far between.

Andy

 

[bettanoob]

juggler i just put led's in my tank and the light ratio is great for viewing the fish (and there is plenty of light) the only thing i am unsure about is if there is actually enought band of light to grow plants im sure there iwll be enough for the plants to grow but unsure if they will thrive.
if your intrested i got 1 meter for £10 (all wired up to adapter)
adapter was £15
each adapter can handle 5 meters i fixed up to 2 meters of white and 1 meter of blue to a switch so i could turn each of them off seperate but the guy in the shop can put them all up to an adapter.
if u need any more info on it pm me mate