Want To Change My Tubes

[MermaidMel]

I have 2 in my 4ft but they are weak, less than 1WPG and its a Jinlong tank - needs pics I want to change the tubes, is it possible? Is it expensive? I might even like to consider one strong tube and one moonlight tube - is this possible? Sorry for the dumb questions

 

[Truck]

I have 2 in my 4ft but they are weak, less than 1WPG and its a Jinlong tank - needs pics I want to change the tubes, is it possible? Is it expensive? I might even like to consider one strong tube and one moonlight tube - is this possible? Sorry for the dumb questions

first of you cant change your WPG, but you can look for a tube with a higher PAR rating, you need to replace the tubes with new ones, that have the same power rating (watts) moonlighting is generally produced by LED's or a cathode kit, but a blue actinic tube would be of no benefit to your tank if your growing plants.

what i say is, go and buy 2 daylight tubes of the same rating as your existing ones. and then buy (if you want to) a cathode kit (for moonlighting)

this is why you should change your tubes every 6-12 months even if they still work, because the spectrum of the tube changes and then can encourage algae etc

 

[MermaidMel]

I just looked, I actually have only 1 tube. It says 30w 8000k
So are you saying I replace it with another 30w? I don't really understand what PAR is. Thanks for the help but could you explain to an idiot, cos that's what I am

 

[Truck]

I just looked, I actually have only 1 tube. It says 30w 8000k
So are you saying I replace it with another 30w? I don't really understand what PAR is. Thanks for the help but could you explain to an idiot, cos that's what I am

yes replace with another 30watt of the same length, the PAR rating is irrelavant if your not going planted, go for a 5-6k bulb for a yellowish look (good for plants)

and are your tubes :

T12's 1.5 inches in diameter
T8's 1 inch in diameter
T5's 5/8 of an inch in diameter

 

[MermaidMel]

I just looked, I actually have only 1 tube. It says 30w 8000k
So are you saying I replace it with another 30w? I don't really understand what PAR is. Thanks for the help but could you explain to an idiot, cos that's what I am

yes replace with another 30watt of the same length, the PAR rating is irrelavant if your not going planted, go for a 5-6k bulb for a yellowish look (good for plants)

and are your tubes :

T12's 1.5 inches in diameter
T8's 1 inch in diameter
T5's 5/8 of an inch in diameter

Its planted with anubias, vallis and onion bulbs oh and the remnants of the java fern and a lot of moss balls. They are doing fine.
So is 8000k not 8k? I am well confused.

 

[Truck]

when i said 8K i meant 8000, and then theres another K for kelvin(colour temp)

so i put the other K to keep things simple.

you tube has a colour temperature of 8000 kelvin or 8000k(K being for kelvin)

when i said 8K i meant 8000, so effectively it would be 8K kelvin

 

[MermaidMel]

when i said 8K i meant 8000, and then theres another K for kelvin(colour temp)

so i put the other K to keep things simple.

you tube has a colour temperature of 8000 kelvin or 8000k(K being for kelvin)

when i said 8K i meant 8000, so effectively it would be 8K kelvin

Clear..... as mud ohhhhh god i am so thick

 

[aaronnorth]

You are not thick, trucks answer got me confused aswell lol

Basically replace the tube with the same diameter tube (T5, T8 etc). You may find tubes at the same length, but they are 50w, you can buy these however you will still only get 30w out of them as this is the maximum wattage that the ballast can provide. Do NOT overpower a tube though (e.g. stick a 15w tube in)

Choose a kelvin (K) that will bring the colours of the fish and plants out well
<4000k = pink
4000k - 8000k = green
8000k - 11 000k = white
11 000k> = blue

The above is just generalising the figures.

cheap tubes available from Lampspecs - colour references available HERE

ignore PAR, you dont need it.

 

[Truck]

You are not thick, trucks answer got me confused aswell lol

Basically replace the tube with the same diameter tube (T5, T8 etc). You may find tubes at the same length, but they are 50w, you can buy these however you will still only get 30w out of them as this is the maximum wattage that the ballast can provide. Do NOT overpower a tube though (e.g. stick a 15w tube in)

Choose a kelvin (K) that will bring the colours of the fish and plants out well
<4000k = pink
4000k - 8000k = green
8000k - 11 000k = white
11 000k> = blue

The above is just generalising the figures.

cheap tubes available from Lampspecs - colour references available HERE

ignore PAR, you dont need it.

im not very good at explaining things

 

[MermaidMel]

You are not thick, trucks answer got me confused aswell lol

Basically replace the tube with the same diameter tube (T5, T8 etc). You may find tubes at the same length, but they are 50w, you can buy these however you will still only get 30w out of them as this is the maximum wattage that the ballast can provide. Do NOT overpower a tube though (e.g. stick a 15w tube in)

Choose a kelvin (K) that will bring the colours of the fish and plants out well
<4000k = pink
4000k - 8000k = green
8000k - 11 000k = white
11 000k> = blue

The above is just generalising the figures.

cheap tubes available from Lampspecs - colour references available HERE

ignore PAR, you dont need it.

im not very good at explaining things

And I'm not very good at understanding them lol thanks for having a good go though

Aaron, can u just explain to me, if its 30w why is 15w overpowering it, as its less watts? And if I put 50w in but will still only get 30w, is there any point changing the sodding thing, or could u just come over and do it for me?

 

[SuperColey1]

Think of the ballast as a current limiter. It limits your 240V power source (plug socket) to pull the current needed for the light. Therefore if you have a 30W tube it wil be running from a 30W ballast.

If you put a 15W in there then the ballast will not be limiting the power to the amount the tube cane handle and therefore you risk burning the tube out very quickly.

Putting a 50W presents no risk but the light will still only put out 30W if it lights at all from being underpowered.

I would suggest if you only have 1 tube get something around the 5500K region.

If not detailed in the specs of the tube on the site/packaging in LFS ask them the CRI. this will be a 3 figure number where the first digit indicates the quality/accuracy of the lamps colour output. Therefore if it is 5 then it is between 50% and 59% accurate. A 9 will mean between 90% and 99%.

the next 2 digits will be the K (kelvin) colour temperature.

Therefore if a tubes CRI is 965 then it is saying it is a 6500K colour temperature and that it is between 90 and 99% accurate to that colour. A 765 still has the same k rating but may not be as accurate when looking at the colour it gives i.e. looks pinker (less than 6500K) or looks greener to blue (more than 6500K)

A 6500K on it's own (daylight) will actually look a little greeny. therefore a 5500K is closer to an actual white.

AC

 

[MermaidMel]

Think of the ballast as a current limiter. It limits your 240V power source (plug socket) to pull the current needed for the light. Therefore if you have a 30W tube it wil be running from a 30W ballast.

If you put a 15W in there then the ballast will not be limiting the power to the amount the tube cane handle and therefore you risk burning the tube out very quickly.

Putting a 50W presents no risk but the light will still only put out 30W if it lights at all from being underpowered.

I would suggest if you only have 1 tube get something around the 5500K region.

If not detailed in the specs of the tube on the site/packaging in LFS ask them the CRI. this will be a 3 figure number where the first digit indicates the quality/accuracy of the lamps colour output. Therefore if it is 5 then it is between 50% and 59% accurate. A 9 will mean between 90% and 99%.

the next 2 digits will be the K (kelvin) colour temperature.

Therefore if a tubes CRI is 965 then it is saying it is a 6500K colour temperature and that it is between 90 and 99% accurate to that colour. A 765 still has the same k rating but may not be as accurate when looking at the colour it gives i.e. looks pinker (less than 6500K) or looks greener to blue (more than 6500K)

A 6500K on it's own (daylight) will actually look a little greeny. therefore a 5500K is closer to an actual white.

AC

I think I will shine a torch onto my tank instead
I have never been so confused in my life. I read your post, but it looked like
ksjdf ksjgfhslkg dfjkghdfjkghAU ef;dfkjglsfdkfj 5500k adhfkdjshflsdkfhkdshgksdfjhgjkfdhgjkfdhgjkdfhvjkfhgfjkd 90 and 99% sdhfiushfisudhgfsghfdkghdfk
but obviously huge thanks for trying, I am just hopeless at these things

 

[fishyfeet]

same here mel, i emailed a light tube company and took there advice, lampspec i think they are called, very good company and good luck hope you get it sorted out, di

 

[aaronnorth]

Aaron, can u just explain to me, if its 30w why is 15w overpowering it, as its less watts?

Basically, your ballast 'gives out' 30watts of energy. If you put a 15w tube in there, it will still be giving 30watts of energy, however the tube cannot handle all of the power so it quickly burns out.

If you put a 50w tube in there, the ballast still is only giving you 30watts of power, so you will only recieve 30watts of light because it is underpowered.

To sum the whole thread up:

Buy a tube that is the correct length, that is rated 30watts or higher, and if possible, with a kelvin around 5000k - 7000k

 

[MermaidMel]

Aaron, can u just explain to me, if its 30w why is 15w overpowering it, as its less watts?

Basically, your ballast 'gives out' 30watts of energy. If you put a 15w tube in there, it will still be giving 30watts of energy, however the tube cannot handle all of the power so it quickly burns out.

If you put a 50w tube in there, the ballast still is only giving you 30watts of power, so you will only recieve 30watts of light because it is underpowered.

To sum the whole thread up:

Buy a tube that is the correct length, that is rated 30watts or higher, and if possible, with a kelvin around 5000k - 7000k

Hehe ok I get that part. So what is the 8000k all about on my tube?

And also, if I can only get 30w out of it, is there any point in changing it, since it won't get brighter anyway?