lighting my 29 gallon - Aquarium Advice

ringfinger · 10-31-2005, 12:48 PM

I am thinking about upgrading the lighting in my 29 gallon to a little more than 3 [acronym:8c797f422b="Watts Per Gallon"]WPG[/acronym:8c797f422b]. This would be easily solved with a 96W [acronym:8c797f422b="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:8c797f422b] fixture, but I can only find these 36" in length. My tank is in a display case of sorts and can only fit a fixture of 30". The 30" fixtures that I can find are all 2X65W which would give me a lot more light than I want. It seems like most of them have 2 separate light switches. Would it be ok for the fish and plants if one switch was turned on for the full day, and then just use both at the same time for about 4 hours using an automatic timer? I guess I am just wondering if the plants or fish would be stressed with the [acronym:8c797f422b="Watts Per Gallon"]WPG[/acronym:8c797f422b] doubling during those 4 hours? Any other solutions?

**Purrbox** · 10-31-2005, 01:03 PM

Another option would be to use one regular bulb and one 50/50 bulb. Since half of the light from the 50/50 bulb wouldn't be usable light by the plants you would effectively reduce your light to 97.5 watts.

ringfinger · 10-31-2005, 01:20 PM

http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/...d1=1843;pcid2=

So this one would be a good choice if I were to try one regular bulb and one 50/50?

**Purrbox** · 10-31-2005, 06:23 PM

Not if you were planning to use the bulbs that come with it. The first bulb is 50/50 10,000K & 6700K (which would work), but the second one is Dual Actinic which would half the lighting to 65 Watts usable lighting. I have no experience with that brand light fixture, so I have no idea whether it would be a good buy for just the fixture.

I'd go for a fixture that comes with two 6700K bulbs and then swap one out with a 50/50 10000K and Actinic bulb. This way you can use the second 6700 bulb as a replacement down the road instead of trying to sell it or just tossing it.

Hoovercat · 10-31-2005, 07:15 PM

Why not just use a 65w [acronym:af03898e10="Power compact fluorescent"]pc[/acronym:af03898e10] and your regular no tube (25watt) you should already have to achieve the 3wpg you're after?

ringfinger · 10-31-2005, 10:38 PM

Oh jeez... my 65W is by the same brand, and has a 50/50 10000K and 460nm actinic bulb which leaves me with about 32.5W of useable light from what I know now.

There should be a mandatory MONTH of research required before I am allowed to spend money on any equiptment.

rich311k · 10-31-2005, 10:44 PM

You can replace the bulbs but it will cost you more money. Sorry.

10-31-2005, 12:48 PM	#1
ringfinger Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cedar City, UT Posts: 412 Images: 4	lighting my 29 gallon I am thinking about upgrading the lighting in my 29 gallon to a little more than 3 [acronym:8c797f422b="Watts Per Gallon"]WPG[/acronym:8c797f422b]. This would be easily solved with a 96W [acronym:8c797f422b="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:8c797f422b] fixture, but I can only find these 36" in length. My tank is in a display case of sorts and can only fit a fixture of 30". The 30" fixtures that I can find are all 2X65W which would give me a lot more light than I want. It seems like most of them have 2 separate light switches. Would it be ok for the fish and plants if one switch was turned on for the full day, and then just use both at the same time for about 4 hours using an automatic timer? I guess I am just wondering if the plants or fish would be stressed with the [acronym:8c797f422b="Watts Per Gallon"]WPG[/acronym:8c797f422b] doubling during those 4 hours? Any other solutions?

10-31-2005, 01:03 PM	#2
Purrbox Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Iowa USA Posts: 5,444	Another option would be to use one regular bulb and one 50/50 bulb. Since half of the light from the 50/50 bulb wouldn't be usable light by the plants you would effectively reduce your light to 97.5 watts. __________________ ~Joy 10 Gallon Planted Photo Log - 5.5 Gallon Planted Photo Log - 2.5 Gallon Planted Photo Log - Pico Planted Photo Log

10-31-2005, 06:23 PM	#4
Purrbox Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Iowa USA Posts: 5,444	Not if you were planning to use the bulbs that come with it. The first bulb is 50/50 10,000K & 6700K (which would work), but the second one is Dual Actinic which would half the lighting to 65 Watts usable lighting. I have no experience with that brand light fixture, so I have no idea whether it would be a good buy for just the fixture. I'd go for a fixture that comes with two 6700K bulbs and then swap one out with a 50/50 10000K and Actinic bulb. This way you can use the second 6700 bulb as a replacement down the road instead of trying to sell it or just tossing it. __________________ ~Joy 10 Gallon Planted Photo Log - 5.5 Gallon Planted Photo Log - 2.5 Gallon Planted Photo Log - Pico Planted Photo Log

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10-31-2005, 01:20 PM	#3
ringfinger Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cedar City, UT Posts: 412 Images: 4	http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/...d1=1843;pcid2= So this one would be a good choice if I were to try one regular bulb and one 50/50?

10-31-2005, 07:15 PM	#5
Hoovercat Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Memphis,Tn US Posts: 438	Why not just use a 65w [acronym:af03898e10="Power compact fluorescent"]pc[/acronym:af03898e10] and your regular no tube (25watt) you should already have to achieve the 3wpg you're after?

10-31-2005, 10:38 PM	#6
ringfinger Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cedar City, UT Posts: 412 Images: 4	Oh jeez... my 65W is by the same brand, and has a 50/50 10000K and 460nm actinic bulb which leaves me with about 32.5W of useable light from what I know now. There should be a mandatory MONTH of research required before I am allowed to spend money on any equiptment.

10-31-2005, 10:44 PM	#7
rich311k Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 8,972 Images: 35	You can replace the bulbs but it will cost you more money. Sorry.