Lights

[Demonknight]

ok I know there's threads allover about lights, but I'm just getting more and more confused.

I bought a "daylight" fluorescent light bulb (6500K, 900 lumenes, 15w = 60w normal)..soooo, going by the watt per gallon rule (I know) it would take 8 of these to put my 125g at med light? Is that even close to being right? It seems kind of dim using just one on my 10g.

 

[fort384]

What kind of bulb is it? Is it a compact florescent bulb, or a T8, or what?

 

[mfdrookie516]

going off the fact that you said its a 60w equivalent, i'm guessing cfl? You really can't go off the wpg rule with any tank, especially bigger tanks. I don't even have 2wpg on my 125 and my glosso and hm are growing and carpeting quite well. This indicates it is on the higher side of the scale.

 

[Demonknight]

yeah those are the spiral light bulbs, trying to figure out a good way to grow plants and keep it borderline co2 needy.. I need to just break down and buy a new ballast and get both my 96w pc going instead of just the one, and new bulbs.

 

[mfdrookie516]

That would probably be your best bet. Cfl's aren't that great for bigger tanks IMO because of the reflectors ( or lack of)

 

[Demonknight]

yeap, tweaking a hood setup for my 10 using 2 of them (spiral cfl) and I've gone and over did the light yet again (back to the green water) .. of course using the math above (I know, not a good idea) I only have 120watts of 6500K light on a 10g...meh, think I'll take one out and see if the water clears 9and stays that way) on the next water change day.

*side note I just noticed one of my grass shrimp has white/clear(ish) spots on it...any idea what this might be?

 

[fort384]

the "equivalancy" rating of 60W does not apply... it counts as 30W.

I agree with rook, lighting a large tank with CFLs would not be an efficient way to go.