Bulb Question

[Yuri]

Hi! I'm interested into turning my 29 tank into a planted one. I was checking out new hoods online and ran across one somebody off another site suggested. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3800 I looked up what 9325ºK looked like in a tank and it was awesome. But, I couldn't find anything about wattage. Anyone have a estimate on how much it would be per bulb? And, is 9325ºK too high on the spectrum for a freshwater plants?
Thanks in advance!

 

[Quake2player]

I'm a plant newbie myself... converted my 29gal by changing substrate to fluorite and of course upgraded lighting to a 65watt Coralife 6700k... so far I'm happy with the results a month later. I posted a thread in this forum showing progress pics... may be time to update it

Anyway, here's a link to one of the sponsors here that sells the same Coralife:
http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=31566;category_id=2543

Be careful not to buy the one with the 50/50 bulb which is useless to freshwater, geared towards saltwater. I can't speak for that double fixture you linked to at DrFosters... the gurus here may have something to say.

Don't even bother lookin at your lfs cause it seems that everyone finds they nearly charge double what you'd find online... unless you have an LFS willing to come close online pricing.

Good luck!

 

[Yuri]

I talked to the help service and they said that the light was only 20 watts a bulb, which sure isn't enough.

Nice site! I took a look at that one and a few other products but couldn't find anything sufficient. My setup is all black so the coralife linked couldn't work. *sighs* I got excited there for a moment.

Edit: No, wait. I found something. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3773 It'll give me 55 watts (only three watts short of the 58 I need for 2 watts a gallon) but it's 84 dollars. Is it worth it?

 

[RoK]

No, wait. I found something. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3773 It'll give me 55 watts (only three watts short of the 58 I need for 2 watts a gallon) but it's 84 dollars. Is it worth it?

If you only use 1 bulb it will be 55 watts but if you use the 2 it comes with gives you 110 watts. It's 55 per bulb, I guess you didn't realize that?

Edit: Sorry I didn't look at the bottom, I guess it is just one bulb for the one you want.

 

[Yuri]

Yeah. I would take the two 55 watts but they don't come in a 30 inch hood.

 

[SteveM]

It'll give me 55 watts (only three watts short of the 58 I need for 2 watts a gallon) but it's 84 dollars. Is it worth it?

It's $79 here - is this the same thing?
http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=24075;category_id=1875;pcid1=1843;pcid2=

I have the coralife, but that all-glass was my second choice. I think you'll be happy with it, and if you don't like the look of the coralife it's probably the next best thing. Unless you want to go with a wood canopy, then you can put whatever you want under it.

 

[e burna]

I have a flura glow bulb I bought at the lfs for $17, designed for plant growth, and I bought a glass lid and a second lite for the tank, the lite cost me $40, just a black flurescnet light on the 2nd one. I've been told this was fine for growing plants.

 

[zilla870]

i bought a twin bulb hood for my 40g so i can get the correct amount of light for my plant tank.

 

[Zezmo]

Some manufacturer use 55watt ballasts, some 65 watt ballasts. From what I have read its the ballast not the bulb which controls wattage. Maybe look around and find one. For example, the Current USA, Satellite Model 1004, has one 65 watt bulb and is 30" long, and black too.

I have a Satellite Dual model 1016, and am very happy with it.

er btw, i don't work for Current or anything, i just happen to have thier brochure on my desk from when i was deciding which light to buy for myself.