40g planted
- Thread starter tetrin
- Start date
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Skuseman
Aquarium Advice Regular
Thanks very much I'm reading up on it . Thanks very much This should be good. I hope i can do it with my current equipment
BlazerFRS
Aquarium Advice Freak
Stupid light bulb question
I currently have an eclipse system six; which comes with an 8 watt NO T5 bulb (Giving me 1 1/3 WPG). I'm looking to upgrade the light so I can grow more plants... Once I get the goldie a bigger tank I'd like to do a heavily planted betta or tetra tank. DIY CO2 would not be out of the question also.
Right now I'm looking at T5 flourecents online and I see I can get them up to 35watts 8O, though a 12 or 14 watt would probably be the range i'm interested in. However all wattages above 8w are HO bulbs, where my fixture uses a NO bulb.
My question is can i use a HO bulb in my current fixture, or would that burn it up?
Thanks for humoring my newbieness!
I currently have an eclipse system six; which comes with an 8 watt NO T5 bulb (Giving me 1 1/3 WPG). I'm looking to upgrade the light so I can grow more plants... Once I get the goldie a bigger tank I'd like to do a heavily planted betta or tetra tank. DIY CO2 would not be out of the question also.
Right now I'm looking at T5 flourecents online and I see I can get them up to 35watts 8O, though a 12 or 14 watt would probably be the range i'm interested in. However all wattages above 8w are HO bulbs, where my fixture uses a NO bulb.
My question is can i use a HO bulb in my current fixture, or would that burn it up?
Thanks for humoring my newbieness!
travis simonson
Aquarium Advice Addict
I suspect you'll need a different ballast to drive HO bulbs but I will defer to the more electrically inclined members of the forum on that one 
BlazerFRS
Aquarium Advice Freak
The only info on the ballast I can find is a rating of .16 amp at 120V; i.e. 19.2 watts.
So I should be able to push the power needed for a 15 or so watter; but i'm still unsure of the output (NO vs HO) of my fixture. Do HO bulbs usually require different fixtures, or are the differences in the bulb?
So I should be able to push the power needed for a 15 or so watter; but i'm still unsure of the output (NO vs HO) of my fixture. Do HO bulbs usually require different fixtures, or are the differences in the bulb?
That looks a lot more like input rating than it does output. HO bulbs require a higher current arc through the bulb than NO, and so it also depends on the ballast supplying the current. This is why ODNO works for example -- more juice, more lumens, same bulb. I googled T5 and you're right: there's T5HO and regular T5, but apparently all T5s require electronic ballasts, and so I would not be surprised if either bulb you're considering works without modification. Does the ballast have a model number for cross reference? How about emailing Eclipse?
Hopefully someone with first hand knowledge posts. As I understand the new bulb will either fire or it won't. You won't blow up anything by trying the 14w T5 (T5HO? -- the shortest I saw was 24"), assuming any modification required to make it fit doesn't affect the electrical components.
HTH
Hopefully someone with first hand knowledge posts. As I understand the new bulb will either fire or it won't. You won't blow up anything by trying the 14w T5 (T5HO? -- the shortest I saw was 24"), assuming any modification required to make it fit doesn't affect the electrical components.
HTH
shalu
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
There ARE both NO T5 and HO T5! Take 48" bulbs, for example, HO T5 is 54w, NO T5 is 28w, both bulbs are available. So if you can find a HO T5 the same length(I don't see anyting other than 8w NO for 12" though), then your ballast(assuming electronic) should be able to drive it.
HO and NO T5 are of the same length, so you can use same fixture as long as the ballast has enough power.
All bulbs can be overdriven. But HO bulbs are "factory overdriven" already and OD them further reduces efficiency.
Lots of info on ODNO here:
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=175
I showed that ODNO is more efficient than previously thought:
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=21257
Electronic ballasts have load sensing. So using a higher power rating ballast does not automatically results in overdrive(needs ballast for multiple bulbs). In your case, a 19W ballast drives a 8w bulb fine(as 8w), but it is capable of driving bulbs of higher wattage as well. I have used a 60w ballast on 15w bulb, no OD.
HO and NO T5 are of the same length, so you can use same fixture as long as the ballast has enough power.
All bulbs can be overdriven. But HO bulbs are "factory overdriven" already and OD them further reduces efficiency.
Lots of info on ODNO here:
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=175
I showed that ODNO is more efficient than previously thought:
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=21257
Electronic ballasts have load sensing. So using a higher power rating ballast does not automatically results in overdrive(needs ballast for multiple bulbs). In your case, a 19W ballast drives a 8w bulb fine(as 8w), but it is capable of driving bulbs of higher wattage as well. I have used a 60w ballast on 15w bulb, no OD.
accordigal
Aquarium Advice Newbie
Eco-complete plant substrate
This is the first time I have tried to use a substrate instead of gravel in a new 55 gallon freshwater tank. The tank is less than 24 hours old and is so muddy looking. Will it ever clear up? Every time you move something in the tank, it stirs up the substrate and creates more "mud". Has anybody had a similar experience??
This is the first time I have tried to use a substrate instead of gravel in a new 55 gallon freshwater tank. The tank is less than 24 hours old and is so muddy looking. Will it ever clear up? Every time you move something in the tank, it stirs up the substrate and creates more "mud". Has anybody had a similar experience??
rich311k
Aquarium Advice Addict
It is normal. It can take 2-3 days to settle out. Don't worry.
malkore
Aquarium Advice Addict
Ummm, eco complete should not be dirty at all, nor does it need to be rinsed first.
Over time when mulm builds up, it can get a little dirty moving plants around, but brand new, it should be very clean.
Were the bags full of clear 'water', or was it kinda milky/murky water? If it wasn't clear as fresh water, you got some of the contaminated bags of Eco complete. Luckily Carib-sea will replace them at no charge.
But no, muddy eco complete isn't normal at all when new. Flourite, yes...eco, no.
Over time when mulm builds up, it can get a little dirty moving plants around, but brand new, it should be very clean.
Were the bags full of clear 'water', or was it kinda milky/murky water? If it wasn't clear as fresh water, you got some of the contaminated bags of Eco complete. Luckily Carib-sea will replace them at no charge.
But no, muddy eco complete isn't normal at all when new. Flourite, yes...eco, no.
rich311k
Aquarium Advice Addict
Realy mine was a mess. I guess I got bad stuff and didn't even know it. It cleared up eventually.
Xzap
Aquarium Advice FINatic
As Malkore said, you can practically "dump" a bag of Eco in a tank and it won't cloud much at all.
dave
dave
rich311k
Aquarium Advice Addict
I guess its to late to take mine back. I am glad I know now before I start my next tank.
gfink
Aquarium Advice Freak
I've got a bag enroute to me now for my new 10g planted. I'll try to remember and post my findings.
gfink
Aquarium Advice Freak
Out of curiosity, how much CO2 is stored in a cylinder of that size (volume)?
malkore
Aquarium Advice Addict
gfink said:
Huh? did you reply to the wrong thread?
gfink
Aquarium Advice Freak
Apparently so. That was wierd. 
accordigal
Aquarium Advice Newbie
Eco-complete bags
My bags looked very wet before I opened them but since I have never used this stuff before, I would not know if they were contaminated or not. I am also using a new SeaClear system 2 tank setup and I have not tried this system either so I am not sure why I have a cloudy tank. Usually, my tanks are crystal clear for about 2-3 days until the chemical bloom starts which lasts a few days and then the tanks clear up again.
My bags looked very wet before I opened them but since I have never used this stuff before, I would not know if they were contaminated or not. I am also using a new SeaClear system 2 tank setup and I have not tried this system either so I am not sure why I have a cloudy tank. Usually, my tanks are crystal clear for about 2-3 days until the chemical bloom starts which lasts a few days and then the tanks clear up again.
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