Lighting (again)

Re: Lighting (again)

Travdawg,
The hood contains 4 compact fluorescent bulbs, 2 in each row. If you run just
one row, it should be fine. Running 3 would make it much brighter on one side
of the tank, probably not what you're after. Ask the vendor how the bulbs are wired-in, parallel or series. Hopefully you can run 2 if you want with no problems.

HTH,

Bill Ruyle

 

Re: Lighting (again)

Travdawg,
The hood contains 4 compact fluorescent bulbs, 2 in each row. If you run just
one row, it should be fine. Running 3 would make it much brighter on one side
of the tank, probably not what you're after. Depending on how the sockets are
wired to the electronic ballast, you should be able to run 2 or 4 if you want
--ask the vendor to be sure.

HTH,

Bill Ruyle

 

Re: Lighting (again)

i have a question regarding k ratings versus plant growth.

right now i'm running the coralife fixture with 4x65w-6700k on a 55g tank. what diffference other than whiter light (so i understand) would this make regarding plant growth? also what pro's and cons are there changing from 6700k to 10,000k?

 

Re: Lighting (again)

I don't profess to be an expert, but here are some reported observations: 5000K-10000K grow plants just fine. Different manufacturers of same kelvin temp will look different due to the coating on the bulbs and what color peaks they've chosen. I've used 5000k bulbs of different manufacturers that have subtle yet noticeable differences in color (all are yellower in cast than 6500-10000k). Scott Hieber of APD fame, favors 10000K as it gives a very crisp, white light, which is what he's after. If you have 2 rows for bulbs a combo of 6700K and 10000k would yield better results than going with just one color temp of bulb, this is what the "experts" say. I have a friend who uses NO fluorescents where he combines Grolite WS 8500K(?) with one at 5500K and looks great to me. On his larger tanks there are 4 bulbs, same combination.

Bill

 

Re: Lighting (again)

I've always mixed my tubes colouration for two reasons. To give a bright pleasant effect to my tanks and to edge my bets.

My new PC lighting consists of 2 double tubes:-
Freshwater Tropical : White 7100k + Pink 8000k
Freshwater Plant : Pink 8000k + Blue 12000k

The k rating looked high to me but my plants have given it the thumbs (or is that leaves?) up. Colouration is also good to me.

Ian

 

Re: Lighting (again)

tom, i 'm glad to hear once and for all that this or that color or temp is not that big a deal. TOO much controversary over lights. my compact bulbs were slowly burning out ,so i decided to order all new ones. i fell for it. everone said to get 9325GE,so i did. color is yellowish, not particularly pretty over all like 6700k but thats the way it goes. one grows plants as well as the other really. regards,cornhusker

 

Re: Lighting (again)

Heheh, I spent way too much time trying to figure out what color temps would grow plants best when I should have been thinking more about nutrients. Tom set me straight. Right now I even use a little actinic lighting because I like the way it makes things look and doesn't provide more PAR than I need.