Cfl for planted tank?

[kavin2845]

Hey i've been researching planted tank for a while and got most of the info i need to set one up, except im still confused of lighting. I am tight on cash and heard of people using Cfl bulbs as lights with some success.
I've put together this
3X http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/100354...&productId=100354517&R=100354517#.UhoUMfnrxAc
3X http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/203252...&productId=203252142&R=203252142#.UhoUUvnrxAc
do you guys think it will work the tank is 18 inches tall (16 inches with substrate), will it work or am i just wasting money?
total of 126w 7875 lumens
i used this to see if my lights are good and it said my tank would be well lit
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=101085
but i saw the sticky on lumens, did the calculations and it said i would need at leat 13,000 lumens for my tank. but other places said i was fine for most plant except for the high light, i want to grow most of plants except for more demanding plants
someone please help me im really confused

 

[joe jaskot]

It should work. You can even get E27 LED plant bulbs and use them in screw in fixtures.

 

[kavin2845]

It should work. You can even get E27 LED plant bulbs and use them in screw in fixtures.

is it an over kill? can i reduce and still grow what i want to grow?

what is E27? never heard of it can you possibly link the website

 

[joe jaskot]

is it an over kill? can i reduce and still grow what i want to grow?

what is E27? never heard of it can you possibly link the website

E27 LED bulbs are just screw in LED bulbs for regular light sockets. They come in all different wattages and types and colors (cool white, warm white, plant, blue, red, etc.). http://www.google.com/search?q=e27+...o2SJoaS9QTdu4Ao&ved=0CIABELAE&biw=572&bih=357

 

[kavin2845]

any more thoughts?

 

[Fat Homer]

The closest i seen to people doing something similar to this is setting up a standard T8 or T5 Shop light and installing it above their tanks...

I'm just not too sure how well these bulbs will direct the light, and well the light will be focused on a planted tank? Although with that being said i'm just not sure how well it will work, but if its a cheap enough option, might not hurt to try and see what happens?

BTW, have you thought of what sort of plants you want to try growing yet? since as i'm sure you know, different plants have different needs...

 

[xxUnRaTeDxxRkOxx]

Lots of people have success with their planted tanks, and using CFL lighting. I plan on a DIY double 25w CFL lighting for my 6 gallon topless Fluval Edge, but I plan on EI dosing with dry fertilizers, and starting it off with DIY co2 until I can afford to get a co2 injection system w/ 5lb co2 cylinder


What size is your tank? What are doing for fertilizers? What about co2?


There's lots of T5HO fixtures for low prices, for instance on my 55 gallon tank I got a 48" Odyssea T5HO freshwater quad w/ built in timer for $110 from aquatraders.com

http://www.aquatraders.com/T5-Aquarium-Lighting-s/9.htm

Aquatraders.com is a great place for aquarium stuff on a budget, I live off disability which makes me love their site even more lol.



As for CFL, here's a setup using CFL super high output bulbs





CFL SHO bulbs can found here... http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/powercompact.html

 

[Fat Homer]

^ Thats cool to see, so i guess they do work then...

 

[skjl47]

^ Thats cool to see, so i guess they do work then...

Hello; Yes the CFL bulbs have grown plants in a couple of my tank for some years. I use those that screw into standard sockets. I prefer the natural or daylight bulbs over the cool white.
Care needs to be taken to keep moisture away fom the bulbs I have used. There may be outdoor versions available that handle the moisture better but I have not checked on that lately.

 

[Fat Homer]

Good to know... Although i forgot to consider the moisture problem...


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