Need help choosing a bulb

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Pyramid_Party

Pyramid_Party

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Aug 6, 2008
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Monterey, CA
Hi guys,


I ended up buying the wrong bulb yesterday. I have a 29 gallon tank that I am aiming to get in the low light category. I bought a T5HO light bulb yesterday without knowing it also needs a lamp that is rated to use these kind of bulbs. Well I am going to take it back. But I need help on what to get. My light fixture is just a standard/stock fixture. Im not sure what kind of bulbs I can use.


I was looking at these http://shop.aquatraders.com/Odyssea-65W-Compact-Fluorescent-Bulb-p/61409.htm


Would any of these be ok? What one specifically? What K rating should I aim for? I can also try finding a bulb at the store too, I just need to know which kind, also is 21 inches the right size for a 29 gallon with dimensions 30x12x18? I just need to be good enough for low light plants. My fixture is only a single bulb fixture too. Please help. Thanks
 
those wont work on your fixture either, theyre compact flourescents. if its a standard fixture, it may be a T8 or T12 bulb. if you want to be in the low light category, this is the type of fixture you want. even something from lowes or home depot. get a small shoplight fixture that hold 2-4 bulbs.
 
it's easy, just refer to the chart in the sticky!

your tank is 18" tall, so after substrate and everything, ill assume the light will be 19" off the bottom. the chart says one power compact bulb using an AH Supply reflector will give about 40 micromols of PAR at 19". the important note is the reflector, AH Supply makes incredibly good reflectors.

the light you linked looks to have crappy reflectors, so lets assume youll lose 10 mircomols, giving you 30. its hard to say how much of a difference the reflector will make, 10 is just a wild guess. 30 micromols x 2 bulbs = 60, which puts you at medium light. you would need to raise the fixture a few inches to bring you back down into low light
 
Would this be a better choice since I already have the T5HO bulb http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?sku=1320530

I would only plan to use one bulb though. According to the chart it bring me to the medium light category. Would that be fine? Basically the only reason I wanted a low light tank was to avoid things getting complicated like added C02, etc. I have eco-complete substrate already though.
 
yup, that would get you in medium light. it could be fine, but I would be sure to add Excel everyday as a carbon supplement. and you have the flexibility to go high light one day if you decide to
 
Sorry one last question. Could I remove the light strip off my standard tank hood and hand this over it where that light strip used to be at? I kinda dont like how this hangs over the water and theres no cover. I kinda like the cover a hood has. Thanks
 
Pyramid_Party;4311733;4311733 said:
Sorry one last question. Could I remove the light strip off my standard tank hood and hand this over it where that light strip used to be at? I kinda dont like how this hangs over the water and theres no cover. I kinda like the cover a hood has. Thanks
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is it those plastic hoods that cover the whole tank, with a little opening for the light and a lid that swings open? it may not work, since the opening for the light is so small. you may end up getting light only in the middle section of the tank, and it wont be evenly lit front to back
 
Ok, so lets say I remove the whole thing. After I hang this on, what could I use as a "hood" for the front part? Could I use some glass top or plexiglass or something similar?
 
yeah, glass or acrylic will work. the acrylic will bow after a while, so it would have to be very thick. glass would be best
 
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