I'm looking into getting some better lighting into my 40 breeder planted tank. I have a glass top and I have discus so I need it hot anyway. What do you think?
Will a 400 Watt High Pressure Sodim Light Work For My Tank?
- Thread starter spitz006
- Start date
If you've got one laying around, sure go for it, but if you're buying something new, MH and sodium lights seem unnecessary nowadays, what with low wattage cfls (CHEAP) or LED setups if you're wanting shimmer. I guess it's personal preference, but the heat from those things worries me, especially if it's over a piece of glass. I've never used sodium lights, only MH, but I dont even wanna ask how much heat comes off a 400w 
. some water splashes on it and it could shatter. Unlikely, but I just don't see reason to take the risk. Plus, if we use the old and terribly inaccurate W/gallon rule, 10W/gallon will be extremely bright, I think you'll have algae problems.
I'm assuming it's a planted tank? I have fallen in love with the mini 6500k cfl bulbs that Sylvania makes. I found them because it was the only 6500k bulb in the hardware store. I put two over a 10g and my plants went nuts. They run cool-ish, and only take 13W i believe.
Anyway, this page has been my bible for lighting ever since someone over on plantedtank.net showed it to me.
edit: You got me curious, so a quick lookup said that SV bulbs are closer to the red-orange spectrum. If this is a display tank, It may make your discus look a bit funky without a cooler bulb ~6500k-10000k supplementing it. Just a thought.
. some water splashes on it and it could shatter. Unlikely, but I just don't see reason to take the risk. Plus, if we use the old and terribly inaccurate W/gallon rule, 10W/gallon will be extremely bright, I think you'll have algae problems.I'm assuming it's a planted tank? I have fallen in love with the mini 6500k cfl bulbs that Sylvania makes. I found them because it was the only 6500k bulb in the hardware store. I put two over a 10g and my plants went nuts. They run cool-ish, and only take 13W i believe.
Anyway, this page has been my bible for lighting ever since someone over on plantedtank.net showed it to me.
edit: You got me curious, so a quick lookup said that SV bulbs are closer to the red-orange spectrum. If this is a display tank, It may make your discus look a bit funky without a cooler bulb ~6500k-10000k supplementing it. Just a thought.
i use to have a hps in the garage hehe
it would heat it up a good 10 degrees ALONE. a whole room dude.
it would heat it up a good 10 degrees ALONE. a whole room dude.
yeah, those things get crazy hot, and an hps will be really really really yelow oarnge light. i would look for something else
Ok I ended up just going with a shop light that's supposed to be reflective up to 6 feet, and the biggest cfl they had which doesn't even fit in the unit so I have to prop it up. It's 42 watts, 2800 lumens. I have to say though, the color it puts out is ugly as hell. Oh well at least I have the lamp now, any suggestions on a different bulb?
Bulbs are rated in color temperature (kelvin). Something labeled between 6000-10,000k will give a nice, blue-white daylight look. These are also the best for plant growth. All my freshwater tanks have 6500k CFLs, fluorescents, or LEDs. One has a 6500k and a 10k, but I'm probably going to replace the 10000 with another 6500 because it's too harsh to me.
Mixing orange-yellow bulbs with blue-white bulbs can look great, too.
Mixing orange-yellow bulbs with blue-white bulbs can look great, too.
In an aquarium, yeah, sorry. The higher the number, the more sun-like it will be, as in whiter and less red colored. 6000-10,000k is pretty much the standard range for aquariums, plants love it and it gives fish the most natural lighting. I'd return it and grab a 6500k bulb. Hardware stores (at least here) don't carry many, the only ones I've found are mini cfls, which wouldn't do for you. You may want to check online. That link I posted earlier also sells great aquarium bulbs and fixtures.
This is a high wattage cfl, I think they use them for photography and maybe greenhouses. But it would be nice if you're wanting to do a single bulb. There's lots of others on amazon and ebay. I personally would do 2-4 smaller bulbs for more even lighting, but that's just me. Your tank, your rules!
This is a high wattage cfl, I think they use them for photography and maybe greenhouses. But it would be nice if you're wanting to do a single bulb. There's lots of others on amazon and ebay. I personally would do 2-4 smaller bulbs for more even lighting, but that's just me. Your tank, your rules!