We'd like to use three of these on our 135 gallon. It's 72 x 18 x23. Will this work for plants? It also has a dimming balast so if it is too much light we can turn it down if we need to.
Will these lights support plant life?
- Thread starter rallysb1tch
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We'd like to use three of these on our 135 gallon. It's 72 x 18 x23. Will this work for plants? It also has a dimming balast so if it is too much light we can turn it down if we need to.
My opion is no. You really need 2.5 - 3 watts/gallon to really grow plants. You are looking at just over 1 watts/gallon. You might be able to get away with some Java moss or Java fern or other low light plants, but that would be about it.
garnpet said:
Howdy,
I disagree. These are compact fluorescent, which turn out more light than conventional fluorescent lights at the same wattage. Thus, they may very well be usable for not overly demanding plants.
The only thing unclear is the emitted spectrum. You'd have to look that up with Google, and compare it to spectra of plant lights. You don't want too much in the UV range, or you'll get more algae than desired plants. If the light is not blue or anything, it might be worth a shot. Try not too demanding plants, though (vallisneria, cryptocoryne, echinodorus etc).
Good luck,
HarleyK
I think you would be better off getting 2 65watt bulbs rather than a bunch of smaller wattage bulbs. I just don't think there is enough light energy in the 26watt bulbs to do anything with plants especially in a tank that size.
Average Rated Life (hr): 4000
Base: GU4 Bipin
Beam Angle (deg): 35
Beam Type: FL
Bulb: MR11
Centerbeam Candlepower (cp): 700
Class C: (gas)
Color Rendering Index (CRI): 100
Color Temperature/CCT (K): 3000
Diameter (in): 1.375
Diameter (mm): 34.925
Ecologic: YES
Family Brand Name: TRU-AIM Standard
Filament: AXIAL
Horizontal Beam Angle (deg): 35
Lamp Finish: Covered
Maximum Overall Length - MOL (in): 1.625
Maximum Overall Length - MOL (mm): 41.275
Nominal Voltage (V): 12.00
Nominal Wattage (W): 20.00
Vertical Beam Angle (deg): 35
Base: GU4 Bipin
Beam Angle (deg): 35
Beam Type: FL
Bulb: MR11
Centerbeam Candlepower (cp): 700
Class C: (gas)
Color Rendering Index (CRI): 100
Color Temperature/CCT (K): 3000
Diameter (in): 1.375
Diameter (mm): 34.925
Ecologic: YES
Family Brand Name: TRU-AIM Standard
Filament: AXIAL
Horizontal Beam Angle (deg): 35
Lamp Finish: Covered
Maximum Overall Length - MOL (in): 1.625
Maximum Overall Length - MOL (mm): 41.275
Nominal Voltage (V): 12.00
Nominal Wattage (W): 20.00
Vertical Beam Angle (deg): 35
I'd have to agree with garnpet.
Also, what's the Kelvin rating on those bulbs? You need 5000-10,000K for adequate light.
Also, what's the Kelvin rating on those bulbs? You need 5000-10,000K for adequate light.
According to the idiot's guide the compact flourescents put out almost twice as much light as the same wattage standard flourescent so you might want to think of them as 40 watt standards.
I have 130 watts (2 x 65) on a 48 gallon tank, and I consider that just adequate for most plants, I can't however seem to keep high light plants alive. I really should have gone with the 260 watt setup.