Have a lighting Question

[indigobluetc]

I have a 20L frag tank that i put together about a month or 2 ago. I am just not satisfied with the light on it. I currently have 3 fluorescent lights on it. I have 2 40w 24" lights one 18,000k and one actnic, then I have a 24" 20w 18,000k. My question is all light are in DIY fixtures. Would a reflector make that big of a diff for the light? Would a single or individual one be better?

 

[ibew41]

individual reflectors will be alot better

 

[mikeu]

Individual reflectors would work better. You might also consider replacing the actinic with a bulb that will give you more PAR. The actinic isn't really going to benefit any growth.

 

[indigobluetc]

Will reflectors really help fluorescent lights? What kind of light would you suggest instead of the actinic?

 

[mr_x]

reflectors help direct light towards the tank, no matter which bulb you are using.
i would replace the 18k bulbs with 10k bulbs, and leave the actinic alone.

 

[indigobluetc]

Where can you get 10k 24" bulbs at? Have not seen them anywhere.. Also why would you replace it? Just wandering..

 

[mikeu]

If the frag tank is going to be used to "grow out" frags, actinics aren't really going to help in the growing out process. In my frag tanks, I run 6700 and 10k bulbs to get the most growth.

 

[indigobluetc]

Ok well where can I get some 24" 10k's?

 

[mr_x]

when you have a frag tank, you are growing out these frags in order to sell them, right? you are not growing the frags to put back in your display. these frags will have to look good to the perspective buyer. that's where the actinic lamp comes in.
people don't want to hear "don't worry, it's going to color up just like the other one".
an actinic lamp is important on a frag tank.

 

[indigobluetc]

Well a lot of these are for my self. I started this tank since people were giving me frags and I didnt have a tank for them. My puffer would of ate them all! LOL.. So as of now all of these will be going in mt DT once it is all done and ready. Also where can I get these 10k bulbs you speak of?

 

[indigobluetc]

So I found a mylar sheet that an old light fixture had on it and made individual reflectors for the 2 18k bulbs.. And I added a I believe to be a 6700k and took the actinic off.. I am keeping all of these at the moment so I dont need to please buyers. I will just put the actinic back on for pics.. Sound better? Or?

 

[mr_x]

what type and wattage are the bulbs you are speaking of exactly?

 

[indigobluetc]

Well the 2 18k's are Power-Glo they are 24" 20w but both are over driven to 40w. The other is a Life-Glo 2 6700k 24" 20w. I too my actinic off but found a 2 bulb 20w ballast a bit ago so thinking of making a 2 light 20w fixture 2morrow.. SO I would have 2x20w actinic and 6700k and 2x40w 18k..

 

[indigobluetc]

So new question.. Whats the diff between reg fluorescents and T5's? I mean for example the 4 bulbs I have now total 120w, 4 T5's @ 24" would be 96w. So the over all w are lower but would it make that much difference?

 

[mr_x]

if the t-5's have individual reflectors, they will penetrate the water much better than the pc's.
i'm still fuzzy on what kind of lighting you have presently. are you running power compacts or non HO t-5's?

 

[indigobluetc]

I have regular fluorescents. The kind that are big I think t8.. Could be wrong on that tho.. They are just standard fist tank lights.. but they are in the 18,000k color range..

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by indigobluetc
http:///forum/post/2733206
I have regular fluorescents. The kind that are big I think t8.. Could be wrong on that tho.. They are just standard fist tank lights.. but they are in the 18,000k color range..
I'm guessing that you're using T-12. If the frag tank is just for yourself just get some GE Ultradaylight bulbs and continue to overdrive them. Actinics are fine but if you don't care what the grow-out tank looks like they're slightly less efficient than daylight bulbs.
The powerglow is useless, Definately replace it with something else.
Like everyone else said, individual reflectors are best but any reflector is better than no reflector.

 

[indigobluetc]

Just curious why are the powerglo's useless? Are the GE Ultradaylight the 6500k? If I remember correctly that powerglos are cheaper then the GE Ultradaylight. Whats the advantage of using them? Sorry for all the questions.

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by indigobluetc
http:///forum/post/2733319
Just curious why are the powerglo's useless? Are the GE Ultradaylight the 6500k? If I remember correctly that powerglos are cheaper then the GE Ultradaylight. Whats the advantage of using them? Sorry for all the questions.
The only advantage is that they produce more usable light than the powerglows.

 

[indigobluetc]

SO the 6500k lights would be better for them corals then the 18k's?