Lighting question

[Gramazing]

A few months ago I bought 2 fluoro tubes for my 55g. I have since thrown out the cardboard they came in so I was wondering of anyone could identify them? Printed on the tube it says " Flora Sun" also "Zoo Med", "Max plant growth" and "F17 T8". They're made in Germany.

I'm wondering what this would be in watts per gallon for my tank. Anyone know?

[gadget228]

Think these are the bulbs that your asking about,

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F17 is the wattage 2 x 17 = 34 watts
T-8 is the bulb size
Zoo med is the brand and Flora Sun is the output, 5000K

Rough output is 3/4 watt to gallon.

[Gramazing]

That's not much, is it?

That might be why my plants don't do so well. Damn it looks like the fish are under a spotlight.

[lowlight]

I believe Life-glow is the bulb you might want. I don't know how long your light fixtures are but the Life-glow bulbs are rated at 6700K.

[Gramazing]

I believe Life-glow is the bulb you might want. I don't know how long your light fixtures are but the Life-glow bulbs are rated at 6700K.
I don't get it. The printing on the tube says it's for growing plants.

Let's cut to the chase. How many Watts and what K rating do I need for a 55 gallon tank with beginners plants in it? Java Moss, dwarf grass, water lettuce, that sort of thing.

[gadget228]

I'm in the same boat as you, My light says it for aquariums and plants but it is too weak ( single 24" 17watt on a 36" tank, cheap GE bulb )

Different plants have different requirements and this site breaks them down into categories so you can see how much light you need,

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[Gramazing]

I'm in the same boat as you, My light says it for aquariums and plants but it is too weak ( single 24" 17watt on a 36" tank, cheap GE bulb )

Different plants have different requirements and this site breaks them down into categories so you can see how much light you need,

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Ah my brain hurts. That chart only says lighting requirements as Low through to Very High. What does that mean in terms of watts per gallon? It seems from my reading that decent minimal lighting should be 1.5 watts per gallon.

And what really steams me is why do they sell fluoro tubes for "Max plant growth" and they are only 17 watts? If they are 17 watts and 24 inches long wouldn't they be no good for anything larger than 20 gallons unless you had four of them? If that is the case why don't they just put this information on the packaging?

[Sharkman]

companies are all always trying to trick us. 1.0-1.5 watts per gallon is considered low and the plants you have should grow at a moderate rate with that lighting. Anything higher onto maybe 2.5 watts per gallon becomes mid lighting. If you bought it at home depot, lowes, etc those bulbs will not suffice for that size tank. You will likely need to order a new light fixture for plants to grow. If you don't have any fish that jump you could remove your top and make a DIY lighting set up where some shop lights hang over the tank.

[Gramazing]

But I'm going to need either 4 x 24" tubes or 2 x 48", aren't I?

I have a 55g tank. That means for 1.5 watts per gallon, the absolute bare minimum, I will need 82.5 watts of lighting (55 x 1.5 = 82.5). That will mean 2 fluoro tubes 48" long of 42 watts each (rounded up), or 4 x 24" tubes of 21 watts each. In reality I will want a bit more than this. Like you say, I will need a new light fixture. Am I calculating this correctly?

The tubes I bought though, they are from the LFS and not from Home Depot/Lowes. I went there to get specific tubes for aquariums and they cost me about 10 bucks each, and apparently now they're no good unless I get a fixture that will take 4 of them.

[Sharkman]

yea many LFS don't carry good light bulbs. Mine is terrible and you can't ask theme ither because they don't know.

[rich311k]

Get a 110 watt T-5 48" fixture. You should be able to find one around 100.00. it will do a great job.

A shoplight from Home Depot is another option.

[Gramazing]

Thanks. I will go to Lowes in the next couple of days, armed with my Kelvin information and all that crap.

Er... what is the difference exactly between T5 and T8? I thought it was just size but apparently not.

[rich311k]

It is size, T-5 are also more efficient.

[Gramazing]

It is size, T-5 are also more efficient.

These Flora Sun tubes are really small in diameter. I just got out the old ones that I replaced with the Flora Suns, and the're rated at 20 watt! So they are stronger than the ones I bought to replace them. I suspect they're just cheapie fluoros though, not made for plants. "Radionic" F20T10 AQ 20 watt.

There's a hydroponics store on the other side of town. I might check them out.

[domjd05]

I only use home depot as an example because thats the closest store to me with these kinds of products, BUT..

The plant/aquarium bulbs commonly found in stores really aren't adequate, you'll probably grow more algae than plants.

for your 55g, you can find some 4' fluorescent light strips with 2x40w bulbs, at home depot for $19 each.

And they also happen to sell 4' 6500k bulbs for around $8 for a pack of 2.

A single one of these strips would give you 80watts for roughly $30, pretty close to what you were looking for wasn't it?

I'd say the only "catch" is the only strips I found were rated for "40watts per bulb" were the T12, which are larger in diameter than the t8's, but I use them, and have had great luck with them.

If you must use a T8 or T5, the wattage output per bulb drops to about 36w per bulb I believe...

[Gramazing]

This would be the right tube, yes? Is 3100K right?

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Now I just need something to put it in.

[domjd05]

3100k will probably grow lots of algae, 6000-7000k is best for growing plants

[Gramazing]

3100k will probably grow lots of algae, 6000-7000k is best for growing plantsApparently 6400K is daylight.

Hmmm... when I look at this page:

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...this guy got his best results with that GE tube. But then he wasn't shining it through a foot of water; I guess that filters out certain wavelengths.

[lowlight]

Yes, 6400K is daylight supposedly at high noon. If you use a fixture from the home improvement store a T-8 will fit a T-12 fixture providing the ballast is rated for it. If not then a T-8 ballast can be had for around $12.00 and easily changed.

[Gramazing]

So: I just got back form Lowes, bought a shop light and 2 T12 40Watt Daylight tubes 6500K. Total price: $18. The bloody Flora Sun tubes on their own cost me more than that and they're not even what I need!

It's butt ugly at the moment though (see pics). I will try taking out the 24" strips from my hood and see if I can fit shop light in. If not I will have to make a little cover for it, including something for it to rest on because otherwise it would rest on the tubes.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]You can see I have it sitting on some bits of wood ATM.

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[Gramazing]

I have to say it looks much different to the other tubes (I can't say "bulbs". They ain't bulbs! :lol: Bulbs are bulb-shaped. Imagine trying to plant one of those things in your garden!) These ones look much greener. From what I have read the green spectrum is what the plants use the least. But I think it's just a matter of my eyes adjusting to it.

[lowlight]

I have that same fixture and I am going to put a T-8 ballast in it and make a cover for the fixture so as much light as possible gets in the tank. I don't want to see light outside the tank anyway. Nice tank by the way.

[Gramazing]

I have that same fixture and I am going to put a T-8 ballast in it and make a cover for the fixture so as much light as possible gets in the tank. I don't want to see light outside the tank anyway. Nice tank by the way.
I have some aluminum flashing that I will try to fashion into a reflector to put up inside the fixture. I think it might be more reflective being silver, and it might increase the surface area too, as the reflector of this shoplight doesn't go very far around the tubes.

[gadget228]

Any chance you still have the box the light came in ? I keep checking my local Lowe's for lights and they never have what I'm looking for, if you have the item number which should be on the box or the receipt maybe I can get them to look it up for me.

[Gramazing]

I have the box at home and will post the details tonight.

[gadget228]

Thanks, will check back later.

[Gramazing]

The shop light brand is called "Utilitech" "4ft 2 light shop light". I can't find the receipt, sorry, but the item number on the box is #0245536. The model number is #NXU-6000. I don't know if Lowes uses these numbers.

Edit: I *can* find the receipt! The sales docket says:

" 245536 (148260) 4' 2-LGHT $9.74 "

[gadget228]

Thanks, It's not listed online but thats not surprising, I have to go to town today and will check my local store.

[Gramazing]

I noticed that too. You might want to call them first, maybe not every Lowes has one.

[domjd05]

6500k is hign noon daylight, and is of the yellow end of the kelvin spectrum, it is a bit different than the typical bluish aquarium bulbs.

While your into DIY lighting, you might as well make a DIY canopy to cover up the light fixture!

[Gramazing]

6500k is hign noon daylight, and is of the yellow end of the kelvin spectrum, it is a bit different than the typical bluish aquarium bulbs.

While your into DIY lighting, you might as well make a DIY canopy to cover up the light fixture!

Yes, I'll have to! It won't fit into my old hood. Luckily I have a very well equipped workshop at my workplace.

[domjd05]

I just finished making my own not too long ago, I attached my light fixture to the canopy itself to free up the top of my tank.. If you go to my journal section you'll see my 125g journal will all I've done to it.

I don't think I'd ever have a tank without a canopy now.. when I see one without one it just looks like somethings missing!

[Gramazing]

I saw that, it looks nice. That's a good idea to have two of the lights fold up like that.