Spiral CFL bulbs

[ryann]

How many 60W spiral CFL bulbs are needed for low light plants? The tank is a 40G breeder. 16" high

[smaug]

If you have very good polished replectors and the correct k rate bulbs[5500 to 10000k] then maybe 2 of them would do it. If no decent reflectors are used the as many as 4.

[pjaldave]

wait, 60w? I think it's better for you to use T5-HO instead of 4 60w ccfls. That's 240w of lighting in one tank... I think it's a bit overkill, is it not?

I think you can have 2-4 of the 25w instead of the 60w.

[smaug]

wait, 60w? I think it's better for you to use T5-HO instead of 4 60w ccfls. That's 240w of lighting in one tank... I think it's a bit overkill, is it not?

I think you can have 2-4 of the 25w instead of the 60w.
The output of common twisty cfl is not as bright as t5 of straight power compacts. If no reflectors are used then not even 50% of that light is going to be usable.

[ryann]

T5HO is just too expensive where I can get a pack of 2 of these 60 watt CFL bulbs for $8 and the clamp on fixture for another 5. I didn't see any of the 25w at lowe's when I was there. The bulbs are 6500K though, so I have the right spectrum for plant growth.

So do you think 3 or 4 would be better off. I hate to say it but T5HO is most likely out of the question.

[Cliff]

I used two cheap spot light fixtures from home depot and two CFL plant bulbs which I beleive were the 24 watt, 6500 or 6700K bulbs on a 33 gallon tank. It gives what I would call low lighting levels.

http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Cliff%20fish%20tank%20pics/Dadstank2.jpg

[Lady Hobbs]

I have two clamp-on's over my 29 planted tank like Cliff has shown but I got the smaller ones since my tank is smaller. (obviously) One light has the curlie 60 watt bulb in it and the other holds a Phillips plant light 75 watt.


The plant light looks like this.


http://a248.e.akamai.net/origin-cdn.volusion.com/aurcx.dulqm/v/vspfiles/photos/1002-5047-2T.jpg?1315864865

[ryann]

Would 2 or 3 of the curly 60 watt bulbs work or is that plant light necessary?They will be on top of the tank, not hung above like in Cliff's picture.

[pjaldave]

I'm not sure, really. But thinking money-wise long term, i think you're better of with 2 24-watt T5-HOs (total of 48w) instead of 4 60w (total of 240w). Just saying :22:

Initial costs might be a lot different and i know that ccfls are cheaper, but in the long run, t5-hos are better.

[genocidex]

For some reason im thinking its a 60 watt incandceant equivilant. Those use 18w of power and the 100w equiv use 23w of power...... At 60 watts used (not equiv) that would be like 300w incandcent bulb.....

[Lady Hobbs]

Because they are. They're nothing more than a light bulb you put in a lamp.

[genocidex]

i meant i think they are talking about the wattage of bulb they are replacing, because pjaldave said the power consumption is bad. i was just bringing up the bulbs most likely only consume 18w of power not 60

[smaug]

geno is right. a 60 w twisty means its the equiv of a 60 w incan,
dave is thinking that the op would have the equiv of 240 watts of useful light,he is not right.
All that aside,the op is set on using twistys and has lready stated that t5s are out of the question,no point in bring t5 units up is it?:hmm3grin2orange:
So to reitterate [sp] .Yes 3 or 4 twistys will do what you need,

[Cliff]

+1 to Smaug

I would try three, if that is not enough, add another

[ryann]

Thanks for the advice. I'll try 3 and if that isn't enough go 4.

[pjaldave]

I do hope i was wrong there. I knew there was these 60w equivalent to incandescent, but i thought OP was telling about those plants lights like what LH has and they do have 60w.

Now, I fully support those CCFLs if they're the 18-25 watts instead of being 60w ccfl.

Thanks for clearing that up!

smaug - i was just giving him a heads up if he will actually be using 60 watts ccfls instead of the 24 watts t5-ho. Big difference on electric bill, ya know? :14: