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	Is my light fixture okay?
katieb Fish Addict Posts: 697 Votes: 69 Registered: 03-Jul-2004	I was thinking of bumping it 4wpg. I had a similer thread about planting the tank a few months back...no one mentioned needing Co2 Babel, thats a good idea. Although the fixture seems to be doing a good job of spreading the light evenly. I would also be worried the filter...its one of those Eclips Kits and everything is built in. Im having enough trouble figuring out how im going to get a heater in there =\ Edit: I was thinking of doing the more high light plants. Or i could keep my 2.6wpg and do the more moderate light plants Last edited by katieb at 07-Jul-2005 12:56 I'll do graffiti, If you sing to me in French.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
katieb Fish Addict Posts: 697 Votes: 69 Registered: 03-Jul-2004	This is a pic of the inside of the hood, there is a reflector, though im not sure how good it is. The hood does a good job of dispersing light within the tank, without wasting it IMHO. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/Katie215512/000_0423.jpg Last edited by katieb at 09-Jul-2005 18:52 I'll do graffiti, If you sing to me in French.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
czcz Hobbyist Posts: 62 Kudos: 37 Votes: 0 Registered: 24-Nov-2004	http://www.aquariumgarden.com/info.php?doc_base=articles/lights/reflector.php --- http://justanothertank.com
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
So_Very_Sneaky Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 3238 Kudos: 2272 Votes: 201 Registered: 10-Mar-2004	czcz, I solved that problem with mine by tinfoiling the entire interior surface of the hood. Worked very well. Also put a black background on to prevent light loss out the back and considering putting side backgrounds on as well. Come Play Yahtzee With Me! http://games.atari.com Http://www.myleague.com/yahtgames
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
czcz Hobbyist Posts: 62 Kudos: 37 Votes: 0 Registered: 24-Nov-2004	For those ith screw-in CFL using rated wattage for wpg calcs, don't. Guesstimate you get 50% of the light at most, because of restrike from bulb shape. Reflector of course helps, but you'll still get lots of restrike from a spiral flourescent. For example, look at how much light hits the substrate in the top tank (the light in the lower tank, 23w spiral in a desklamp, is the same in both pics, for reference): 223w spiral CFL, painted white hood as reflector 213w AH Supply bright kit, with their reflector HTH --- http://justanothertank.com
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
katieb Fish Addict Posts: 697 Votes: 69 Registered: 03-Jul-2004	Hmm i will have to check there then. I think ill stick to 3 wpg or less. If i dont hit Walmart(its in a terrible neighborhood), ill stick with my 2.6 wpg I'll do graffiti, If you sing to me in French.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
sham Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 3369 Kudos: 2782 Votes: 98 Registered: 21-Apr-2004	Walmart sells a 2 pack of 15w cf bulbs at 6500k. Perfect for my little 5g. I would suggest that. In that size tank with 3wpg you can grow just about anything you want. There aren't many plants that would need the full 4wpg or more. The 20w bulbs will fit if you unscrew the plastic shield some so it can bend enough. Last edited by sham at 07-Jul-2005 22:43
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
katieb Fish Addict Posts: 697 Votes: 69 Registered: 03-Jul-2004	I have that same type of bulb in my Eclipse and i get 2.6 wpg. Theres only room for one though Theres one on bigals looks like it will fit and will give me 4wpg. Last edited by katieb at 08-Jul-2005 12:47 I'll do graffiti, If you sing to me in French.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
So_Very_Sneaky Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 3238 Kudos: 2272 Votes: 201 Registered: 10-Mar-2004	Hi Sorry, i didnt notice it was an eclipse. I assumed she was talkin about a regular incandescent hood. my 10g hood is incandescent and i put in compact spirals. Katie i am not talking about incandescent bulbs, but compact flourescent spirals that screw in. I use 2 23w bulbs like this in my hood giving 46 watts or 4.6 wpg nominally. Heres a pic: [/font] Come Play Yahtzee With Me! http://games.atari.com Http://www.myleague.com/yahtgames
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
katieb Fish Addict Posts: 697 Votes: 69 Registered: 03-Jul-2004	Hmmm should i just stick to less than 3wpg or can i keep my oto in there? I was thinking of moving him to the bigger tank i want or returning him the LFS. I feel bad as he is the lone oto in the tank. I'll do graffiti, If you sing to me in French.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
mattyboombatty Moderator Tenellus Obsessor Posts: 2790 Kudos: 1507 Votes: 1301 Registered: 26-Mar-2004	High light tanks @ ~3WPG generally need CO2 to fend off algae. Carbon is a nutrient needed by plants for good growth, and without enough of it at high light an imbalance tends to give algae the edge to take over. Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
katieb Fish Addict Posts: 697 Votes: 69 Registered: 03-Jul-2004	I have a 15 watt incandescent light fixture on my Eclipse 5 gal hex. Can i screw in any flourescent light or do i have to stay under 15 watts? ETA: I think Im okay. I was worried about ballast, but the bulbs are self ballast. So i think i am in the clear. Last edited by katieb at 06-Jul-2005 22:38 I'll do graffiti, If you sing to me in French.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
LITTLE_FISH *** Little Fish *** Master of Something Posts: 7303 Kudos: 1997 Votes: 670 Registered: 20-May-2005	Ok, got it But, why would you want to add even more light? Isn't 2.6 WPG a range where you would have to start to add CO2 in order to achieve any improvements? If you double it up, you have 5.2 WPG What are you going to do with soooo much light? :88) :88) :88) Ingo Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
Babelfish Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003	When we do the wpg rule we use florescent watts not incandescent watts. So with a 13 watt CF you'll have 2.6wpg. If you have the ability to do 2 bulbs that would be better (spread the light out more...and more light as well :88)). You might be able to find an adapter in your local DIY or home improvement store that you screw in to the socket and it allows for two bulbs to be screwed into it...although I could be immagining that such an adapter exists . ^_^[hr width='40%'] Only 13 dives and they're already calling [link=me]http://babelfish.qwertydigital.com/" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link] a [/font]
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
katieb Fish Addict Posts: 697 Votes: 69 Registered: 03-Jul-2004	The light fixture is for 15 watt incandescent, the bulb is actually 13 watt flourescent. I should have included that in the original post:%) Katie I'll do graffiti, If you sing to me in French.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
LITTLE_FISH *** Little Fish *** Master of Something Posts: 7303 Kudos: 1997 Votes: 670 Registered: 20-May-2005	katie, I am confused :%) I have a 15 watt incandescent light fixture on my Eclipse 5 gal hex 15W / 5G = 3WPG What am I missing? Ingo Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
katieb Fish Addict Posts: 697 Votes: 69 Registered: 03-Jul-2004	Ive never seen a 15 watt light bulb, but there is a 20 watt on bigal's. It looks pretty thin and not too long, so it could fit. If not Im sure theres a bulb that will give me decent wattage. Right now i have 2wpg. I'll do graffiti, If you sing to me in French.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
Darth Vader Big Fish Posts: 338 Kudos: 334 Votes: 35 Registered: 05-May-2005	i'd say the lighting fixture is OK
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
LITTLE_FISH *** Little Fish *** Master of Something Posts: 7303 Kudos: 1997 Votes: 670 Registered: 20-May-2005	That is interesting, sneaky_pete, doesn’t the Eclipse 5G have only one fixture for lights? How did you manage to put 2 in there? Now, let’s assume you add more wattage, what are you going to do with it? 15W gives you already 3WPG. If you add more light, are you going to add CO2 as well? I would suggest to leave it as is, but that’s only my opinion. Ingo Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
So_Very_Sneaky Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 3238 Kudos: 2272 Votes: 201 Registered: 10-Mar-2004	i would go for 2 13 watt spirals Katie that would do you just fine However, I have the super compact ones and use 23 watt in mine lol Come Play Yahtzee With Me! http://games.atari.com Http://www.myleague.com/yahtgames
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:43
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