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http://www.firstlightdirect.com/pp/Fluorescent_Tubes_T5_16mm_Diameter/849mm_Fluorescent_Tubes_16mm_Dia/39Watt_T5_Fluorescent_Tubes_16mm_Dia_Daylight_865.html

cheers

Karl

www.blooming-brilliant.co.uk

What are the tubes being used for? Are they just for general lighting of the aquarium or is the aquarium going to have live plants? What is the size of the aquarium? Is it a fresh water or salt water set up? Need some additional information from you before a answer can be rendered.

Jim


Sorry Karl, I didn't read the entire subject line. Obviously for a planted tank. The size of the tank would still be relevant along with what type of plants are you going to have? As what their needs are would determine the amount of lighting you would need to supply.

---

Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

at the moment i have 4 39W T5 with 14000K which is to hot for plants so i want replacements and was wondering if these bulbs would be ok,

or a couple of these bulbs and i'll get a couple of aquarium spec plants bulbs - just these are alot cheaper.

cheers Karl;

www.blooming-brilliant.co.uk

Hi,
Yes, any bulb labeled as "Daylight" or "Sunlight" is
fine for planted tanks. They are usually rated at
6700K.

To figure out your watts per gallon (WPG) you take the
total wattage of the bulbs over the tank and divide that
by the capacity of the tank. Thus one of the 39 watt
bulbs would be 3.9wpg over a 10G tank, 2.6 over a 15G tank,
and 1.95 over a 20G tank, etc.

Choose your plants so that you have enough light for them.
By that I mean purchase low light plants if your wpg is
1-1.5, medium light plants if you have 2-2.5 and high light
plants if you can furnish more than 3+ wpg. Low light
plants will do fine in medium and high light tanks, but
the other way will not work, that is high light plants will
not survive, as a rule, in a low light tank.

Frank



-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

thanks frank.

i've got 4 39W over a 72G (US) with cryto, vals jave fern etc. mostly low light.

www.blooming-brilliant.co.uk

Hi,
That's a "tad" over 2wpg and low and some medium light
plants will do fine. I'd be concerned about the Val,
as it generally "likes" a little higher. The Crypts
should be fine and thrive.

If your tank (72G) is a "tall" tank, that is 2 feet
deep, then you might want to consider using 10,000K
bulbs. As you go higher in the temperature rating (K)
the light contains more of the blue spectrum which
will penetrate the water to the substrate with more
energy. (It's dissipated less by depth than the red end.)
14K could be the reason why the Val is thriving with
just 2 wpg, more of the light is getting to it.

"Standard" or "Show" or "Long" tanks are generally less
than 2 feet deep and bulbs that are 6700K are perfect for
them(IMO).

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--