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I am clueless about regular fluorescent bulbs. I can't tell how many watts they are and Big Al's and Drs F&S don't say...on the particular fixtures I'm looking at.

I am looking for a fixture for my 38g tank. It is 36 inches long. I want only low-medium light...maybe 1.5wpg.

I was looking at the All-Glass fixtures...like this one:
here

Can anyone tell me how maybe watts the bulbs would be?

It says it takes T-8, T-10, and T-12 bulbs...how many watts are each?

Also would it be totally stupid to get a 48in fixture? I guess it would look weird.

Thanks!

(Frank...you could definitely answer my question..since you are the lighting expert!)/:'

*Kristin*

Hi,
First, the "T" number is the number of 1/8s of an inch
the bulb is in diameter. Ie the T-8 is 8 1/8s of an inch
(1 inch) in diameter. The T-5 is only 5/8 of an inch in
diameter.


They don't say what the wattage of the bulbs is because
T8 & 12 bulbs only come rated at 40 watts each bulb.

Using the Drs FosterSmith catalog (K=2305/1039) I find:
For that (figure 40G tank) that is 36 inches long,
there are a couple of ways you can go.
If you opt to use the standard T-8 bulbs, you can use
a two light hood that would give you a total of
80 watts (a tad over 2 wpg) that sells for 77.99 in
oak trim or 77.99 in black (Part nrs VT-930754, VT-930650
respectively).

Or, you could go with a compact flourscent hood with a
single 96 watt bulb for 99.99 part nr VT-14065. That would
give you a quality hood and great bulb and 2.5 wpg with one
bulb.
If you went with a two bulb CF hood it would give you
5 wpg with which you could grow anything. The two bulb hood
sells for 209.99 part nr VT-140068


You don't say what your goal is for the tank. You would
want to decide what plants you would like to have thrive
in the tank, and then get the lighting system that would
accomplish that. If you stick with low to medium light
demand plants, then the two bulb mentioned above would be
fine. The light is sufficiant to grow all the low light
plants and most of the medium light plants.

IF you stay with low light and some medium light plants
you do not NEED to use CO2 injection. However, if you
go to the high light demand plants, such as some of the
"red" plants, then you will have to exceed 3+ wpg for them
to thrive AND you will need to use injected CO2 to sustain
them.

When you place your order, I would get bulbs that are
6700K or near it, no higher than 8800K and no lower than
6000K.

Hope that helps...
Frank


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

Thanks Frank...that helps alot! I knew you had explained the different "T" bulbs several times, but I couldn't find any of the posts when I searched.

The light is sufficient to grow all the low light
plants and most of the medium light plants.

That's what I'm aiming for...low light plants and most of the mediums.
I really want around 1.5-2wpg. I want it to be low tech, so no CO2 and really no ferts (maybe a little Excel and Flourish).

I think I'll go with the 80w fixture. I don't want to plant the tank heavily...but I don't want so much light that I'll have tons of algae if I don't plant it good. Its going to be a tank for my mean opaline gourami...so he'll stop torturing my neons. Its just something I'll setup in a few months...not something I really planned on doing.

*Kristin*

As soon as I read the question I thought Frank would be the perfect person to answer it for you. My reply would have been to contact him.

I can see by now you you have all the correct infomation.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos


Keith

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