Aquarium lights

"Lilly" wrote in message
om...
The best lighting I've EVER used is the compact flourescent lighting
from AH Supply, http://www.ahsupply.com. Good color rendition, and
because they are CF's, they use about 1/3 less energy than your
typical T-12 style flourescent. I think, but I'm not certain, that
they are even more energy efficient than the T-8's (anybody?).

The bulbs last forever too. The ones I have are about 4 years old and
still going strong.

Lilly

Kay wrote in message
om...
Its fluorescent.

Kay

Hi Lilly,

I have the AHSupply kit too ( 4x36). Although the bulbs may still be working
four years later, I don't believe they have the same light output. Since the
output decreased gradually, you probably did not notice. I believe the
recommendation is to change your bulbs about once a year.

Hi Bill,

What I have read is that after the intial drop off (all lighting does
this BTW), they stay relatively constant in their output until they
fail. There are people on the Aquatic Plants list that use them until
they don't light anymore. There is even one plant guru, Tom Barr, who
will take ALL CFs that people are tossing that still work even if they
are a couple of years old! Of course you could relamp every year, but
why would you if they still do the job?

It's hard to get used to the idea of not relamping every 6-12 months.
That was one of the factors that swayed me to the CF side, relamping 4
T12's at $7-10/each twice a year was getting pretty expensive. The
fact they use 1/3 less electricity, well that was the icing on the
cake. Relamping every 6-12 months is good practice with T8s and T12s,
but NOT necessary with the setups from AH Supply. I am still getting
great plant growth, even light hungry plants do well. If you are
growing plants with lower light requirements, like Java Fern or Val,
then it's really not necessary.

Lilly

"Bill Stock" wrote in message ...
I have the AHSupply kit too ( 4x36). Although the bulbs may still be working
four years later, I don't believe they have the same light output. Since the
output decreased gradually, you probably did not notice. I believe the
recommendation is to change your bulbs about once a year.

"Lilly" wrote in message
om...
Hi Bill,

What I have read is that after the intial drop off (all lighting does
this BTW), they stay relatively constant in their output until they
fail. There are people on the Aquatic Plants list that use them until
they don't light anymore. There is even one plant guru, Tom Barr, who
will take ALL CFs that people are tossing that still work even if they
are a couple of years old! Of course you could relamp every year, but
why would you if they still do the job?

It's hard to get used to the idea of not relamping every 6-12 months.
That was one of the factors that swayed me to the CF side, relamping 4
T12's at $7-10/each twice a year was getting pretty expensive. The
fact they use 1/3 less electricity, well that was the icing on the
cake. Relamping every 6-12 months is good practice with T8s and T12s,
but NOT necessary with the setups from AH Supply. I am still getting
great plant growth, even light hungry plants do well. If you are
growing plants with lower light requirements, like Java Fern or Val,
then it's really not necessary.

Lilly

Thanks Lilly,

I had not heard this. I did not plan to relamp in any event, cheap *******
that I am. My new (another tank) canopy will be T8s though (shoplights), but
the bulbs were only $4 CDN. So relamping won't be a huge cost.

I have the same setup. 20 gal planted tank with 1x15watt tube over it, I
had slow plant growth and poor colors in the leaves. After adding a 2nd 15
watt strip light over it, my plants took off and color much improved. I am
currently very happy with the tank and regularly have to prune the plants to
stop the overgrowth.

Phil..

"Donald K" wrote in message
...
Szaki wrote:

My 20 gallon only has 15W ligth right now, what I read shouldbe at
least 2W / gallon for low light plants.
I think 15W is not enough.

Julius

If your fish are anything like mine they will find your efforts
wonderful.

Wonderfully tasty that is... ;-)

-Donald
--
"One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem,
see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable
words." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I think, that's my problem too. I have to add more light.
Only have one 15W strip.
Julius


"Phil Williamson" wrote in message
...
I have the same setup. 20 gal planted tank with 1x15watt tube over it, I
had slow plant growth and poor colors in the leaves. After adding a 2nd
15
watt strip light over it, my plants took off and color much improved. I
am
currently very happy with the tank and regularly have to prune the plants
to
stop the overgrowth.

Phil..

"Donald K" wrote in message
...
Szaki wrote:

My 20 gallon only has 15W ligth right now, what I read shouldbe at
least 2W / gallon for low light plants.
I think 15W is not enough.

Julius

If your fish are anything like mine they will find your efforts
wonderful.

Wonderfully tasty that is... ;-)

-Donald
--
"One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem,
see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable
words." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Give it a shot. I found the 2nd strip made a world of difference..

"Szaki" wrote in message
news:Jhc8d.199422$3l3.7588@attbi_s03...
I think, that's my problem too. I have to add more light.
Only have one 15W strip.
Julius


"Phil Williamson" wrote in message
...
I have the same setup. 20 gal planted tank with 1x15watt tube over it,
I
had slow plant growth and poor colors in the leaves. After adding a 2nd
15
watt strip light over it, my plants took off and color much improved. I
am
currently very happy with the tank and regularly have to prune the
plants
to
stop the overgrowth.

Phil..

"Donald K" wrote in message
...
Szaki wrote:

My 20 gallon only has 15W ligth right now, what I read shouldbe at
least 2W / gallon for low light plants.
I think 15W is not enough.

Julius

If your fish are anything like mine they will find your efforts
wonderful.

Wonderfully tasty that is... ;-)

-Donald
--
"One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good
poem,
see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few
reasonable
words." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Aquarium lights can select one of the most exciting experiences, to maintain an aquarium, next to the selection and care of fish. This is because you can be creative, you can in this regard. You can set the lights you want, however, according to their preferences and creativity.

Choose the right aquarium lighting is very different from the lighting of your home. At home, you may only buy a light bulb for fixture, put it in place, walking on the road. Your best choice is overhead lighting and lamps, and traditional incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent lamps.