Interfecus Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 My light bulb just stuffed up, emitting very little light. I figure its just due to the fact that the bulb is really old. Please could people suggest places in or very near to Wellington where I could get a replacement bulb. Are they more expensive in pet shops than specialised lighting stores? Also, I'm about to install new lighting underneath some shelves with my fish tanks underneath. Anybody know where I can find flourescent lighting encaps? Normal light fixtures would also be fine to install those flourescent light bulbs that curve around and fit into a normal socket. Any advice would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 What sort of bulb were you using? They recommend changing fluorescents on tanks every 6 months but I never do as I can't afford to do so. I often use those short fluorescents that fit an ordinary socket. They work well. I always buy daylight or bright white tubes from a wholesaler so can't tell you whether pet shops are more expensive than lighting shops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldie Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 on one of my tanks I have the caps that fit over the ends of the flourescent tubes. These caps are flexible and will fit any length tube ......large or small. They can be bought at most pet shops and probably at most lighting shops. The tubes fit into clips which I have screwed in the tank hood ......... clips were specifically made for the job. I am the least technical person you will find and so everything HAD TO be simple Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 Interfecus, try a place in Petone called Lamp Specialists(Or similar to that) They should have just about everything you need. They seem better than the general lighting places because they're more tradesman oriented, I think. You'll have to find it in the phonebook, I can't remember the address. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Interfecus Posted January 20, 2003 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 Thanks for the advice, I'll look up that petone lighting store and check at the local pet shops. One of those flexible encap things might be useful as well, to allow lighting upgrades with different bulb sizes as well, I'll have a look for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 Pet shops are way more expensive if you know where to shop and have access to lighting at trade prices. I've seen Triton 5' 58W daylight tubes for sale in pet shops for $60-75 each. While some people are failry happy to pay this amount, I'm not. For non-planted tanks I use Philips or Sylvania TLD86 lamps at about $4.50 each and for planted tanks I use Philips TLD96 at about $20.00 each. The TLD96 is a full spectrum 6500K daylight tube with very high colour rendering capabilities. It makes my plants grow very well (100mm / day on Cabomba and 1 full sized new leaf every 2 days on Echinodorus osiris). Its best to shop around. Pet shops have to make a buck too at the end of the day, but keep in mind, buying retail and through a chain that has many more resellers in the link will enevitably push the price up. If you can access trade + discount through a friend or relation it is certainly worth it. I'm lucky to be in the electrical / electronics industry so have easy access to these items at good prices. That why I don't mind replacing the 8 x 58W fluro's on my planted tank every 6 months. I suggest you try somewhere like Mastertrade (if there is one in your area) and try to find someone who can get the lights at trade price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kellz Posted January 21, 2003 Report Share Posted January 21, 2003 Pet shops diff more expensive... my Mum just brought me a 59cm Aqua glow and it cost 21.95 I brought another from a diff pet shop same one and it was 17.95 The store in Petone is great for prices if you can get there which I couldnt these times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajbroome Posted January 21, 2003 Report Share Posted January 21, 2003 Interfecus said... > ... . Please could people suggest places in or very near to > Wellington where I could get a replacement bulb. Are they > more expensive in pet shops than specialised lighting stores? > Also, I'm about to install new lighting underneath some shelves > with my fish tanks underneath. Anybody know where I can find > flourescent lighting encaps? Try these people: http://www.ideal.co.nz/public/branch.asp?ar=wellington I bought a double 3ft fluoro fitting, with reflector and tubes (cool whites) for under $100 on saturday. They stock all manner of fittings, tubes etc and can quickly order in stuff they don't have on hand. They were happy to sell to the public. All I have to do is wire in a power lead with plug. I also bought other tubes and starters from them at the same time. 4ft cool white tubes were $10 and 4ft grolux $20 approx. Andrew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted January 21, 2003 Report Share Posted January 21, 2003 I too have been down the lighting trail. The most important thing to remeber is the Kelvin rating. 6500K is about right, but then it doesn't hurt to mix and match them around. I use the Sylvania GRO LUX (4ft $25.00), and the Phillips 'cool white' 4500K and the 1800K AQUA GROW (4ft $30.00). This gives me excellent plant growth and good economy as well as a nice 'daylight' effect, with the light being 'white' NOT green, yellow or pink. Remeber that these tubes loose most of there power after 6-9 months and are noticably less bright after about 6 weeks. So replace the often. I have 5 tubes on my 4ft tank and replace one of them every 2-3 months. I good place to get reasonable priced equipment is The Switched On Gradner at www.sog.co.nz. It is a hydroponic gardening (growing those 5 leaved plants) outfit with excellent prices on lights, pumps & timers etc. Also a good option if you want to drop your fluros and go down the Metal Halide route. On this note, anyone out there using the Metal Halide lights for freshwater? If so drop me a line, would love to pick your brain. Pies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted January 22, 2003 Report Share Posted January 22, 2003 Ohhhh BTW the cool white philips tubes are 4500K and about $6 for a 4 ft. The light the emit is not that 'white' though, its yellow/pink so needs to be ballanced with some white. Pies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted January 22, 2003 Report Share Posted January 22, 2003 The Philips TLD86 and TLD96 are both 6500K daylight tubes. They are very white in colour and also very intense when you look directly at the tube. They have a higher lumens per what than most other standard 58W tubes also. If you only want to use 1 type, I've found it to be the best. You get a white daylight colour and excellent plant growth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Interfecus Posted January 22, 2003 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2003 Thanks for this extra advice. I've bought a new bulb to replace the old one but will have more choice in bulbs when I build my new system and can choose the bulb size myself. I've bought a power-glo 20 watt, 24 inch bulb, 18000K, at $28. I'll be setting up the new lighting in a while when I can afford it and would appreciate suggestions for doing this as cheaply as possible while still getting a good result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted January 22, 2003 Report Share Posted January 22, 2003 I will buy a few of those tubes Warren and check em out. What should I expect to pay for 4t tubes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted January 22, 2003 Report Share Posted January 22, 2003 If you can get them at trade with a bit of discount, they should be about $4.50-5.00 each for TLD86 and $20.00-22.00 for TLD96. If you have to buy them retail, you'll pay about $11.00-12.00 each for TLD86 and about $38.00-40.00 each for TLD96. The TLD96 is much better and I've found it to be better for plant growth than any top-dollar pet shop tube available readily in NZ. If you look at the specs for top-quality aquarium tubes, they are very similar to the TLD86 and TLD96. The TLD96 has a broader spectrum and higher lumens per watt however. The TLD86 is about the same quality as a good aquarium tube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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