Caper Posted September 14, 2005 Report Share Posted September 14, 2005 I hope I am posting this in the correct forum :oops: forgive me if I am not My 10 gallon tank has 2 incadescent lights, when I was in Halifax a couple of months ago the guy in the pet store told me I could use those flourescent bulbs...I don't know what they are called, the are not shaped like a regular bulb...ah...more like 2 loops...oh my, not doing a very good job here of describing :oops: Anyway, I forget what size he told me I could get. The only thing I know about the bulbs in it now is what is on the box SLi-Lighting Item #77723 15T10/CL-120V. I would like to replace them with flourescent. If anyone can help me, even with my lame description I would appreciate it. Those incadescents get too hot. The funny thing is when I got my 2nd tank with the flourescent, I didn't like the light at all...but now the incadescent looks too "yellow". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted September 14, 2005 Report Share Posted September 14, 2005 Yep fluro's are better, more light, cheaper to run, less heat. There are a number of type's, T8, T5, PC, etc. I wont describe each cause it gets complicated, but the all work just fine, just make sure you find out prices for replacement tubes before you buy cause you should replace them every 12 months or less and the costs can add up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted September 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2005 But how would I know the watts??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monaro1 Posted September 15, 2005 Report Share Posted September 15, 2005 the way i run mine is 2ft 20 watts 3ft 30 watts 4ft 40 watts not sure but when you go to buy them thats the way thay come Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluetom Posted September 15, 2005 Report Share Posted September 15, 2005 do a search on this forum for lighting and there are a few threads that give some good detail on the best sorts of lights to use. you can get different kelvin ratings which produce different "shades" of light. Have a look around there is lots of stuff on here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 15, 2005 Report Share Posted September 15, 2005 If you're using incandescent lights I'd imagine you have a standard screw in light fitting. In which case you can replace the lights with something like this. Put as big of one as can fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted September 15, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2005 Yes Ira...that's the ones! Put as big of one as can fit I don't have to have it match? Oh, I am not good at this stuff :oops: Okay, example...I have a 100 watt incadescent light bulb in a table lamp...if I wanted to replace it with one of those...how would I know the equivalent wattage. OR just do as you say, get the biggest one I can fit? Thanks for the help everybody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 15, 2005 Report Share Posted September 15, 2005 I think it says on the box Caper. Somewhere it has "equivalent to 100w" etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted September 16, 2005 Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 Dont bother trying to match it, go as big as you can, you cant really have too much light (not with those little things anyway!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wok Posted September 16, 2005 Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 I use those compact florescent lights right through my house... saves some cents but it all adds up... not that much more expensive than incandesents... welll I bought mine from the warehouse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted September 16, 2005 Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 Placemakers sell those energy saving bulbs in 6500K for 4.88ea 100watt. Bargin and just what your looking for I would think Pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misnoma Posted September 16, 2005 Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 Placemakers sell those energy saving bulbs in 6500K for 4.88ea 100watt. Bargin and just what your looking for I would think Pie now if only placemakers were in Canada Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madcookie Posted September 16, 2005 Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 Not sure what temp they are at, but the latest Bunnings letter-box-filler is advertising 5 of these (20w equals 100w) CF's for $9.99. I remember when they first came out - around six years ago (???) and only Phillips were available, and they were $25 each. Damn being a new technology user can hurt sometimes.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted September 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 now if only placemakers were in Canada Not here :lol: The initial cost of those bulbs is more expensive...but supposedly save in the long run...and I need to save! Yes Caryl I think you are right...it says the equivalent on the box, if I were buying for a lamp. But considering I don't know the size of the ones in the tank...on the box 120V...does that mean anything as far as how many watts???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted September 16, 2005 Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 Yes Caryl I think you are right...it says the equivalent on the box, if I were buying for a lamp. But considering I don't know the size of the ones in the tank...on the box 120V...does that mean anything as far as how many watts???? Switch off the light that you want to replace and allow some time for it to cool. Then remove the bulb and look on the glass head of the bulb and it will show the size.. like... 100w ... 120v Which means it is a 100 Watt bulb running on 120 volts. Thoughts before you buy: Check the type of bulb fitting you have. There are two types... one is the Edison Screw.. (as shown in Ira's pic above)... and the other is the Standard Bi Pin type.. (which has a small pin at either side of the metal bit on the bulb) Wallmarts should have them... and all will have the equivelant to normal bulbs on them. Note for others: NZ Power is 240v AC. Bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted September 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 I was in WalMart today...checked the box for the replacement bulbs for tank....120 volts, 1 said 25 watts, another said 15 watts :-? :-? Anyway, I asked about them and was told 1) they're not flourescent 2) wouldn't fit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted September 16, 2005 Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 See if you have an electrical wholesaler any where near you, should find someone there with some knowledge about what is available and probably save a lot of money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Interfecus Posted September 17, 2005 Report Share Posted September 17, 2005 I use two of these suspended over my 60L tank. The plants seem to thrive, but be warned that algae will thrive also! You need a healthy population of plant-friendly snails or you'll be scrubbing the glass with every single water change! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oscar Posted September 17, 2005 Report Share Posted September 17, 2005 in line with this topic how many hours a day should the light be left on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiverJohn Posted September 18, 2005 Report Share Posted September 18, 2005 Hi Oscar, IMO, there is no right answer to your question. It depends on your tank, and what you are trying to accomplish. Mine is quite heavily planted, I run quite hi levels of light for 12 hours per day. I have my lights running on two timers, Four tubes turn on at 10am, off at 10pm, and the other two tubes turn on at 1030am, off at 1030pm. Some where between 8 and 12 hours is probably, a good place to start. HTH.. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Posted October 6, 2005 Report Share Posted October 6, 2005 Go to pak n save. They have them for about $4 each. Get the Bright White ones. There 6400 k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluetom Posted October 6, 2005 Report Share Posted October 6, 2005 I can only every seem to find bonnet at 6000k+ all the screw seem to be at 2400K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Posted October 6, 2005 Report Share Posted October 6, 2005 The brand is "Budget". They have blue and white packaging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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