Lighting--- now I feel DOF

Thanks Zaf.

If you put a higher wattage tube in a lower wattage ballast, I would expect that the ballast is not strong enough to power the tube, right? Can you put a lower wattage tube into a higher wattage ballast, or will this blow the tube?

 

My understanding is that a T5 ballast needs to match the T5 globe. I.e 24w ballast for 24w globe.

I am GUESSING T8 has one standard ballast for all tubes?? Zaf/Henk... agree?

 

The ballast is made to match the tube - the older t8's were not as fussy you could put a lower wattage bulb on a higher wattage ballast.

The T5's are a different story, with electronic ballasts, the ballast "looks" at the tube , if it does not match - so sorry no light....

 

Yes generally the ballast should match the globe. You commonly find T5 ballasts that are 39/54W and can handle both though. T8 ballasts also come in different wattages however it doesn't seem as important to match it exactly.

 

Was i told long ago as well.

But what about the neon signs?Can u have one made up lets say in a spiral or the shape of your canopy or a rectangle and use that as lighting?

 

Slojo - yes you could have a light made up by the sign guys in any shape you want

 

not sure, but i think the question was asking if those sign lights could be efficient for a tank, i might have understood wrong?

 

yes as my thinking went haywire i thought that instead of let's say 5 or 6 T5's i can let them make up one that criss-cross the whole canopy space.That way seems more efficient.What i'll do is i will pop in at a shop i know very well and get pricing/colour and options as well as wattage.

 

Sorry guys - but I am probably not the guy to ask that question, as I still work on the basis that a fluorescent is good - don't give a damn about T5 T8 T12 T2, who cares - if you can see the fish and the plants grow, then it works.....

 

The question is will the Signage guys get the right light spectrum
I doubt it.

The Lights we put in our tanks have specific spectrums.
Plants have no use for the green spectrum for example.

 

Bollocks Gilbert - so why do plants grow when I use a standard T8 or a T5 ????

 

Yes Why?:wondering:

 

ok... I've come to the realisation and agree with Zafgak... If you can see your fish, and your plants are growing... Don't waste money on trying to perfect the art of lighting just because there might be a bettter way.
I've had to prune my plants twice in the past 4 months... Hence my planta are growing under to 2 T8 tubes i have. Granted it's not needing pruning every week like Henk and Solex... But at least my plants are growing.

 

Yes but zoom - which plants? the plants i grow isnt stuff like cabomba or elodia

 

True Henk... And if I was to look at growing the more difficult stuff then obviously I'd have to look at changing.

My current setup works for me... I have a variety of plants... Green ones, dark green ones, and even a few red ones... And all growing well. I am no botanist, and have no idea what the names of my plants are... I had given up trying to find out, because when I did know, I forgot the name.

 

hahahaha - ok - go take a look at the tropica website and see if you can ID them and post it in your tank thread

 

Ahh here is the point.I think most of us have the more "common" plants like the vallisgoette that i got from Zaf.
Maybe one day i'll go for a Dutch Aquarium and then yes i will do the whole lightning thing just as we do the feeding thing for our fishes as light is part of a plants food but not now.

 

YEP - If you are more interested in the plants than the fish - then lighting becomes an issue.

 

There is obviously enough of the blue and red spectrum for them.
Daylight Flourescent?

 

Have you SEEN how many plants I need to go thru??? that would take me ALL day... and I think 1 or 2 of my plants are actually 'bog' plants (roots in water, leaves out)... so I don't know if they would be on tropica...

Eish... couldn't I just post the PICS on the site and get you (Henk) to ID them?