CFL lighting

Discussion in 'Planted Tank Equipment' started by Yasthish, Feb 7, 2018.

  1. Yasthish
    Offline

    Yasthish Noob

    • APSA Member
    90%
    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2018
    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Johannesburg
    Hi

    I'm still a newbie I have a tl450 marine tank that I converted to my planted tank it's been running for a week

    I have changed the 18w 10000k bulbs to a single 11w 6500k cfl bulb the reflector is a shiny silver one.

    Is this light sufficient I have no algae at the moment and run lights on and off for 8.5 hours a day

    I also have floating hornwort please see pic of tank below [​IMG]


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  2. Yasthish
    Offline

    Yasthish Noob

    • APSA Member
    90%
    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2018
    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Johannesburg
    And it's a dirt tank with topsoil and clay


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  3. mik786
    Offline

    mik786 Green fingers

    • APSA Member
    9%
    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2014
    Messages:
    195
    Likes Received:
    45
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Durban
    Its a 170 L tank. One 11watt cfl won't suffice for most plants IMO.

    Sent from my ALE-L02 using Tapatalk
     
  4. Yasthish
    Offline

    Yasthish Noob

    • APSA Member
    90%
    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2018
    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Johannesburg
    It's 45 liter tank 12 gallons I filled it with a small bucket a few time 10l bucket


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  5. Yasthish
    Offline

    Yasthish Noob

    • APSA Member
    90%
    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2018
    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Johannesburg
    Maybe a 14w bulb or should I be going 20w


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  6. mik786
    Offline

    mik786 Green fingers

    • APSA Member
    9%
    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2014
    Messages:
    195
    Likes Received:
    45
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Durban
    I tried to do something similar some time back. This is the advice @tyronegenade gave me via pm after I consulted with him:

    "The CFL would also work and I would go with 1 CFL per 30cm of aquarium. Again, make a cheap reflector with tinfoil or a soda can

    2 tube lamps would be better, IME. Even with low tech tanks, a little extra CO2 goes a long way to making the tank and plants look good. DIY CO2 would be more than adequate." And on another chat
    "I would got with at least 11 W of CFL for low tech. I used to have 2 14 W over a 3 ft tank and plants grew."

    So this is what I did using a topsoil substrate on a 4 foot tank. And 4 * 14 watt cfl lights ~ low tech:

    [​IMG][​IMG]

    Sent from my ALE-L02 using Tapatalk
     
  7. f-fish+plants
    Offline

    f-fish+plants Aquascaper

    • APSA Member
    73%
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2010
    Messages:
    1,922
    Likes Received:
    1,041
    Trophy Points:
    173
    Location:
    JHB - West
    more to the point ... tl tanks have loads of evaporation, how did you mount the CFL .. they hate high humidity not to mention the 240 volt death trap if you are not very careful.

    Later Ferdie
     
  8. Yasthish
    Offline

    Yasthish Noob

    • APSA Member
    90%
    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2018
    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Johannesburg
    Hi mik786 your tank looks awesome the reflector that is with my tank is very good because I have the hornwort I thought maybe I'm blocking some light out so would it be good to put a 14w cfl or am I heading for algae issues

    @ f-fish+plants the light fitting is mounted to the old globe holder i leave the flap lid open for humidity but I am gonna cut out some plexiglass for the top so it doesn't effect the globe


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    mik786 and f-fish+plants like this.
  9. Yasthish
    Offline

    Yasthish Noob

    • APSA Member
    90%
    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2018
    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Johannesburg
    Hi just wanted to update I went looking for a 14w cfl with no luck nothing in the spectrum so I came across this 10w LED screw on bulb it's sealed so no water probs and this is not a flood light it's like a regular screw on bulb 800lumen and it's 6500k ( not from the China shops ) not sure if I'm allowed to say where I got it from on the forum


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  10. Schalkv710
    Offline

    Schalkv710 Green fingers

    • APSA Member
    51%
    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2010
    Messages:
    801
    Likes Received:
    120
    Trophy Points:
    53
    Location:
    Kraaifontein, Western Cape, South Africa
    Yes you can. We are free here lol :brave:
     
  11. Yasthish
    Offline

    Yasthish Noob

    • APSA Member
    90%
    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2018
    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Johannesburg
    I got it from lighting warehouse in Boksburg they had a 15w but that was round the one I got is a stick shape it's quite bright compared to my 11w cfl


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  12. f-fish+plants
    Offline

    f-fish+plants Aquascaper

    • APSA Member
    73%
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2010
    Messages:
    1,922
    Likes Received:
    1,041
    Trophy Points:
    173
    Location:
    JHB - West
    Best lm/watt and price that I am using at the moment is this LED

    [​IMG]

    think I am getting better growth from the above 18watt than the 24 watt ... same brand 24

    [​IMG]

    only used the sunlit brand.

    Later Ferdie
     
  13. Yasthish
    Offline

    Yasthish Noob

    • APSA Member
    90%
    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2018
    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Johannesburg
    My bulb is also sunlit I was worried that's it's some cheap globe although I did pay R50 for it


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  14. mik786
    Offline

    mik786 Green fingers

    • APSA Member
    9%
    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2014
    Messages:
    195
    Likes Received:
    45
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Durban
    How well do they tolerate moisture?

    Sent from my ALE-L02 using Tapatalk
     
  15. f-fish+plants
    Offline

    f-fish+plants Aquascaper

    • APSA Member
    73%
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2010
    Messages:
    1,922
    Likes Received:
    1,041
    Trophy Points:
    173
    Location:
    JHB - West
    No it does not, that is why it is on top of the the glass top. Loads of open wires and stuff, also it gets hot - very hot other than that no complaints.

    Let us know how the bulb does ... always good t get more feedback.

    Later Ferdie
     
  16. Yasthish
    Offline

    Yasthish Noob

    • APSA Member
    90%
    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2018
    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Johannesburg
    Hi just wanted to update so light is doing fine my dying water sprite that didn't want to move has New leafs


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     

Share This Page