Fluorescent Lights

Well I still have a hood that came with my tank and I put some incadescent bulbs in there. Is it possible to replace them with Fluorescent bulbs? or do I just need to buy another hood?

 

Since the end connections are different I think you have to buy a different hood.
Carol

 

You can get a compact minI fluorescent bulb. They are fluorescent bulbs that screw into a regular light socket. I have a couple in my 15 gallon and they work and look awesome. They should have them at most fish stores. I have the same one as in the link, plus another 18W with a bluish tint.

 

They also sell them at wal-mart in the fish section also. I don't lilke the type sick-lid boy has in the link because it gives off a purple glow but that's just my opinion, there's nothing wrong with them, it's just not my type of lilght. They also sell a more white type of light from the same company if you don't like that type.

 

yeah I want a white colored bulb...cause the incadescent bulbs give off that kitchen light kind of look...so I just want something more white...

 

I believe all glass aquarium makes one, along with coralife like sick lid boy said that most lfs's sell, don't get the 50/50 bubls, wrong spectrum and will promote algae. If you can't find one at a lfs, try wal-mart in the fish section they sell them.

 

oh cool are they cheaper at wal-mart?

 

Yes, but I don't know if they last as long, htough they worked fine for me, only a couple dollars cheaper.

 

Those also get very hot so be careful
Carol

 

so does that mean it will make the water evaporate faster?

 

oh and another thing... I just bought 2 10 watt fluorescent bulbs at targe for like $3.00 and I placed them on the incadescent hood. They were bright! I don't think my fish liked them because they soon started hiding under thing and as soon as I fed them they wouldnt eat right now...so I just had to change the bulbs back and then they slowly started eating. Are there other fluorescent bulbs out there that aren't that intense?

 

hi, i've seen your tank, it looks good with incandescent light!!! don't replace it with fluorescent light.
I think incandescent lights give your aquarium nice an better tropical look than fluorescent lights!!!!

 

lol that was actually with the flurorescent bulbs...it just came off a little less intense on the camera. I'll probably post some pics with the incadescent lights to show a comparison

 

What type of bulbs did you buy from Target, if they were not designed for the aquarium then that might be why. I'm sure the fluoerscent light's won't be too bright if there meant for fish since I've used them.

 

Well they're General Electric Bulbs and on the top it says for General Purpose. It says that they equal to about 40 watts though.

 

That could be why, do you know the kelvin of them also, should look like K 6,700 on it. I would just go for the one's at walmart or at your lfs that sick lid boy recommended.

 

no it doesn't say the kelvin of it... but yeah I think I would probably go to wal-mart instead

 

You can get a compact minI fluorescent bulb. They are fluorescent bulbs that screw into a regular light socket. I have a couple in my 15 gallon and they work and look awesome. They should have them at most fish stores. I have the same one as in the link, plus another 18W with a bluish tint.

Compact Flourescent are fine...Just make sure they have an all weather ballast or you can get some SHOCKING results and/or a short lamp life.....

 

HI I 3 tanks with fluorescent and 2 tanks with incandescent lights all with live plants. I would like to upgrade my bulbs in both kinds. with out costing a lot of money. Right now 1 of my tanks have standard bulb. One has a t-8 floright I think that's right. The 2 regular round tube. I thought about upgrading to cfl but I don't now how good that will work my hoods don't have a shields to cover the bulb. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks David

 

HI David,

You can use something like this.....



They cost around $10-$12 and you can look for a bulb that is 7000K.

What size tank do you have?

 

I use cfl bulbs in the shop clamp lights. It depends on the depth of the tank and what type of plants your trying to grow. And even then I do not use co2 so it's a little bit of trial and error without a par meter

Edit: lol ninjad Tanks and Plants

 

Thanks for the info. Hey tank & plants I would love to see the info you sent but it did not come thru. Please send it again please. Thanks

 

Redirect Notice
This is what I was going to post but tanks and plants best me to it

Hopefully this works for you

Or if the links don't work you can always Google shop clamp lights they are fairly cheap reflectors that work great for growing plants with cfls

 

Thanks for that Bettanewb that's what I was missing was that link. But the only problem is 3 of these tanks are in my living room I don't think the wife's going to approve. T

 

Approve of the look of the lights?

I sit them right on top of my glass lid but you could also hang them like pendant lights and paint them as well.

My husband has actually gotten so used to them with the original finish because for him or created an "industrial" look that I'm not allowed to paint them lol

I originally wanted led lights but they were outside of what I wanted to pay to grow plants in a fish tank tbh.

 

Yes. It was hard to get 3 tanks in the living room to start with. I need to make as neat as possibly. That's why was wanting to do something with the fluorescent. Maybe somehow make it better with different bulbs or something.

 

This is a pic of my tank with the clamp lights to me I feel it's neat and tidy but eveyone has there own opinions

 

I can totally appreciate the multiple tanks my husband is not a fan

 

Your tank looks awesome. I like the look of the lights there great to me. I'll let my wife look at the pic in the morning and see what she thinks. Thanks for all the help you have been a great help. Thanks

 

Thank you I feel like they're a great cheap alternative to leds