Fluorescent Bulb Help

caltrax · 04/24/2008, 04:11 PM

I am trying to pick a 48" 40 watt bulb for my lighting fixture it's a single bulb T-12. The one i have is 6500k i think by GE and its years old and trying to replace it as i have gained interested in the hobby once again.

I see there are 50/50 , 6500k , 10,000k, 14,000k and so on .....

What is the best bulb i can go with for my 55 gallon tank ?? I only have fish and inverts right now. No corals. thanks !

bertoni · 04/24/2008, 05:07 PM

To Reef Central

The color of the bulb is a personal preference. I like the 14,000 K bulbs I have, but the temperature ratings are only an approximation. The higher numbers tend to be more blue.

The higher Kelvin bulbs do tend to produce less light per watt, which is an issue with coral.

caltrax · 04/24/2008, 05:16 PM

ah ok i see

how is the 50/50 from coralife compared to a 10,000k one ??? any real difference ? is the 10k just pure white ??

bertoni · 04/24/2008, 05:49 PM

The 50/50 is probably half 10,000 K and half actinic. It will be more blue. 10,000 K is very white, to my eyes.

caltrax · 04/24/2008, 08:21 PM

i just went out and bought the 50/50 from coralife and when i tried plugging it in the bulb would blink white for 2 seconds then it would flicker blue very lightly ...

it just wont light up ....my old bulb thats 5 years + lights up just fine what the hell is wrong with the 50/50 ??? thanks !

bertoni · 04/24/2008, 08:26 PM

That sounds like a ballast issue. Is the old bulb a normal output bulb? Maybe the new bulb is VHO? I would think it'd still light, though. You might want to try in the lighting forum.

caltrax · 04/24/2008, 08:34 PM

um the old bulb is from GE says 40 watts and t12

this new bulb says t12 40 watts 360 degrees 1 1/2 " DIA thats pretty much it ......

bertoni · 04/24/2008, 08:41 PM

Oh, sigh, I have no idea. I might take the fixture to the store, along with the bulb, and see what they can do.

caltrax · 04/24/2008, 08:47 PM

yea i might just do that.....i can get a new ballast for $10 if its actually the problem

i made a new post about this in the lighting section of the forum ;p

thanks for the replies bertoni !

bertoni · 04/24/2008, 09:00 PM

You're welcome! Good luck!

04/24/2008, 04:11 PM	#1
caltrax Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 7	Fluorescent Bulb Help I am trying to pick a 48" 40 watt bulb for my lighting fixture it's a single bulb T-12. The one i have is 6500k i think by GE and its years old and trying to replace it as i have gained interested in the hobby once again. I see there are 50/50 , 6500k , 10,000k, 14,000k and so on ..... What is the best bulb i can go with for my 55 gallon tank ?? I only have fish and inverts right now. No corals. thanks !

04/24/2008, 05:07 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	*To Reef Central* The color of the bulb is a personal preference. I like the 14,000 K bulbs I have, but the temperature ratings are only an approximation. The higher numbers tend to be more blue. The higher Kelvin bulbs do tend to produce less light per watt, which is an issue with coral. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/24/2008, 05:49 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The 50/50 is probably half 10,000 K and half actinic. It will be more blue. 10,000 K is very white, to my eyes. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/24/2008, 08:26 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	That sounds like a ballast issue. Is the old bulb a normal output bulb? Maybe the new bulb is VHO? I would think it'd still light, though. You might want to try in the lighting forum. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/24/2008, 08:41 PM	#8
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Oh, sigh, I have no idea. I might take the fixture to the store, along with the bulb, and see what they can do. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/24/2008, 05:16 PM	#3
caltrax Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 7	ah ok i see how is the 50/50 from coralife compared to a 10,000k one ??? any real difference ? is the 10k just pure white ??

04/24/2008, 08:21 PM	#5
caltrax Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 7	i just went out and bought the 50/50 from coralife and when i tried plugging it in the bulb would blink white for 2 seconds then it would flicker blue very lightly ... it just wont light up ....my old bulb thats 5 years + lights up just fine what the hell is wrong with the 50/50 ??? thanks !

04/24/2008, 08:34 PM	#7
caltrax Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 7	um the old bulb is from GE says 40 watts and t12 this new bulb says t12 40 watts 360 degrees 1 1/2 " DIA thats pretty much it ......

04/24/2008, 08:47 PM	#9
caltrax Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 7	yea i might just do that.....i can get a new ballast for $10 if its actually the problem i made a new post about this in the lighting section of the forum ;p thanks for the replies bertoni !

04/24/2008, 09:00 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	You're welcome! Good luck! __________________ Jonathan Bertoni