lighting a fuge...

agoutihead · 09/29/2007, 05:41 PM

I just bought a light and found on the package that it is a 12" fluorescent bulb that is 8 watts.

That's not really enough is it?

Especially with the light diffuser on it?

I mean it lights up the tank fine, I just don't know if it is strong enough.

my fuge area is only about a 1'x1', so it's not a large space, and i have chaeto that is the size of about 3 softballs all clumped together.

should a fuge be light with more like 50-75 watts of light compared to the 8 that my current light offers?

I have also been told that fluorescent lights actually offer more PAR than just a normal light bulb, is this true?

So is my 8 watts of fluorescent actually like 50 watts of regular incandescent?

dc_909 · 09/29/2007, 07:03 PM

Watts is just electricity consumption and not a good indicator of it's "growing" capabilties.

Look more at the PAR, if given, lumens and the kelvin temp.

I am using a 5500k spiral CF bulb in a clamp on reflector from HD.

fat-tony · 09/29/2007, 07:12 PM

cf bulbs tend to be more light intense than incandescent so the 8 watt is doing a decent job. the biggest thing is you want to be up around that 5000k number or higher for the rating. 5500k is a pretty good find, melev found a 5100k that does a good job too that i'm going to move to

09/29/2007, 05:41 PM	#1
agoutihead Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 2,720	lighting a fuge... I just bought a light and found on the package that it is a 12" fluorescent bulb that is 8 watts. That's not really enough is it? Especially with the light diffuser on it? I mean it lights up the tank fine, I just don't know if it is strong enough. my fuge area is only about a 1'x1', so it's not a large space, and i have chaeto that is the size of about 3 softballs all clumped together. should a fuge be light with more like 50-75 watts of light compared to the 8 that my current light offers? I have also been told that fluorescent lights actually offer more PAR than just a normal light bulb, is this true? So is my 8 watts of fluorescent actually like 50 watts of regular incandescent? __________________ Experience the Liquid Realm...

09/29/2007, 07:12 PM	#3
fat-tony Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Hornell, NY Posts: 1,483	cf bulbs tend to be more light intense than incandescent so the 8 watt is doing a decent job. the biggest thing is you want to be up around that 5000k number or higher for the rating. 5500k is a pretty good find, melev found a 5100k that does a good job too that i'm going to move to __________________ Jason Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef. Icecap 660 3x5' T5HO Icecap 430 2x6' VHO actinic

09/29/2007, 07:03 PM	#2
dc_909 Moved On Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Murrieta, CA Posts: 3,260	Watts is just electricity consumption and not a good indicator of it's "growing" capabilties. Look more at the PAR, if given, lumens and the kelvin temp. I am using a 5500k spiral CF bulb in a clamp on reflector from HD.