Light wattage

[furyprix]

I have a 2ft light fixture at home (brand less) that is currently running on a 18W pink aquazonic tube. The light emitted is getting from bad to worse recently so I was wondering if I could change this 18W tube to a 24W white tube? Will it be incompatible?

[Berny]

depends on the ballast I believe, if ballast can't take it then it will burn or shortcircuit

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[furyprix]

means i'll risk damaging my light unit then?

my 2ft tank is low tech, and i keep plants like taiwan moss and anubias and java fern. im worry that 18W is not enough for the plants to grow well.

[felix_fx2]

You can change the t5 tube, you might know that from 3rd month to 6th month the quality of lights emitted from the light will weaken more. (thus the recommendation to change every 6-8months for some).

If you change to a higher wattage ot not the wattage that it came with, you will just shorten the lifespan of the ballast it has even if it were to be able to light up the higher wattage tube.
In layman terms, it will die faster or spoil faster. $$$

[Dodofish]

means i'll risk damaging my light unit then?

my 2ft tank is low tech, and i keep plants like taiwan moss and anubias and java fern. im worry that 18W is not enough for the plants to grow well.

I am guessing you are using a t8 aquazonic light. Std t8 is 18w tube for 2ft. I am using normal white light tube by Philips now, color temp 6500k. My plants are still growing well.

[furyprix]

I am guessing you are using a t8 aquazonic light. Std t8 is 18w tube for 2ft. I am using normal white light tube by Philips now, color temp 6500k. My plants are still growing well.

is the philips tube 18W too? where can i get it?

You can change the t5 tube, you might know that from 3rd month to 6th month the quality of lights emitted from the light will weaken more. (thus the recommendation to change every 6-8months for some).

If you change to a higher wattage ot not the wattage that it came with, you will just shorten the lifespan of the ballast it has even if it were to be able to light up the higher wattage tube.
In layman terms, it will die faster or spoil faster. $$$

no wonder i realised a significant dim in my lights recently..argh. even more when my light is pink and not white, the whole tank doesnt look very lit up.

[Urban Aquaria]

no wonder i realised a significant dim in my lights recently..argh. even more when my light is pink and not white, the whole tank doesnt look very lit up.

Yeah, fluorescent lights lose intensity and dim over time so you need to change them regularly (some of the cheaper brands can lose intensity surprisingly fast, have to change more frequently), that's one of the reasons why people get algae or plant growth problems with these type of lights, due to the gradual change in light intensity, they don't realize it until it's too dim and issues arise.

[Dodofish]

You can get it from any hardware shop. Just bring your old tube along in case you need it, let them know u r looking for t8 white light.

Your current tube should be super tropical pink tube, if you are using t8 aquazonic 2ft. That tube is super dim.

[felix_fx2]

I am guessing you are using a t8 aquazonic light. Std t8 is 18w tube for 2ft. I am using normal white light tube by Philips now, color temp 6500k. My plants are still growing well.

Dodofish, ahem... you mean standard? you do know sms lingo usage is not allowed right?

Yeah, fluorescent lights lose intensity and dim over time so you need to change them regularly (some of the cheaper brands can lose intensity surprisingly fast, have to change more frequently), that's one of the reasons why people get algae or plant growth problems with these type of lights, due to the gradual change in light intensity, they don't realize it until it's too dim and issues arise.

I love the last line, plus the fact that it happen to myself before. Trying to grow HC with 12 month old T5s


@furyprix, just go LFS buy if your unsure about wattage or sizes. If you decide to go convenient store (NTUC, Giant, ValueDollar shops) , take a picture of the tube part that shows the wattage if still visible. If not too hard, just bring it.

For phillips, it should be indicated 6500K. See reference picture for label

[Dodofish]

Oh I am sorry, a little used to short forms at times.

[furyprix]

i changed it to a T8 Aquazonic super sun, couldnt find a compatible osram or philips tube. Saw a panasonic tube though, but it costs $1.90, strangely CHEAP. didnt dare to try...
but it seems a little yellow though..

BEFORE


AFTER

[Berny]

looks alot brighter and better now

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[bennyc]

6500k is a little yellow but for planted tank is a better color temperature for plant growth. 10000K will make the tank look brighter, because our eyes are more receptive to blue light. but it is too much blue for plants.

[bennyc]

Oh just to add... that is also why some LED lights for plants still add blue led (Evo 3W for plants). Looks nicer.

[furyprix]

oh. i had the impression that it is blue is necessary for plant growth..

side question-if i were to buy a LED light, can i replace the light bulbs when they die?

will they dim like the T5 & T8?

[Urban Aquaria]

side question-if i were to buy a LED light, can i replace the light bulbs when they die?

will they dim like the T5 & T8?

So far i haven't seen mass market aquarium LED lightsets that have replaceable individual LEDs yet (most are in fixed panels and all hard wired in), but i think there are some high end ones which use a modular LED system (they tend to be a lot more expensive though). The other alternative is to DIY LED light sets with individual LEDs so you can replace them anytime.

In theory, LEDs retain most of their intensity and brightness throughout their lifespan (can range between 20,000 hours - 50,000 hrs or more, depending on quality, which works out to many years of usage). Due to their long lifespan and very slow reduction in intensity over a much longer time period, it'll be a very long time before any change in intensity is noticeable or has any effect.

[bennyc]

oh. i had the impression that it is blue is necessary for plant growth..

side question-if i were to buy a LED light, can i replace the light bulbs when they die?

will they dim like the T5 & T8?

It depends on the brand of led light set you buy. From what i know, up series z and evo, both carried by east ocean , can be "repair" on an individual led basis at a cost. (please correct me if i am wrong)

[Phillipians]

I have asked East Ocean before purchasing my LEDs and they have confirmed that they can repair or change the LEDs. Pricing wise not sure though.

[felix_fx2]

I have asked East Ocean before purchasing my LEDs and they have confirmed that they can repair or change the LEDs. Pricing wise not sure though.

thanks for the confirm.

very likely price of that led(s) + $10-20 workmanship max...
it would be great for folks for can't solder.