Using E27 socket plug lights - will this provide enough light for the plants?

[Georgeer]

Came back after 2 years of oversea posting and my crypts are still healthy but the rest of the setup were not so fortunate. So a re-do for the tank is inevitable. Realised the tank is too dirty and really need a new set up, I decided to tweak the original "hot" lights first.

The original light source were 3X2 setsof FL at 27W each for my 3ftX1.5ftX1.5ft tank. The lighting is sufficient for the plants but the built in balast were too hot affecting the water raising it to around 35degC in the past since the fish tank is in a cabinet.

Decided to DIY E27 socket lights as it is lower power consumption and long lifespan. So I mounted 8 sets of E27 sockets to the roof of the cabinet and attached 8 pieces of 23watt mini twist cool daylight E27 socket light bulbs.

Added in a 4 way wall mount switch block to control 4X2 sets to allow tolerence in controlling the amount of light since I am keeping low light plants.

Once after the new set up was done, I turned on all 8 lights and it was so powerful that half of my dining room got litted up.

I am posting here to seek expert advice on this type of setup as I have yet to come across anyone who has done it before. usually it will be FL or PL or halogen.

So my question is; will this type of E27 low power consumption light bulb provide enough lighting source for the plants to make food?

Thanks.

[richietay]

T5 might be another option for you.
for the E27, guess need to monitor growth of your plants and any signs of algae bloom(touch wood).

for your previous FL lamp, you installed any fans? used FL before converting to PL, required me to run fans in order to hit the desired cool temperature.

[Georgeer]

Yes, there are 2 AC fan just above the water but I realized they are not sufficient to help cool the water.

Anyway the latest setup seems not emitting a lot of heat and the 2 fan are still running as well.

I just hope the this type of light bulb can supply enough light to allow the plants to react.

[valice]

Your dining room is very bright as most of the light is emitted horizontally instead of downwards... So in short, alot of the light energy is not reaching the plants...

Maybe you want to line aluminium foil all around the cabinet and also enclose the front so that light is redirected downwards...

Better than letting all the light just wasted to the dining room...

[Georgeer]

Good idea, will try to put a cover over the light to point the light ray downwards more.

[BFG]

If you could find a reflector that would enclose each bulb, it would be better. Any type should do it as it would reflect more light downward.