Need to change to a new balast?

[NinjaFly]

Hi,

I am recently added a FL light that house 15W x 02 FL tubes and I would like to have it changed to a tube which has higer wattage. Can I just change the tube without changing the balast?(Correct spelling?)
Or is it really that advisable to get those Arcadia lightings? Quite ex leh...

I have heard of advices that 2ft tank need 75W of lights. For me, I am already having three 15W tube over my tank and I find it very bright. Lots of algae starts appearing already. Esp BBA...

So, isnt't 45W for 2ft enuf?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

[vinz]

45w is enough if you have low-moderate light plants.

75w is for high light plants... so unless u intend to plant high light plants, you can stay away from it.

If you're getting algae, it means excess or inbalance nutrients in your water. So less liquid fert, less feeding, MORE plants (esp fast growers like H.Polysperma, H. Difformis). Check your bio-load. Test your Nitrate and Phosphate levels. Go read this and this at TheKrib

[juggler]

45W for 2ft tank shd be enough for most plants.
More fast growers needed to absorb excess nutrients. Can also try floating plants if it doesn't block the lights too much -- eg. Frogbits. Or use Hornwort.

[sherchoo]

Nin,

I'm afraid that you'll need to change the ballast when you change to a higher rated tube.

[aw_i]

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On 8/1/2002 12:27:11 AM

Hi,

I am recently added a FL light that house 15W x 02 FL tubes and I would like to have it changed to a tube which has higer wattage. Can I just change the tube without changing the balast?(Correct spelling?)
Or is it really that advisable to get those Arcadia lightings? Quite ex leh...

I have heard of advices that 2ft tank need 75W of lights. For me, I am already having three 15W tube over my tank and I find it very bright. Lots of algae starts appearing already. Esp BBA...

So, isnt't 45W for 2ft enuf?

Thanks in advance for your advice.
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Hi, Ninja

I got exactly the same combo(i think ) as u. Also running 2x15w FL, trying to up it to at least 40w. Can I just buy a higher watt n fix it in? How do we know the balast can take up to how much watt?? help!!

[juggler]

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On 8/25/2002 3:39:55 AM

Hi, Ninja

I got exactly the same combo(i think ) as u. Also running 2x15w FL, trying to up it to at least 40w. Can I just buy a higher watt n fix it in? How do we know the balast can take up to how much watt?? help!!

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You have to change the ballast as well as the lights.
Buying a higher wattage lamp won't work if your existing ballast cannot support.
And using a lower wattage lamp on a higher-rated ballast will cause your lamp to burn out very fast.

Tha rating for the ballast is stated on the ballast itself.

I am just guessing your 2x15W FL could be supported by 1 30W ballast connected in series. If you want to increase your lights to 45W, can try adding another 15W FL with a 18W ballast (18W because I am not sure if there are 15W ballast).

If your tank is 2ft, you can even try changing to PL lights: 2x36W PL supported by a single 2x36W electronic ballast.

[Cactus]

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On 8/1/2002 10:40:31 AM

45W for 2ft tank shd be enough for most plants.
More fast growers needed to absorb excess nutrients. Can also try floating plants if it doesn't block the lights too much -- eg. Frogbits. Or use Hornwort.
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from the pic at the site ,hornwort looks alot like cabomba. And im wondering most of those similar plants we c at lfs are actualy the former or latter? since i ustand that their care and hardiness differs quite much.

[aw_i]

ur right man! My ballast can only support up to 30w, I guess I have to change the ballast cause my hood got only 2 slots for the light tubes. This is not going to be easy.. Any easy solution?[]