Upgrading to 46 or 56watt

[justjoin]

Hi

Currently have 2 X 18watt(=36watt) PL in a single E-ballast.

If i am going to upgrade it to either

1 X 18watt & 1 X 28watt = 46watt
OR
2 X 28watt = 56watt

Do i need to change the E-ballast too?

Usually E-ballast come in what watt tt it support?

thks

[Simon]

got 28watts? I thght its 18w, 36w and 55w?

[justjoin]

dunno lay.

Cos this is wat Chan at NA asked me when i send my hook(light) for modification.

He ask me want 2 X 28watt or 2X 18watt PL.

maybe i call him & ask BUT anyone got his number?

thks

[oqs]

there's a 27W PL tube in his shop. aqualux brand, 10000K. only slightly longer than the 18W tube. IMO, if chan is refering to that tube, don't get it. cos it's hard to find replacement tubes (in other shops), and the colour temperature isn't really suitable for plants. so it's best to get the commonly available ones.. 18W, 36W..

[justjoin]

thks

If under my currently 1.5ft tank, can i fit in a 36watt PL tube? how long is tt 36 watt tube?

[vinz]

36watt PL will just fit. I have 2 x 36W PL end to end over my 3 feet tank.

Look in the LFS list for Nature's number.

[oqs]

36W tubes is around 1.5' long. maybe you can just get one more 18W light for your tank to make it 54W (5W/gallon). oh yah... i'm assuming you have a planted tank right?

[justjoin]

yup, planted tank.

thks for all info

[c.y.]

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On 9/2/2002 12:19:05 PM

there's a 27W PL tube in his shop. aqualux brand, 10000K. only slightly longer than the 18W tube. IMO, if chan is refering to that tube, don't get it. cos it's hard to find replacement tubes (in other shops), and the colour temperature isn't really suitable for plants. so it's best to get the commonly available ones.. 18W, 36W..
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Is 55w pl light easy to get?

[juggler]

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On 9/4/2002 9:16:47 AM

Is 55w pl light easy to get?

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Though scarce, the 55W PL can still be found in certain shops and unlikely to be 6500K temp. However, it's the e-ballast that's harder to find. So far I enquired and found only conventional 55W ballasts.
I rather stick with 36W PL or normal FL tubes.

[c.y.]

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On 9/4/2002 9:30:22 AM

Though scarce, the 55W PL can still be found in certain shops and unlikely to be 6500K temp. However, it's the e-ballast that's harder to find. So far I enquired and found only conventional 55W ballasts.
I rather stick with 36W PL or normal FL tubes.
----------------

Thanks,
Can you please advise what is the height of the reflactor that you bought from Lian Eng.
Thank you.

[justjoin]

hi juggle

what is the exact lenght of the entire 36watt PL tube.

I only have this much of space-35.5cm in the hook.

Can fit in a 36watt pl tube?

thks
adrian

[juggler]

A summary of the PL lights can be found here: http://ahsupply.com/bulbs.htm

justjoin: The 36W PL light is 16.4" (~41 cm). Longer than your 35cm tank. If you DIY using this bulb, it may jut out a little (3~4cm each side). No so bad. If you look at the thread below, the DIY lights I made also jut out from my 2.5ft tank by about 1.5" each side. I used an air-con trunking strip to cover at the ends to prevent the fish from jumping out thru that gap. It also serves to hold the reflector in place and make the lights sit firmly on the tank.

c.y.: the reflector I got is about 1.5" high, 4 ft long. Costs $11 or so. See thread "yet another lighting project ..."

[c.y.]

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On 9/4/2002 10:45:34 AM

A summary of the PL lights can be found here: http://ahsupply.com/bulbs.htm

justjoin: The 36W PL light is 16.4" (~41 cm). Longer than your 35cm tank. If you DIY using this bulb, it may jut out a little (3~4cm each side). No so bad. If you look at the thread below, the DIY lights I made also jut out from my 2.5ft tank by about 1.5" each side. I used an air-con trunking strip to cover at the ends to prevent the fish from jumping out thru that gap. It also serves to hold the reflector in place and make the lights sit firmly on the tank.

c.y.: the reflector I got is about 1.5" high, 4 ft long. Costs $11 or so. See thread "yet another lighting project ..."
----------------

Thank you.

[justjoin]

thks juggle

BUT mine is a hook which come with the tank(resun) with curve front. I also modified the hook to fit in a DIY 12V fan.

[justjoin]

had completed DIY an additional 18watt PL in my 1.5ft hook over the weekend.

Now has 3 X 18watt in 17gal of water.

thks for all info.

chan of NA is also a great help advising on the wiring part