Aquazonic T5 fixture problem!

[pinkish1c3]

Guys help!

My 1.5ft tank is now running on Aquazonic 45cm T5 fixture coming with 2 16w/12000k (15.9") tubes.

I am not really sure if the watts are enough but I'm having at least 2wpg.

My main problem is, I am quite worried that my color temperature might be a little too high but I had went to all C328 & Polyart as well as Qian Hu itself in search for a lower Kelvin tube only to realise that the minimum Kelvin they have for tubes this length is 12000k.

Had anyone encounter this problem before? Or does anyone knows where can I find tubes this length with lower Kelvin?

[pinkish1c3]

Or maybe can any senior advise me if i can actually dismantle my current fixture and change the original ballast included so i can change to other higher watts tube as i really can't find much variety of 16w tubes in the market.

[bryan]

You can upgrade your lights but the tubes or bulbs must match the ballast ratings.

You can also try Nature Aquarium, they have all sorts of aquarium lights and spares.

[hencpu]

I have the same problem as you. Couldn't find any 6500K tubes that are 45cm, most of them are 60cm & above. In the end, I replaced mine with Odyssea 50cm 6,500K T5HO from East Ocean Aquatic.

You can read this thread:
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...bulb-for-1.5ft

[pinkish1c3]

You can upgrade your lights but the tubes or bulbs must match the ballast ratings.

You can also try Nature Aquarium, they have all sorts of aquarium lights and spares.

Hey Bryan,

Yea, Nature Aquarium's gonna be my next stop. So in another words is that I can change the tube if I change the ballast in the fixture right?

[pinkish1c3]

I have the same problem as you. Couldn't find any 6500K tubes that are 45cm, most of them are 60cm & above. In the end, I replaced mine with Odyssea 50cm 6,500K T5HO from East Ocean Aquatic.

You can read this thread:
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...bulb-for-1.5ft

It's really a big headache right! Your aquarium is also a 1.5ft? In this case wouldn't the 50cm set be a little too long for your aquarium? You got the 2 or 4 tube set?

[hencpu]

It's really a big headache right! Your aquarium is also a 1.5ft? In this case wouldn't the 50cm set be a little too long for your aquarium? You got the 2 or 4 tube set?

Mine is 18W x 2. Slightly longer than my tank, with overhang at both side. But doesn't really bother me, as long as my plants are all pearling happily

[pinkish1c3]

Mine is 18W x 2. Slightly longer than my tank, with overhang at both side. But doesn't really bother me, as long as my plants are all pearling happily

true true~
Anyway, for the fixture you're having now, the tube replacement easy to find?

[huizhong]

Hi, may I ask why u want to change to lower Kelvin? What are the effects of higher kelvins or lower kelvins? I'm still quite ignorant in this area

[SeVenZ]

i've read, but am still unsure, please correct if im wrong.

Warmer Kelvins around 2700-3000k (usually incandescentm but create more heat than light) are "red" and this encourages flowering.
while cooler kelvins around 6500k (usually fluorescent) appears "blue" and this is considered best for plants to develop full, healthy foliage and also promotes strong, healthy growth of new seedlings. But Metal halides are considered the best as they can give out a wide spectrum. so my understanding is, its not so much the kelvin, but the spectrum the light-set gives out.
and it doesnt really matter which kelvin you use (For plant growth, not aesthetics) because its about the same from 6500k to 10000k where the peaks at 6500k to 8800k

[pinkish1c3]

Hi, may I ask why u want to change to lower Kelvin? What are the effects of higher kelvins or lower kelvins? I'm still quite ignorant in this area

Just like what Bro SeVenZ mentioned, the color temperature plays a part in terms of plant growth too. As red and blue of the color spectrum are much needed for plants growth so anything between 6500 - 8800 should be just fine, if i'm not wrong.

[pinkish1c3]

i've read, but am still unsure, please correct if im wrong.

Warmer Kelvins around 2700-3000k (usually incandescentm but create more heat than light) are "red" and this encourages flowering.
while cooler kelvins around 6500k (usually fluorescent) appears "blue" and this is considered best for plants to develop full, healthy foliage and also promotes strong, healthy growth of new seedlings. But Metal halides are considered the best as they can give out a wide spectrum. so my understanding is, its not so much the kelvin, but the spectrum the light-set gives out.
and it doesnt really matter which kelvin you use (For plant growth, not aesthetics) because its about the same from 6500k to 10000k where the peaks at 6500k to 8800k

Exactly, that's pretty much what I had read up too. That's why i'm kinda worried if my 12000k is a little too high. To my understanding, it should be more suitable for Reef growing rather than planted aquarium.

[felix_fx2]

1 feet T5HO? pretty hard to find.. must go Sim lim tower or rather specialty shops.
small thank power compact is ok, as replacements can be found more easily, else getting a slightly larger lightset is also an idea.

[pinkish1c3]

1 feet T5HO? pretty hard to find.. must go Sim lim tower or rather specialty shops.
small thank power compact is ok, as replacements can be found more easily, else getting a slightly larger lightset is also an idea.

Ya, it's really a big headache to look for replacement tubes! Saw your blog, what fixture are you using for your 1.5ft?

[felix_fx2]

erm... non... it's a walkway tank actually.