help on pl lights

[af2373]

hi everyone, i'll be rather lengthy and lo so....do bear with me.

i hv a tank 2ft by 1.5ft by 1.5ft. currently using 1 x 2ft pl osram 36watts and 1 x 2ft NEC tube (dunno wattage, think some of u may hv used it). problem with these 2 lights is the tubes are not really 2ft, the casing is but the lights are only abt 1.5ft.

comments from my pals say the lightings make the tank look lobsided....so prob for me....sigh.......

i actually hv another set of 2ft pl (which is i think i was kinda conned) with 1 blue and 1 white which i do not use now.......

wondering if can i change the blue and white tube to a standard double white? if can, any recommended wattage to go for? 36watts or 55watts?

assuming i change the blue and white pl to a double white pl, can i still add in the NEC tube for the front of the tank. or would the double pl suffice?

sorry for the many possibilities posted above.

thks in adv for reading!

[tawauboy]

36w pl is about 18” long while 55w pl is about 24” long. the width is about 1.5” and thickness is about 0.5”. is the nec tube a fl? then it’s about 18w.

you can change the tubes provided the new tubes have same wattage rating as your original tubes. most are using daylight tubes (~6500k). however, you cannot just change the tubes from 36w to 55w. to use 55w pl, you have to change the ballast to 58w ballast.

the amount of light to use is dependent on the plants to keep. for high light plants, the guide is >3w/gal.

[af2373]

[quote:6a989a3cb7="tawauboy"]36w pl is about 18” long while 55w pl is about 24” long. the width is about 1.5” and thickness is about 0.5”. is the nec tube a fl? then it’s about 18w.

you can change the tubes provided the new tubes have same wattage rating as your original tubes. most are using daylight tubes (~6500k). however, you cannot just change the tubes from 36w to 55w. to use 55w pl, you have to change the ballast to 58w ballast.

the amount of light to use is dependent on the plants to keep. for high light plants, the guide is >3w/gal.[/quote:6a989a3cb7]

something new and informative here. now i know why my 36W pl is shorter than the 55W...tot i was shortchanged........thks!!

yup, the NEC is a fl with some jap wordings printed there.......

so i reckon as a rule of thumb, i can change tubes as long as the wattage is the same. i'll bring the lights down to a lfs to confirm again....in case i'm wrong abt the wattage......

i guess i'll change the tube and use it combined with the NEC tube....assuming it's 55w pl & 18w fl....it should work out to abt 2.2wpg....hope i do not end up overheating the water........