My Ugly Yellow Lights

[rajfish]

Hey guys,

I have one of those T12 fluorescent lights that comes with the all glass kits you see in PetSmart. Is it possible for me to switch the bulbs out and put in those special blue lights (halide? Actinide?). Yellow is such an ugly color to light anything under. Plus, my corals will grow faster under real light. I hope I can simply unscrew these bulbs and attach different ones. Any advice?

rajfish

 

[wbholwell]

You can swap out the bulb (I would go with a 50/50), but you'd be better off getting at least a good Power Compact fixture, IMO. If you feel like you'll become serious about keeping corals, I'd look into T5's.

Good Luck!

 

[rajfish]

Where would I find a metal halide bulb that I can switch in with this brand of fluorsecent? On Drsfostersmith.com it said metal halide bulbs are not compatible with fluorsecent fixtures.

 

[wbholwell]

rajfish;72831 wrote: Where would I find a metal halide bulb that I can switch in with this brand of fluorsecent? On Drsfostersmith.com it said metal halide bulbs are not compatible with fluorsecent fixtures.

And drsfostersmith.com would be correct. The only bulbs you can put in a T12 fixture are T12 bulbs.

 

[rajfish]

What are my options for replacing that lighting I have?

 

[blind1993]

what about those vho t12s do they work?

 

[wbholwell]

wbholwell;72827 wrote: you'd be better off getting at least a good Power Compact fixture, IMO. If you feel like you'll become serious about keeping corals, I'd look into T5's.

Good Luck!

Umm- PC's and T5's ??? I would steer clear of metal halides as they'll probably add too much heat to your system.

 

[rajfish]

Can I take VHO T12s and stick them in my all-glass hood and get (1) good coral growth, (2) better lighting, and (3) no fire because of a mismatch?

 

[rajfish]

Will PC or t5 bulbs fit in my t12 sockets?

 

[blind1993]

nope. they are dif size. also what about those vho t12s. or would he need to change the ballast.

 

[rajfish]

what about a replacement hood?

 

[blind1993]

you will need to buy a whole new fixture to house anything really.

 

[xyzpdq0121]

Yes Raj.. there is not much you can upgrade to without replacing the hood all together.

There are different bulbs in a T-12 that are mainly used in fresh water tanks. they are different spectrems and you could try one. You can buy them at petsmart or petco. But to really have options you would need to go with either PC (Still low light but about 5 times more powerful then T-12) or T-5 (better then T-12 and PC combined!).

 

[dakota9]

Looking at your list of exsisting livestock, you could go a different Kelvin rated bulb in the fixture you have now. Later as you can afford a nicer fixture you could add corals.

 

[linda lee]

Dakota9;72898 wrote: Looking at your list of exsisting livestock, you could go a different Kelvin rated bulb in the fixture you have now. Later as you can afford a nicer fixture you could add corals.

I second this opinion.

Get a better bulb for now (since you basically have a FOWLR) and keep a lookout on the *For Sale/Trade* forum to upgrade your light later. Lighting is probably the most expensive investment you'll put into your system and you'll need to research it thoroughly before you put out a lot of coin and then decide you went the wrong route.

You can also post a *Want to Buy* thread describing what you're looking for. Reefers are upgrading constantly and I've seent the lights you're looking for offered in the past.

Once you get a good light for your main system, you may be able to use the light you have now for your refugium (if you're going to set one up).

In this hobby, go slooooooooooooooooooow. You'll be much happier with the results and avoid a lot of costly mistakes.

And... gotta say: I'm impressed with how far you've already come and the intelligent questions you're asking. I can tell you're doing a lot of independent reading.

Good luck!!

 

[roundman]

Some of us can't get everything at once. I have 5 T12's (3 10ks, 1 50/50, and 1 actinic) on my tank, and the color looks good, now do to expense of upgrading. I got the bulbs from Sam at Aquabuys. I have a candy cane that is doing great, a green hairy mushroom, orange recordia, and a mushroom rock with 7 mushrooms that are doing ok. I have to them all on the top but I have them and they look good. I had a kenya tree that was looking real happy but he decided to go walking and can't find him. I agree that he best thing to do is new lights but with rock, sump, fuge, fish, water, etc, etc..... sometimes something has to wait.

Good luck

 

[tnyga]

Ive found my sunpod 150w 14k MH does great on my 24. With a fan it stays right at 79-80...of course without a fan, well thats a different story.

Just my 2 cents

 

[dakota9]

Rawn, thats a very valid point you kind of made. Some corals you could keep under low light.

Back when I was having all my lighting problems, I had to illuminate my tank with an 18watt bulb while waiting on the MH fixture to arrive. I remember my mushrooms never looked better. They were very large and open, and even the colors seemed to pop more. If deeper color and greater expansion is an indication of good health and adaquate lighting, then the mushrooms were actually happier under the temporary low lighting than the MH fixture I now have......

 

[tnyga]

My daughter has a 16 eclipse with less than decent lighting. She has a nice rock with HUGE mushrooms on it...I took it out, put it in my tank and couldnt get them bigger then a dime (sunpod). Put them back in her tank and their the size of a small fist...thought it was my water lol (im such a newb)

 

[blind1993]

what about him just changeing the bulb. could he keep some mushes at the top? maybe watermellons?