36" electronic ballast?

[chirohorn]

I'm trying to convert my adult discus tank into a planted discus tank. Failed the 1st go around due to insufficient lighting (used 2 stock 30W lights over a 135 gallon). I've checked the krib.com link to a DIY cheap fixture at Home Depot.

The problem is that the T8 electronic ballasts don't come in 36" or 72" lengths. Not in either the 2 or 4 light variety. I've called around the lighting 'specialty' stores & they only have the 48" variety. Any helpful tips or links? Can I modify the 48" to make it 36"? The HD guy dissuaded me from trying.

[gillyweed]

Pete,

Here's a link about DIY cheap lighting that may interest you. I have not done it yet but I've seen RandalB's light setup for his planted tank. It's definitely brighter for less!!! ;D

GW

PS: I forgot to add the link! Here's it!

http://www.plantedtank.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=194

[TomFromStLouis]

ahsupply.com has compact flourescent fixtures near 36".

Or, while not ideal, maybe you could stagger a 48" right, then left, then right, then left, which would give double power in the cneter 2' but otherwise light the whole tank.

[chirohorn]

GW, thanks for the link. I've seen that before, but it's for a 48" aquarium.

Tom, your suggestion echoed my thoughts. Don't know about moving it back & forth as I work during the day. Thought about placing the plants that require less light at the ends. I visited ahsupply's website. Might just go ahead & order 2 of their CF setups...it's not a bad price.

[Paulio]

You just use the electronic ballast for 48" bulbs to run your 36" bulbs. This is true for most of them IME. Overdriving T8 bulbs is a cheap way to get the most bang for your buck all from Home Depot.


HTH
Paul

[Paulio]

Another thing to consider is that 48" bulbs are the most readily available and economical.

Paul

[chirohorn]

Paulio, how do I go about fitting a 36" bulb into a 48" ballast? I must be missing something here. Are they adjustable? The endcaps movable? As you can tell, I'm not a mechanically inclined guy.

[RandalB]

Pete,
You don't use a light fixture, you use loose end clips (also from home depot about $2.00 a set) Paul will tell you how to set this up, I put together a setup that will grow plants in a 24" tall tank for less than $30.00 2x 18W T8's and it's lots brighter than a 55W PC fixture...

RandalB

[gillyweed]

Pete,

My understanding from that link is you can wire the 4x ballast to 2 T-8 36" light bulbs. It's not that picky about T-12, T-8, 48" or 36"; the ballast will adjust accordingly, providing that you pick up an electronics ballast with the model# that they've mentioned in their posts.

And I've seen it work at RandalB's place!!! :o :o :o 8)

Good luck. ;)

GW

[chirohorn]

Thanks to all for the replies. What the hell...I'm going to try it this weekend & will post pics. :D

[Paulio]

If you wanna go real real real cheap you can pick up a couple "Lights of America" twin tube shop lights for about $8 each. Screw a few of those in your canopy and away you go.

[chirohorn]

Cheap is good, but quality at a fraction normal retail is better. I'll be heading to another Home Depot tomorrow as the local one is out-of-stock on the 4x T8 elect. ballasts.

[gillyweed]

Pete,

I'm also aiming to setup 2 - 36" T-8 lights for my 30G planted tank. How many lights are you going to put up with yours?

I have problem of finding the 36" 6500K light at ANY store in my area. Looks like I'll have to order either from Big Al's or Dr. Foster & Smith. It seems to me that Big Al's gets better pricing, but Dr. Smith gets better selection!

Now, what's the best light for a medium light requirement tank? Maybe I'll have to start a new thread just to ask that question!

Any planted tank expert willing to give some advice? ???

GW

[chirohorn]

GW, the tank is 6' long so I'm setting up two 3' strips. One T8 4X ballast per strip. I was thinking about one 36" 30W fluorescent per ballast since it'll be equal to ~100W (?) overdriven. So 2 of these would be equivalent to 200W of 'regular' lighting.

Yes, I'm aware of the 2 W/gallon minimum. Just need enough to keep some java ferns & swords alive. The tank will still be discus-focused, just w/some plants in it. I tried this previously w/a meager light setup & failed.

My question: if I hooked up two of these light to each ballast & overdrive each 2X, will I get more lumens overall or roughly the same compared to one bulb 4X?

[gillyweed]

Pete,

If you read the entired discussion in that thread, I seemed to recall that most people were satisfied with the x2 OD. By doing 4x OD, you'll generate more heat, shorter bulbs life & the diminishing return was set in (somewhere).

So, it's still better to do it x2. And remember to use T-8 as that will give you a better energy efficiency, longer life & more concentrated light source.

If I had a 6' long tank, I think I'd like have at least 4 - 36" bulbs to be ODed by 2 - 4X ballast.

They've also talked about the light temperature in the forum. It seemed to me that many veteran there endorsed the 9325K (compact) bulb. For our purpose, I guessed a NO bulb that carries that temperature range would fit best. And Dr. Smith's catalog has it in T-8 format at 36" for $10.59.

As I've mentioned earlier, I'm in the process of setting up one for myself, I'm still pondering which combination should be best, or just plain 9325K bulbs. But I'm tended toward getting 1 - 9325K and 1 - 6500K setup.

I'll have to ask people on that forum for opinions on this combination and I'll post it here later. Or if there's any planted tank veteran in here, please share your opinion! (Save me some "leg" works, please!!!) Thanks.

gw

[chirohorn]

I'll take your recommendation & try firing 4 bulbs versus 2. I couldn't find the 5000-6500k lights @ HD either. They only had 3000k T8s. Thanks for the Dr.SF website tip.

[gillyweed]

I've just posted the question on the Planted Tank forum. Hopefully we'll get some good recommendations as light bulb selection concern! Good luck in your search, Pete.

gw

[AndyL]

For a 6' tank, why get lighting that is known to be hard to obtain?

Here's my thought, either go with the common 4' fixtures/bulbs or go with 24" fixtures/bulbs. Or a combination of the two. Using just 24" fixtures you could get full coverage, same as using a 48" and a 24".

Call me crazy, but I like parts/equipment that are easy to find and obtain locally.

Andy

[Paulio]

One T8 4X ballast per strip. I was thinking about one 36" 30W fluorescent per ballast since it'll be equal to ~100W (?) overdriven.


No, you want 25 watt T8 bulbs. If you run 30 watt T8 they are only T8 in size not function. 36" 30 watt bulbs require the same current that 40 watt T12 bulbs do. It is not a "True" T8 bulb. If you do use them you would only be overdriving about 50%. With 36" 25 watt T8's will be overdriven 100% on that ballast and be much more efficient. I know 36" bulbs are a pain to get so if you have to use them go with the ZooMed bulbs. I had great luck with them however I would still say go with 32 watt 48" T8's and stagger them in your canopy. As for a reflector flat white paint works great!

HTH

Paul

[Paulio]

For a 6' tank, why get lighting that is known to be hard to obtain?

Here's my thought, either go with the common 4' fixtures/bulbs or go with 24" fixtures/bulbs. Or a combination of the two. Using just 24" fixtures you could get full coverage, same as using a 48" and a 24".

Call me crazy, but I like parts/equipment that are easy to find and obtain locally.

Andy



Exaclty how I look at it. On top pf that why spent the same money on half a bulb? In most cases 24" and 48" bulbs are exactly or darn near the same price. If you have a 48" tank or bigger go with 48" tubes and save some grief and money.

Paul

[gillyweed]

Pete,

It never dawn on me that 4'+2'=6'!!! ;D Duh!!!

AndyL is right, why would you want to go w/ (2)36" light while you can get (1)48"+(1)24" to match your tank of 70"?

Go with AndyL suggestion is more logical in this case, unless you have other ideas that we're not awared of. Sorry for my mixed-up, Pete. ;D ;D ;D

On the light color suggestion, i was told by the other planted tank forum that stay with the 9325K bulbs would be the best choice. Maybe it is!

Good luck!

gw

[RandalB]

Tam,
9325 (Aquarays) bulbs tend to promote spindly growth in bunch plants. Go with a combo of 6500 and 9325's. That way you get both color enhancement and good growth.

JMO,
RandalB

[Paulio]

9325's alone do promote tall (spindly) growth. In addition they was out the colors of red plants and make them look kind of brown. If you can, mix three different kelvin bulbs. 4100k + 6700k + 9325k. It will give you a nice *look* as well as nice even growth.

hth

Paul

[chirohorn]

I was originally planning on the 36" bulbs as I've got 2 hoods that length. Wanted to fit the new setup in the existing hoods. Is this not doable?

Edit: it's a moot point anyway. I went ahead & purchased a 48" kit (see http://forum.simplydiscus.com//index.php?board=7;action=display;threadid=11377). Don't think I can stagger the kit, but it'll be a huge improvement over what I've currently got.

[gillyweed]

I'll have mostly rooted plants in the tank. And, since it's only 30G (36"x13"), fitting 3 bulbs on to the top is too crowded for the oceanic hood!

Sounded like I should go with the 9235K+6500K combination as RandalB suggested? ???

gw