PAR Data-Spiral Power Saver Bulbs, lighting question

AirSong · 04-08-2009, 07:25 PM

Original title: Hemianthus Callitrichoides and Blysa in 2.5g, lighting question

I am trying to grow these in a 2.5g. My lighting is currently provided by a desk lamp that contains a 5w flourescent bulb that according to package gives off 25w of light.

If you want to see the details, it's THIS ONE.

Is that enough for them or should I get something stronger?

kid creole · 04-08-2009, 07:42 PM

Your 5W bulb gives off 5W for the sake of tank light calculations.

AirSong · 04-08-2009, 07:54 PM

So stronger then

? how much light do I need?

prototyp3 · 04-08-2009, 08:04 PM

I'm growing HC and blyxa in a 2.5 with 8w of LED lighting. I'd definitely go with something higher powered, maybe two of those bulbs would work? But then you'd be adding another fixture..

pandapr · 04-08-2009, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prototyp3

I'm growing HC and blyxa in a 2.5 with 8w of LED lighting. I'd definitely go with something higher powered, maybe two of those bulbs would work? But then you'd be adding another fixture..

could you post more info on where to get them? experiences? thanks

AirSong · 04-08-2009, 08:24 PM

I could just get a 10-15w bulb if I need double power, right? why would I need a new fixture?

fishstoregirl · 04-08-2009, 08:49 PM

You certainly could get a higher watt bulb, but some fixtures are only rated for a certain wattage so make sure before you change bulbs. I am currently growing Blyxa and HM in a 5.5 gallon with 27 watts of compact fluorescent and they are both thriving, if that helps you gauge how much light you may need... Good luck, I'm sure it will look great!

AirSong · 04-09-2009, 12:18 AM

Just checked my lamp, I am allowed up to a 60w bulb, so 15 is more that doable, I will try to get a 13 though, that way my wattage will be similar to yours fishstoregirl

ESK07 · 04-18-2009, 03:44 PM

also you dont want a 2700k bulb like the one you linked too, go with a 6500k they are readily available at the hardware stores

AirSong · 04-18-2009, 10:57 PM

Yes, thank you! :3 did get one of those, the blyxa is doing just fine with that light and excel, the HC, however, all died.

The person that sold it to me said I should at least install DIY Co2 system if I want the HC to take off. Anyone know if this will really fix the problem?

ESK07 · 04-18-2009, 11:51 PM

HC loves co2 like alot of plants but what temp is the bulb you have?

AirSong · 04-19-2009, 01:16 AM

It's a 6500k, so it's fine, right? will adding more CO2 help then?

jmontee · 04-19-2009, 01:30 AM

Yes 6500 is fine.

Adding more CO2 will help any plantd tank. HC is especially picky and I would say it is almost a necessity.

You can also get a 27w 6500k CF desk lamp at Home Depot. Its around 20 dollars and I have only heard good things about that lamp. Remember that adding more light without increasing the available nutrients, ie ferts, for the plants will only give you an algae farm. Also without the right amount of CO2 or ecel you will also be limiting the plants and algae will be more than happy to make up te difference.

AirSong · 04-19-2009, 02:09 AM

The tank has been running for a few months now and I still have not had any algae problems.

The lamp I have can actually handle up to a 60w bulb (was bought at Home Depot BTW).

I rather like the low light, anything else would be too much for my small room. I do have dry ferts, but I'm still trying to figure out exactly how much to dose in such a small tank before actually adding any.

Hilde · 04-19-2009, 05:35 AM

Could you provide a picture of the tank?

What is the gh, kh, ph and co2 of the tank. There is always Co2 in the water.

How about just trying a different plant. Four leaf clover would probably work. I have it growing in my low tech 29 gallon tank. I had 65 watt of PC bulb and 20 watt T8 bulb. Now just went down to 2 - 20 T8 bulbs. No Co2, dosed with flourish comprehensive daily and sodium bicarb when doing water changes.

04-08-2009, 07:25 PM	#1
AirSong Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Mexico Posts: 71	PAR Data-Spiral Power Saver Bulbs, lighting question Original title: Hemianthus Callitrichoides and Blysa in 2.5g, lighting question I am trying to grow these in a 2.5g. My lighting is currently provided by a desk lamp that contains a 5w flourescent bulb that according to package gives off 25w of light. If you want to see the details, it's THIS ONE. Is that enough for them or should I get something stronger? Last edited by sewingalot; 09-03-2009 at 09:37 PM.. Reason: Changed title to make into a sticky. :)

04-08-2009, 07:42 PM	#2
kid creole Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,241	Your 5W bulb gives off 5W for the sake of tank light calculations. __________________ 65 gallon journal: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...tml#post786931

04-08-2009, 08:04 PM	#4
prototyp3 Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (85/100%) Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,166	I'm growing HC and blyxa in a 2.5 with 8w of LED lighting. I'd definitely go with something higher powered, maybe two of those bulbs would work? But then you'd be adding another fixture.. __________________ My: planted 40G

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04-08-2009, 07:54 PM	#3
AirSong Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Mexico Posts: 71	So stronger then ? how much light do I need?

04-08-2009, 08:24 PM	#6
AirSong Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Mexico Posts: 71	I could just get a 10-15w bulb if I need double power, right? why would I need a new fixture?

04-08-2009, 08:49 PM	#7
fishstoregirl Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 79	You certainly could get a higher watt bulb, but some fixtures are only rated for a certain wattage so make sure before you change bulbs. I am currently growing Blyxa and HM in a 5.5 gallon with 27 watts of compact fluorescent and they are both thriving, if that helps you gauge how much light you may need... Good luck, I'm sure it will look great!

04-09-2009, 12:18 AM	#8
AirSong Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Mexico Posts: 71	Just checked my lamp, I am allowed up to a 60w bulb, so 15 is more that doable, I will try to get a 13 though, that way my wattage will be similar to yours fishstoregirl

04-18-2009, 03:44 PM	#9
ESK07 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (15/100%) Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 245	also you dont want a 2700k bulb like the one you linked too, go with a 6500k they are readily available at the hardware stores

04-18-2009, 10:57 PM	#10
AirSong Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Mexico Posts: 71	Yes, thank you! :3 did get one of those, the blyxa is doing just fine with that light and excel, the HC, however, all died. The person that sold it to me said I should at least install DIY Co2 system if I want the HC to take off. Anyone know if this will really fix the problem?

04-18-2009, 11:51 PM	#11
ESK07 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (15/100%) Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 245	HC loves co2 like alot of plants but what temp is the bulb you have?

04-19-2009, 01:16 AM	#12
AirSong Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Mexico Posts: 71	It's a 6500k, so it's fine, right? will adding more CO2 help then?

04-19-2009, 01:30 AM	#13
jmontee Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 88	Yes 6500 is fine. Adding more CO2 will help any plantd tank. HC is especially picky and I would say it is almost a necessity. You can also get a 27w 6500k CF desk lamp at Home Depot. Its around 20 dollars and I have only heard good things about that lamp. Remember that adding more light without increasing the available nutrients, ie ferts, for the plants will only give you an algae farm. Also without the right amount of CO2 or ecel you will also be limiting the plants and algae will be more than happy to make up te difference.

04-19-2009, 02:09 AM	#14
AirSong Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Mexico Posts: 71	The tank has been running for a few months now and I still have not had any algae problems. The lamp I have can actually handle up to a 60w bulb (was bought at Home Depot BTW). I rather like the low light, anything else would be too much for my small room. I do have dry ferts, but I'm still trying to figure out exactly how much to dose in such a small tank before actually adding any.

04-19-2009, 05:35 AM	#15
Hilde Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: May 2008 Location: Mableton, GA Posts: 4,032	Could you provide a picture of the tank? What is the gh, kh, ph and co2 of the tank. There is always Co2 in the water. How about just trying a different plant. Four leaf clover would probably work. I have it growing in my low tech 29 gallon tank. I had 65 watt of PC bulb and 20 watt T8 bulb. Now just went down to 2 - 20 T8 bulbs. No Co2, dosed with flourish comprehensive daily and sodium bicarb when doing water changes.