[Wet Thumb Forum]-Anyone have experience with Spiral Compact Flourescents?

[zabak80]

Anyone have any final results on how the spiral CL bulbs worked? Also, how do you handle the electrical safety issues?

[goalcreas]

I have a 5 gallon tank and I got the Coralife Colormax "u" tube bulb, the ones like the spirals that screw into a normal light socket. I then got the car light, silver with a clip like the onex over the 125 gallon in this thread. I fashioned a hanging bracket and then hung the fixture (clamp removed) over it and it works just fine. First I got the 10 watt, and then realized for a few $$ more that they have a 20 watt.
I have A. Reineckii in there that grows very well. Crypt Wendetti tropica, cabomba, crypt "mi oyo" and tonnia fluvals (sp?) in there and they all grow slow but very full and healthy.

I also just use a small sponge filter, Eco Complete and don't really dose anything but a tiny bit of excell once in a great while.

I think this set up works very nice for what it is and for the $25 I spent for the light bulb, reflector, EMT tubeing for the hanger and the fasteners.

[01krisp10]

OK, I also have a question about spirals.

I setup a 5g tank with a small 15w hood. I have an 15w incandescent bulb in it currently, but after reading this I found a 13w spiral (no idea what the equivalent rating is, cut that part of the package off forever ago, my best guess after looking around is 60w).

My first question... Is it safe to use a lower rated build 13w in a 15w fixture?

Second, from the picture below the 13w spiral on the left it seems that the 13w is dong a much better job than the 15w incandescent, but is it to much light? (this is void if its not safe to use)

[zabak80]

No, a spiral compact is safe to use as long as the watts is equal to or under the rates maximum watts.

[goalcreas]

No problem and you are right, it looks much better, but you might consider this light, with the "u" shaped tubes, you might get more light in the tank. Also the color temp is more for plant growing then the Spiral might be, IMO

here is a link

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...1&N=2004&Nty=1

They make a 20 watt for a little more, have to go to that pet place / that fish place or another online vendor, but you would need to up your fixture to something that would be safe to run that bulb.

[TeutonJon78]

I don't think that light will be "too much" by any means. Although, with those light patterns, it looks like the edges of the tank aren't getting much light. since those bulbs are more limited in their directionality vs a tube light, you might want to raise it slightly off of the surface if possible.

[01krisp10]

Those coralife ones look great, going to go pick one up today at the LFS for $12, good deal if you add shipping online it evens out. I'll post a pic once I have it installed.

Thanks Jon, good idea. I may line the inside with aluminium foil, bet that will help with the edges, if that doesn't work I'll rig something up with clamps. Don't forget this will be getting sunlight as well! :P

[01krisp10]

Well I was busy today and came up with this. 10W Coralife Colormax.



And this is the result, notice I removed the hornwort to see the spread of light.



Let me know what y'all think.

[TeutonJon78]

well, definitely better spread, but it looks kind of purple. Is that from the picture, or how it looks? Of course, the plants only care about the spectrum, not the human visible color.

[01krisp10]

Yeah I don't view the color as better, but better for growth, maybe easier on the future inhabitants?