Can you use those Ecosmart bulbs for a fishtank?

[Been_There8]

Okay, so im just wondering, could i just hook up like 4 of these over a 15 gallon tank?

http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-Fans-Light-Bulbs/EcoSmart/h_d1/N-as2zZ1xr5Z4b8/R-100677481/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Would this be too weak, strong?

[lordofthereef]

Assuming you only want fish? This probably wouldn't a problem in that case, though I would worry about algae in the long term.

[agreeive?fish]

and the light produced is gonna be very strong in the yellow color range

[Aqua Keepers]

I used two of the 6500K daylights over a 5g minibow, and supplemented them with some screw in actinics. Color was not great nor was coral growth, but they did grow. I felt the heat provided was too much. BTW, this was a softy/zoanthid tank.

[blakemiller1981]

I had mushrooms in a 10 gal with screw in 6500 florescent bulbs from walmart diddnt do great but they diddnt die either

[lloydkeller]

no I wouldnt not if you want your tank to thrive

[MM WI]

I know my reply is not timely here but for anyone else considering these bulbs you can ignore any nay sayers. The only question is how many bulbs do you need. I have 125 mixed reef with 20 of the 26 watt daylight bulbs mixed with actic vho and it works for anything you want ot keep, clams, anemones, sps, lps it does not matter as long as you have enough light for the animal. The spectrum is great for growing corals. The actinics help but the 65 K bulbs are the main driver of the coral growth and health. Check out the pics in my gallery evidence that is beyond debate. I put together the 20 bulb fixture with bulbs for around 40$ at 1.50$ per 26 watt daylight and 10$ for wire and fictures.

- mark

[Pimps]

I know my reply is not timely here but for anyone else considering these bulbs you can ignore any nay sayers. The only question is how many bulbs do you need. I have 125 mixed reef with 20 of the 26 watt daylight bulbs mixed with actic vho and it works for anything you want ot keep, clams, anemones, sps, lps it does not matter as long as you have enough light for the animal. The spectrum is great for growing corals. The actinics help but the 65 K bulbs are the main driver of the coral growth and health. Check out the pics in my gallery evidence that is beyond debate. I put together the 20 bulb fixture with bulbs for around 40$ at 1.50$ per 26 watt daylight and 10$ for wire and fictures.

- mark

Can you link your gallery? That sounds very interesting I'd love to check it out.

[lordofthereef]

I know my reply is not timely here but for anyone else considering these bulbs you can ignore any nay sayers. The only question is how many bulbs do you need. I have 125 mixed reef with 20 of the 26 watt daylight bulbs mixed with actic vho and it works for anything you want ot keep, clams, anemones, sps, lps it does not matter as long as you have enough light for the animal. The spectrum is great for growing corals. The actinics help but the 65 K bulbs are the main driver of the coral growth and health. Check out the pics in my gallery evidence that is beyond debate. I put together the 20 bulb fixture with bulbs for around 40$ at 1.50$ per 26 watt daylight and 10$ for wire and fictures.

- mark

Can we see some pics of the fixtures/tank?

[MM WI]

did RC drop our galleries with the last upgrade, I dont see my old gallery entries anywhere???

[Kreeger1]

I'd love some details MMWI

[T Man]

did RC drop our galleries with the last upgrade, I dont see my old gallery entries anywhere???

you mean....you didn't get the memo?

[MM WI]

here is a link with an old shot, The tank has over the years varied from 16 to 24 of the bulbs depending on what i was upto

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1417141

[dots]

Suggested reading for your enjoyment. Feel free to ask clarification if you need.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/12/aafeature2/view

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/sj/index.php

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-03/atj/index.php

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-04/sj/index.php

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-08/dw/index.php

The CFL is going to be the equivalent to a NO or a PC light, none of which are recommended for light intense livestock. Back when those were used, mortality rates were MUCH higher and the degree of "success" much lower. The surge in the hobby, the degrees at which people can keep light depended livestock, that is able to produce colors unseen previously is proof to that.

Though I commend your efforts in trying to push the limits, I would believe that you are an outlier in the statistics. We would not have evolved to these other forms, though more expensive as you say without it being proven otherwise, as we would all like to "save a buck", but sadly no.

Just like a parent with a child, one should do everything they can to provide the greatest chances for success, this is why this type of lighting would not be recommended.

However, "pushing this limit" does show the effect of good water quality and flow, with to regards thier importance......both of which you must have....however, because of this lower lighting....more stress is put on those other systems to be tighter so as not upset the balance. Or less room for error in other words......

[MM WI]

funny looking at that old photo, some of those 4-6 head acan lord frags are now 70 or more heads.

[MM WI]

lol, what do you all think dots is suggesting with some entry level reading.

- mark

[MM WI]

passive aggressive??

[T Man]

here is a link with an old shot, The tank has over the years varied from 16 to 24 of the bulbs depending on what i was upto

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1417141


can you show us the fixture? this is just a full tank shot. T

[MM WI]

I am not sure you can call a 6 foot 1x4 plank wtih 6 cieling fan attachments all connected by a lamp cord a fixture.

- mark

[MM WI]

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm313/mark99m/IMG_6479.jpg

if this link works anyway

[Pimps]

Oh he updated a pic, sweet!

[MM WI]

valcro attached black tag board normally hides the fixtures from view of course, before some asks

- mark

[MM WI]

with all of the lights on it is brighter than some MH tanks

[Pimps]

That would make a great DIY thread *hint hint* :lol:

[lordofthereef]

That is pretty stellar. Where did you get the fixtures (the 4 bulbs things that you seem to have 4 of for that pic)

[lordofthereef]

That would make a great DIY thread *hint hint* :lol:

+1

That would be really cool to see how you did it. It does sound simple, but full threads with instructions still are pretty cool. I enjoy seeing things that "aren't supposed to work" based on data that has been collected over the years just totally smoke the competition. I would say that your tank looks just as good as some I have seen with hundreds to thousands invested into lighting. BTW how deep is that tank?

[MM WI]

I plan to someday do a thread on my tanks, some things are still being experiment with, but I use lots of techniques that have fallen out of vogue, and think some trends out there today are misquieded. I am plannning on a doing post with my thoughts and experiences. It should cause a few fireworks but so be it.

- Mark

[lordofthereef]

Also, do you use any sort of reflectors? Without the "hood" on your tank looks very dim. is there some sort of reflective material in the "hood" ?

[Pimps]

Also, do you use any sort of reflectors? Without the "hood" on your tank looks very dim. is there some sort of reflective material in the "hood" ?

Good question. I have a few of those bulbs in my home and tbh I hate them. The light is yellow and weak, and I can;t imagine how it fares underwater unless you modified a reflector of sorts.

[MM WI]

that is a standard 125, it has grown tridacna from less than inch to six inch clams, carpet anemone from 8 to 22 inch diameter, sps from 1 inch frags to the size of a football and the colors are good. the tank has been running for almost eight years now.

- mark

[MM WI]

they need to be daylignt spectrum, 6500 or 6900K, they are very blue.

- mark

[MM WI]

the dim look is an illussion as the pic is with the front off. exposure is set to show the lights.

[Pimps]

Ah, that explains it. :idea:

Great job Mark, now get going on the how-to thread so the penny pincher's like me can emulate you! :lol:

[lordofthereef]

the dim look is an illussion as the pic is with the front off. exposure is set to show the lights.

Can you take a pic without the exposure set like that but with the top off? I have never seen an image with this illusion you speak of.

[MM WI]

One last comment for the night, to dots post, this is a lot of light, close to 700 watts at peak lighting in this tank, and the spectrum is ideal with a mix of daylight and actinic. I am currently building a hood to hang over the tank with the exact configuration plus a row of blue leds, all for a less af a duct tape and coat hanger look behind the curtain.

For a small tank, with a home made hood these are a good option as long as you fit some actinic in there with them.

If the led 65K screw in 3-5 watt bulbs come down in price a little more i plan on experimenting with them waiting on price, should be an easy replacement, screw one in and the other out, but not in that order. Less lumens but more directed may be a wash on intensity, years without replacing, less electricity the plusses.

I agree that water quality is the holy grail but dont think I am pushing the boundries, I thiink there is too much elitism and mechinization today in the hobby and many more effective methods that have fallen out of fashion.

- mark