Fluorescent lighting

Fluorescent Lighting
Contents:
Fluorescent Bulbs and some comments ....
by cs4gp6am-at-maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca (Heide BT) (Sun, 19 Apr 1992)
GFI no help through ballast
by scottn-at-fluffrag.Eng.Sun.COM (Scott Nye) (30 Jun 1992 21:26:13 GMT) ...

Fluorescent Lighting
The fluorescent lighting method an older method of lighting however a type of bulb, compact fluorescent, a U shape bulb is good to use with fish-only aquariums.

Fluorescent Lighting System Components
With the exception of normal output fluorescent lighting, the basic components used for all VHO, T5 HO, and compact fluorescent aquarium lighting systems include:
Fluorescent lamp
Ballast ...

Fluorescent Lighting - A relatively cool, energy-efficient artificial light source. Produced by gas discharge (ionization) in a low-pressure tube. The recommended and most common type of lighting used for aquaria. Compare Incandescent.

Compact fluorescent lighting-are basically very bright, and smaller fluorescent bulbs than their relative HO, or VHO fluorescent bulbs. This special type of fluorescent lighting has unique phosphors that illuminate intensely when electrified.

Fluorescent lighting is the most economical means of establishing a broad spectrum of light in an adequate quantity for the survival of aquatic plants.

Fluorescent lighting is an efficient, effective choice for many aquariums. It evenly illuminates the full length of the aquarium and efficiently converts energy consumed into light.

Fluorescent lighting is still the method of choice for most reef enthusiasts, particularly those keeping predominantly soft and large polyped stony corals. Fortunately, even in fluorescent lighting there are now many choices.

For all fluorescent lighting, the amount of light put out is a function of the length of the bulb and the type of bulb, so if two bulbs are the same length and for the same fixture, they put out the same amount of light.

Full-Spectrum Fluorescent lighting has been and still is the best available lighting. It provides the best quality and quantity light at the lowest up front, operational and replacement costs.

With the use of fluorescent lighting over the aquarium, you can control the amount and kind of light you require. I use two 4-foot tubes over three 55 gallon tanks.

I don't recommend this power compact fluorescent lighting for reef aquariums unless you have a little nano aquarium like a Biocube or Nanocube. You'll find currently better options accessible.

(P22D) Add one liter of Isochrysis galbana (cultured under fluorescent lighting according to protocol outlined by Hoff and Snell (1987) and about 40,000 rotifers (10 rotifers per milliliter).

As with any innovation, the disadvantages of the new fluorescent lighting systems may still outweigh the advantages for some users at the present time.

For a beginning aquarist, fluorescent lighting is probably the best. Metal halide lighting is really for reef keeping and heavily planted freshwater tanks.

They provide excellent 20 and 29 gallon aquariums by Regent / Aqua-Tech, complete with heater, filter, canopy and fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent lighting will produce much better lighting for viewing your fish than incandescent light bulbs will.

For example, if you want to keep mushroom polyps, which prefer more subdued fluorescent lighting, you wouldn’t want to subject them to the merciless glare of high-wattage metal halide lamps.

Actinic: A type of fluorescent lighting that provides the proper spectra for photosynthesis and is the color of the sea below 10 meters. Best used for aquariums with live plants or chlorophyll containing species such as reef coral.

This should be at least 2W per US Gallon (3.8L) of fluorescent lighting over the length of the tank for a period of at least 10 hours a day. 'Cool white' tubes are usually all that is required.

Grow better in fluorescent lighting. Need adaption time to tolerate long photoperiods of metal halide lighting. Can be propagated via cuttings. Long polyp stems with small flower-like tentacles.
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VHO Lighting Very High Output fluorescent lighting. These lights are powered by special ballast which deliver a wide spectra light.
Encyclopedia 1.0 by Rebecca Smallwood
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HO lighting: High Output fluorescent lighting.
Hydrogen Sulfide: A molecule composed of a hydrogen and sulfur atom. It is a toxic compound which has a rotten egg odor. It is synthesized anaerobically by unwanted bacteria.

HO lighting
High Output fluorescent lighting, very good for some tanks.
Hydra
A freshwater hydrozoan resembling a small sea anemone, an aquarium pest that is sometimes a problem in breeding because it preys on fry.

If you would like to grow aquatic plants spend the money to get a fluorescent hood as fluorescent lighting more closely emulates the sun than does incandescent lighting.

If you are using fluorescent lighting, and and you have plastic plants, 1 lamp is good enough for the fish. Some certain real plants can grow in inhospitable enviroments (Hygros, Vals, Java Fern).

This is expectable if you are using fluorescent lighting, but how do you access the prefilter in the overflow ? What if you are using Metal Halide Lighting ? Ever been burned by a metal halide bulb while cleaning the tank ? It does not feel good.

5″D x 18″H acrylic aquarium, Hood with 15-watt fluorescent lighting, A 50-watt heater, Power filter system, Trial size AquaSafe water treatment packet and TetraMin tropical fish food packet.

Marine Fish Foods
Desktop Fish Tanks
Fluorescent Lighting
Gravel Cleaners ...

that heats the tank that much is just plain silly. Everything else is either good or about as much as you can expect from the price point. All in all, I would have rather paid a little bit more and received some inexpensive fluorescent lighting.

Not only will it be cheaper but also provide better lighting for your plants using the same energy to run.
You will also find a small variance in Lumens with brand and age of light. Also for fluorescent lighting the quality of the starter will ...

See also: Lighting, Aquarium, Water, Fish, Gallon