Re: [GSAS-Member] Speaking of lights... anyone using T5 HO fixtures?

[Matt Staroscik <matt@wrongcrowd.com>]

My current setup spills a lot of light out the front glass, so a T5HO
fixture with individual reflectors per bulb should be a lot more efficient
in that regard.

(I see your " marks as curly quotes which is probably the root of your
problem.)

On Mon, Dec 21, 2009 at 11:42 AM, Seattle_Aquarist <
Seattle_Aquarist@comcast.net> wrote:

> Hey Matt,
>
> In my experience with an unusually deep aquarium, say 22” or more, I need
> to
> pay as much attention to the reflector portion of the lighting system as
> the
> wattage.  (My Physics teacher would be glad to know that I occasionally use
> the “Inverse Square Rule” for light intensity; 2X the distance from the
> bulb
> and get ¼ the light intensity.)  For example, I have a 45 gallon tall (24”
> deep) and a 30 gallon long (16” deep); both tanks are 36” long.  To get the
> same light intensity to the bottom of my 45 gallon tank that I have in 30
> gallon aquarium I need 225% more output!  I don’t run that much light in my
> 45 gallon, but I can’t grow the same low growing plants in it that I can
> grow in my 30 gallon.
>
> In a deeper aquarium the shape of the reflector and material it is made of
> has a lot to do how much light intensity actually gets down to the
> substrate
> level of the aquarium.  Some reflectors reflect light more light outwards
> and less downwards while other direct more light downwards and less toward
> the sides.  In a deeper aquarium, if I get a reflector that directs more of
> its’ light outwards then I can grow a lot of algae on the side of my tank
> but not a lot of low growing plants at the substrate level.    BTW, I run
> 6700K lights and they give me good color rendition as well as plant growth.
>
> Roy
>
>
>
>
>
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