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Post by parker002 on Sept 1, 2010 14:01:52 GMT -5
I've had my 55G aquarium about a year and I'm noticing that the lighting seems dimmed somewhat. My aquarium is an Aqueon (All Glass) kit, featured here: www.aqueonproducts.com/products/deluxe-aquarium-kit.htm1) It has two standard 15-watt flourescent light bulbs. I'm assuming they are the same as the ones shown here: www.aqueonproducts.com/products/fluorescent-lamps-and-starters.htmIs it reasonable to assume that the bulbs are nearing the halfway point of their useful life? I think standard flourescents put out less light over time - should I consider replacing them? If so, should I replace them with something different? 2) The light fixtures themselves are part of a 24" hood assembly, identical to the ones shown here: www.aqueonproducts.com/products/fluorescent-deluxe-full-hoods.htm#The hood itself has a sheet of clear acrylic beneath the light fixture to protect it from water. That acrylic gathers both algae (easy to remove) and hard water stains (nearly impossible to remove). The label on the back of the fixture says never to operate the lights over open water, probably for obvious reasons. Can I replace the acrylic sheets with glass? Or will it exhibit the same characteristics? Is there a better way to do it, perhaps that doesn't involve having solid material between the aquarium lights and the water?
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Post by Carl on Sept 1, 2010 15:01:11 GMT -5
The 8000K T8 Lights that come with this kit are reasonably good lights for a T8 type lamp. At one year these lamps are likely only putting out about 25-50% of the useful light energy that they did when new (depending upon run time) As for the acrylic lens, these can be cleaned with vinegar &/or a plastic scraper. Glass can be substituted, but glass is only about 40% efficient for lower (toward the blue scale) light penetration, while the acrylic is about 60% (polycarbonate is about 95%) This can also be found at: Aquarium Lighting Facts & InformationI would not leave these lights exposed to open water unless you can totally redesign the hood with venting that quickly exhausts the moisture. You can also retrofit these with the superior T2 Lights, which for plants would definitely be an improvement and even for fish can aid in necessary light energy needed for disease preventionCarl
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Post by parker002 on Sept 1, 2010 15:09:10 GMT -5
So it looks like the quickest, least-expensive option is to just buy replacement flourescent bulbs and clean the acrylic guards with vinegar?
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Post by Carl on Sept 1, 2010 15:15:58 GMT -5
So it looks like the quickest, least-expensive option is to just buy replacement flourescent bulbs and clean the acrylic guards with vinegar? Yep
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