Buying specialty aquarium lamps at an aqaurium store can be very expensive. Most fluorescent tubes start from around AU$30. The same intensities and colours are available at an electrical wholesaler for significantly less cost. By mixing standard triphosphor tubes with some specialty tubes made by Philips and/or Sylvania, tank lighting can be pleasing and relatively inexpensive.
You will probably need to experiment to get a mix that you are happy with, but the following combination works well for me:
If the Philips 'TL'D 36W/865 Daylight is unavailable, the Sylvania F36W/860 Daylight Deluxe is almost as good.
Where possible, when planning your lighting, 1200mm, 590mm or combinations of these length lamps should be used. This is because these sizes are generally available and are much cheaper.
|
Length
(mm)
|
Brand
|
Model
|
Watt1
|
Light
Output2
(lm)
|
Colour
Temp3
(K)
|
|
Price4
(AU$)
|
|
|
Daylight
|
|
1200
|
Philips
|
'TL'D 36W/865 Daylight
|
36
|
3250
|
6500
|
T8
|
$8.93
|
|
|
1200
|
Sylvania
|
F36W/860 Daylight Deluxe
|
36
|
3250
|
|
T8
|
$5.45
|
|
|
895
|
Sylvania
|
F30W/154 Daylight
|
30
|
1900
|
|
T8
|
$6.53
|
|
|
590
|
Philips
|
'TL'D 18W/865 Daylight
|
18
|
1300
|
6500
|
T8
|
$8.49
|
|
|
590
|
Sylvania
|
F18W/860 Daylight Deluxe
|
18
|
1300
|
|
T8
|
$4.60
|
|
|
10000K
|
|
1200
|
Sylvania
|
F36W AQU/174
Aquastar
|
36
|
2200
|
10000
|
T8
|
$15.26
|
|
|
895
|
Sylvania
|
F30W AQU/174
Aquastar
|
30
|
1700
|
10000
|
T8
|
$14.08
|
|
|
590
|
Sylvania
|
F18W AQU/174
|
18
|
900
|
10000
|
T8
|
$9.35
|
|
|
Actinc
|
|
1200
|
Philips
|
'TL' 40W/03 RS
|
40
|
|
|
T12
|
$15.84
|
|
|
895
|
Sylvania
|
F30W/ACTINIC
|
30
|
3250
|
|
T8
|
$14.19
|
|
|
590
|
Philips
|
'TL' 20W/03 T
|
20
|
|
|
T12
|
$14.70
|
|
Notes:
- This is the rated power consumption as documented by the manufacturer.
- This is the light output of the tube as documented by the manufacturer. The actual light output may vary.
- This is the colour temperature as documented by the manufacturer. The actual colour temperature may be different.
- These are the prices I paid when I last purchased the lamps. Prices vary from time to time and the actual price paid may be different from what is listed.
Links:
Last updated: October 18, 2002
