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Aquarist Forums => Equipment / DIY => Topic started by: Seanc on January 28, 2006, 04:12:20 PM

Title: flourecent lighting
Post by: Seanc on January 28, 2006, 04:12:20 PM
Hi
i have a bunch of 4' florecent lights, but i have no 4' tanks to use them on. could I use 3' and 2' bulbs, on the 4' fixtures. would this be any more dangrous then making it high output?
thanks
Title: flourecent lighting
Post by: BigDaddy on January 28, 2006, 06:23:30 PM
So, you are going to move the end caps over and drive a 2 foot bulb (or 3) with a ballast designed for 4 foot?

If so, you might end up overdriving the bulbs.  Not a problem really... people do it all the time to get more light over their tanks.

Be aware, though, that the bulbs will generate more heat and will burn out much, much quicker.
Title: flourecent lighting
Post by: Seanc on January 28, 2006, 06:31:23 PM
yeah that was what i was thinking, I thought it would work but just wanted to make sure. thanks Big D
Title: flourecent lighting
Post by: darkdep on January 28, 2006, 09:08:51 PM
Depends on the ballast...some (especially electronic) ballasts will run shorter bulbs at their rated wattage.  Detects it somehow.
Title: flourecent lighting
Post by: rockgarden on January 28, 2006, 11:32:35 PM
http://nemesis.lonestar.org/reference/electricity/fluorescent/overview.html