Juwel Rekord 600 T8 Lightning

migdem

I am soon going to change the light after one year and do not know what should i get. Juwel lightning have Day-Lite and Warm-Lite both at 15W each. What should i get to maximize the plant growth? I know that the light is low but at least I try to give more.

Also it is right that after one year the light will deteriorate that is why we should change them at a yearly bases right?

Thanks

kitten_penang

get a better light and it will help keep the plants stay healthier for a longer time.plus they grow better and lusher with it

Byron

The Day-lite should be better, but do you have a kelvin rating for it? "Daylight" is usually around 6500K which is fine. "Warm" is less kelvin, more red and less blue, and might also work (depending upon the rating) but the colour rendition will be different. The "daylight" should bring out the natural colours on fish and plants.

T8 tubes last 3 years. The old T12 (the "fatter" tubes) had to be replaced every year, or so most suggested.

migdem

These bulbs are the Juwel make. They do not have any Kelvin rating for them. I will get the Day Lite then. Also in the website they suggest to be changed every year because the light will deteriorate and plants will not stay healthy any more. That is why i am asking here to see if this is true.

Byron

There is varying opinion. Some run them until they actually burn out; I don't recommend this because there is no doubt that they do deteriorate in intensity as they burn, and it is also a fact that algae increases when they are left this long which means the intensity is no longer sufficient for plants. Some say 6 months or 1 year--but as I mentioned previously that applied to the T12 tubes. Karen Randall of the Aquatic Gardeners Assoc. in the 1990's recommended 6 months to 1 year max. But the new T8 tubes are different; they use less energy, they produce higher intensity light and by different means in the way they are made. Diana Walstad, Tom Barr (if memory serves me), Peter Hiscock have all said 3 years.

The website is out to sell their products, and unfortunately this has to be remembered when you are taking "advice" from manufacturers or retailers. I used to replace my T12's every year. I now have T8 tubes and since installing them in October 2008 and July 2009 I have not replaced them and I intend to go 3 years before I do.

migdem

Ok thank you