flourex lights - anyone using them and what is you expreience?

[rsteagall]

On another forum, the subject came up on these flourex 55w lights that are suppsedly equal to 500W lights @ 6500k. Here are the lights I'm talking about:

http://www.lightsofamerica.com/floods.htm

I've also ran across a guy thats selling these lights and filters:

http://www.lenslights.com/filters/

I took the liberty of contacting Len at lenslights.com. He said each filter added reduces lumens by about 20%. One filter gives you a little more than 9500k. To reach a 12000k color temperature, it would take 2 filters and he said you'd lose about 35-40% intensity.

Does anyone have an experience with flourex lights? What about filters?

-Ryan

 

[RichConley]

Theyre equal to a 500w incandescent bulb, which is equal to..you guessed it, a 55w fluorescent bulb. Nothing incredible here.

 

[bassnman11]

Most things that sound to good to be true are!!

 

[tompg]

I bought one at home depot to supplement my pc's. i am cheap and i like it. Without the filter it is a bit yellow but tank does well onder it.

 

[want2reef]

I use one to grow chaeto. Does a great job at it.

 

[stewie24]

I too use one on my fuge. I haven't tested the melev bulb yet, but this one that I'm using now just works fine.
As far as your question - its the same as a 55 watt pc bulb. Loosing the % with the filters, would make it about a 30 watt pc bulb. That'd be good for a 5 gallon nano imo.
I agree with bassnman11 too!

Stewie

 

[-Keith-]

Used to use several the 55 W ones. For several months I used them on my 90 gal tank and when I boutght real lights, I put them on my sump / prop tank. Worked OK for each application but after ~ 2 years, I had problems with the fixtures shorting / not working. I now have one of 85W version on my sump / prop tank. After 1 month, I'm happpy with it.

Keith