Convert a form_tag select_datetime to SQL datetime

Question

Hi I am trying to make a simple search form that uses a startTime and endTime to specify a time range. The db has a datetime field time that is compared against.

So far when i try to use params[:startTime] in the controller I get an array of values which wont work with :conditions => ['time < ?', params[:endTime]]

Is there a simple solution to parse the form's datetime to SQL datetime?