Aquarium Bulbs vs Hardware Bulbs

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cichlidsickness

cichlidsickness

Candiru
MFK Member
Nov 25, 2011
371
96
46
Ceres, CA
I've always bought my fluorescent light bulbs from my local hardware store or Wal-Mart and am wondering if there's a difference. For instance, if I buy a Coralife 10,000K 48" T-8 40 Watt bulb from my LFS, is it the same as a different brand bulb that's also 10,000K 48" T-8 and 40 Watts from the hardware store?

I just had a bulb go out on me and would like to know if there's really any difference besides the price.
 
If you can find a T-8 10,000 k at a hardware store your doing better than the rest of us. Otherwise to answer your question no there typically isn't much in the way of a tangible difference between a hardware store bulb and a pet store bulb just price assuming temp and all are the same.

Now hardware stores tend not to sell temps over 8,000k. I know I've looked and googled and searched to no avail.
 
You're probably right about not being able to find them at that temp at a hardware store. I've been using 6500k daylight from Walmart and I want to try the 10k. If I can't find one, ill be buying from my LFS. Thanks for the help
 
I currently use a hardware bulb I snagged from the back room of my buddies retail store. It works the same as any aquarium bulb. And it was free! I grabbed about 5 of them lol
Sent from my GT-I5510M using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
Slippery K said:
I currently use a hardware bulb I snagged from the back room of my buddies retail store. It works the same as any aquarium bulb. And it was free! I grabbed about 5 of them lol
Sent from my GT-I5510M using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Click to expand...

This is the way I would go, as long as I can find a bulb thats 10K.
 
cichlidsickness said:
You're probably right about not being able to find them at that temp at a hardware store. I've been using 6500k daylight from Walmart and I want to try the 10k. If I can't find one, ill be buying from my LFS. Thanks for the help
Click to expand...

those wal mart bulbs look pretty green tinted to me ,but I put a 50-50 with 1 on my 75 and it looks darn good with the combo, q:what hardware stores (name )have 10000 k bulbs ?I would LOVE finding some cheaper than lfs
 
I don't know about 10,000K bulbs at say Home Depot, but I have seen 5K, 6.5K and even 8K. in various lengths and watts. I have also noticed a great selection of LED bulbs and have tried some with great results.
 
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