Home Depot Lights VS Hagen Lights??

[hghlndr85]

is there ANY diff in a 6500k daylight bulb form home depot and a hagen life glo bulb? same color temp rating, just wondering if there is any diff that makes it cost $20 more

 

[FSM]

not enough to justify the $20, I don't think. I bought 6500k bulbs from Lowes, 2 for $7, they look fine.

 

[jcardona1]

same bulb essentially. only difference is the hagen one comes in a pretty package and makes you think its only for aquariums

 

[egwu123]

Same here. I think it is sheer marketing. Period. I did a lot of research on lighting, color temperature, color rendering index, etc. I discovered that the Lowes Sunshine flourescent bulb is actually cheaper and has more color temperature than the Lowes bulb that is labeled as "Aquarium and Plants".

The Sunshine bulb has a color temperature of 5000K, whereas the Aquarium and Plant bulb has only 3100K. Both have the same life span of 20000 hours and color rendering index of 90. Now, the Sunshine bulb sells for 2 pack at $6.64. Whereas the Aquarium and Plant bulb sells for $9.98 each.

Go figure. I always go the Sunshine bulb. There may be a claim here and there by the manufacturer but it doesn't justify the price difference most times.

Sunshine bulb:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=147989-371-12224&lpage=none

Aquarium and Plants bulb:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=149116-371-49893&lpage=none

 

[hghlndr85]

thats what i figured

 

[sostoudt]

the hagen is made to put out specific parts of the spectrum chloroplasts absorb, that amount to 6500k. where as the other bulb will just use what ever parts that amount to 6500k(probably the cheapest combination).

 

[FSM]

Same here. I think it is sheer marketing. Period. I did a lot of research on lighting, color temperature, color rendering index, etc. I discovered that the Lowes Sunshine flourescent bulb is actually cheaper and has more color temperature than the Lowes bulb that is labeled as "Aquarium and Plants".

The Sunshine bulb has a color temperature of 5000K, whereas the Aquarium and Plant bulb has only 3100K. Both have the same life span of 20000 hours and color rendering index of 90. Now, the Sunshine bulb sells for 2 pack at $6.64. Whereas the Aquarium and Plant bulb sells for $9.98 each.

Go figure. I always go the Sunshine bulb. There may be a claim here and there by the manufacturer but it doesn't justify the price difference most times.

Sunshine bulb:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=147989-371-12224&lpage=none

Aquarium and Plants bulb:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=149116-371-49893&lpage=none

Higher color temperature isn't necessarily better; very high temperatures are blue and look terrible on most aquariums

very low temperatures are too yellow though, IMO.

 

[FishNCash]

Higher color temperature isn't necessarily better; very high temperatures are blue and look terrible on most aquariums

very low temperatures are too yellow though, IMO.

I disagree! Higher color temp looks great in aquarium. 10,000 is daylight and bring out the colors better in the fish.

 

[egwu123]

I agree with FishNCash. Here is some food for thought. ....Products of over six months of reasearching aquarium lighting

Seaworld's comment on lighting:
http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/aquarium/aq.html

"The type of lighting depends upon what kind of animals you desire to keep. One of the most important factors is the light intensity. A high color temperature is also important. Aquarium lights with color temperatures ranging between 5,000 to 7,000 degrees Kelvin would give excellent colors to a marine system. Another factor is the "Color Rendering Index" or CRI. The CRI of sunlight is 100 and a high CRI on an artificial light means that it is very close to replicating the colors of natural sunlight."

Dr Foster and Smith:
http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/general.cfm?general_pagesid=150

" ...you should provide a full spectrum range of light (5500 K to 7500 K) to simulate natural daylight. Most reef aquariums thrive under a half-and-half blue/white light combination in which the white lights give light in the range of 8000 to 12000 K. This lighting combination gives corals and invertebrates the spectrum necessary for growth, in addition to the spectrum necessary for accurate color rendering within the aquarium."

Other References:

Aquarium Lighting Knowledge: http://www.ledaquarium.com/aquarium-lighting/aquarium-lighting-knowledge.html

Natural Lighting: http://www.naturallighting.com/articles_choosing_the_right_light.php

Color Temperature Chart:
http://www.3drender.com/glossary/colortemp.jpg

 

[jcardona1]

it's not that difficult. all you need to do is choose lighting that has the same color spectrum as your fish. if you have a bunch of blue/violet fish (like african cichlids), then pick something high on the kelvin range like 18000k.

me, i keep pbass that are green, red and yellow so i use 6500-10000k lighting.