Need help choosing a bulb
- Thread starter Pyramid_Party
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What particular T5HO bulb is good> Is the Ocean sun 10,000K bulb any good for plants? What one of the Zoo Med T5HO bulbs would I want?
i dont worry too much about brands, as long as you try to stay withing 6-10,000k. some people even have the 18,000k power glos on their tanks (even though it's not truly 18,000k).
On the Ocean Sun Zoo Med bulb it doesnt really mention anything about it being good for plants. It says "ideal for all marine aquariums, reef aquariums, and fresh water aquariums where a deep water effect is desired." It is rated 10,000 K though. I was looking at other Zoo Med T5HO bulbs and they mention buying ultra sun, or tropical sun, or plant gro bulb to add with your other bulb. Would this do any good or will it only raise my light level, like from medium light to high light?
Also should it ever be mixed, like 5000 or 6500 K bulbs with 10,000 K Bulbs? Or is that a waste too?
Also should it ever be mixed, like 5000 or 6500 K bulbs with 10,000 K Bulbs? Or is that a waste too?
IMO colour temp means so little to PAR values becuase higher temps will have more blues and less reds while lower ones wil have more reds and less blues overall there is no net change in PAR value. In your thread on how to figure out lighting for you tank someone posted up an experiment someone did on compact flourescents (the screw in kind) and how much PAR they give off and it even directly said colour temp means absolutely nothing and infact the experiment showed that the lower temp (3200K) had higher PAR than a 5500K bulb but only slightly).jcardona1;4312719; said:
To the OP just get whatever bulb that suits you visualy assuming you have the proper intensity it's going to matter very little to plants.
Kelvin rating does have to do a lot with plant growth. If you try to grow aquatic plants under 3200K bulbs, 6700K and 20000K bulbs, you will have poor growth or death on those that are too low or too high. Bulbs in the 6500K-8000K are ideal, however, you can go expand to 5000K-10,000K.Zander_The_RBP;4312894;4312894 said:
Right, that's because PAR and kelvin rating are not comparable. You could have a ton of PAR but still have lighting in the wrong color spectrum (kelvin rating) for freshwater plants - just like wyld saidZander_The_RBP;4312894;4312894 said:
It's all personal preference really. Just stay below 10,000K, don't run actinics, and don't overdo it with lighting and you'll be fine. I run 10,000k on all my tanks because I like the colorPyramid_Party;4312814;4312814 said:
Whats the difference if I run a 24 watt or a 54 watt? Since lighting is measured by type of lighting and the bulbs, what would be the difference with using higher watts?
Using a T5HO 24 watt vs a 54 watt T5HO
Using a T5HO 24 watt vs a 54 watt T5HO
