I use both to simulate the sunlight/moonlight throughout the day. Morning time just the LEDs, afternoon both are on, evening florescent only, late night led(blue only)
Uh Oh. LED lighting a mistake?
- Thread starter TahoeFish
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I use both to simulate the sunlight/moonlight throughout the day. Morning time just the LEDs, afternoon both are on, evening florescent only, late night led(blue only)
Okay, I'm liking the LED lighting more. I really like the way it does not bounce off particles in the water so gives the impression of sharp and clear light. I threw my old florescent T12 on half the tank, and it is really clear how florescent light gives the impression of "fuzzy" as it bounces off more particles in the water. The other thing I like about the marineland double bright is that the light is not too intense and I love the shimmer effect.
What I don't like is the yellow hue and how it washes out the reds and blues of my fish. My florescent bulb is an Aqua Glo, one that has more red in the color spectrum. It definitely enhances reds and blues on the fish. So now I'm thinking of either a sincle 48 inch T5 light OR trying to find red LEDs as a strip.
Do they sell LEDs like that? Would a single bulb T5 produce too much light given my preferences. Am I about to embark on a process where I will spend more money? ;-))
Thank you everyone. As usual, I've learned a lot from all of you.
What I don't like is the yellow hue and how it washes out the reds and blues of my fish. My florescent bulb is an Aqua Glo, one that has more red in the color spectrum. It definitely enhances reds and blues on the fish. So now I'm thinking of either a sincle 48 inch T5 light OR trying to find red LEDs as a strip.
Do they sell LEDs like that? Would a single bulb T5 produce too much light given my preferences. Am I about to embark on a process where I will spend more money? ;-))
Thank you everyone. As usual, I've learned a lot from all of you.
You can buy red led strips or LED floodlight lamps in different color temperatures.
I still think the yellow hue you're seeing is your water and not the light. I don't see how a 10k light can give off a yellow hue, that's PURE white. The Aquaglo itself is not really white... it has a pink/purple hue to it that you might be used to. I personally hate colored lights that enhance only certain colors, makes the fish look unnatural. I remember my albino Oscar looking pink instead of white under those Hagen glo lights. Best choice is to use 10k white lights and enhance your fishes colors with high quality water and food.
I still think the yellow hue you're seeing is your water and not the light. I don't see how a 10k light can give off a yellow hue, that's PURE white. The Aquaglo itself is not really white... it has a pink/purple hue to it that you might be used to. I personally hate colored lights that enhance only certain colors, makes the fish look unnatural. I remember my albino Oscar looking pink instead of white under those Hagen glo lights. Best choice is to use 10k white lights and enhance your fishes colors with high quality water and food.
If anything, LEDs of a single color make the fish look the most unnatural. Fluorescent bulbs are better at simulating natural sunlight, which enhances every single color.
Nothing natural about a white fish looking pink, purple or yellow (as they do under most hagen lights). But whatever floats your boat.
I've never seen a fluorescent bulb do that, unless you're using actinics, which look terrible in FW. Take a fish out of the water, and hold it out under bright sunlight. Every color will stand out, whether it's blue or red. "Cool white" LEDs don't do that. The completely wash out any color that has red in it. I've used all sorts of lights over the years. I love LEDs, and have used a few over my tanks, and even built my own fixture. But to say they make the fish look natural is complete BS.
The most pleasing, natural light I've ever experienced came from a T5HO combination: Giesemann Midday and Giesemann AquaFlora bulbs. Nothing else has ever came close.
Here's some of the best examples I can provide of the differences in color between fluorescents and LEDs. It's easy to see how much richer and truer to life the colors are under the fluorescent bulbs.
Giesemann T5HO Midday and AquaFlora bulbs
Warm white and Cool white LEDs
Giesemann T5HO Midday and AquaFlora bulbs
Warm white and Cool white LEDs
