Best T8 bulbs for planted?

[bosoxlobsterman]

Hi all, I'm continuing to update my 40B southeast asian tank, and I think it's time to FINALLY upgrade my bulbs in my light fixture (I've had it a bit over a year now with the original bulbs ). It's an Odyssea 4 bulb, 72 total watt fixture, so I was wondering if I should just get broad spectrum bulbs or try to mix and match different K ratings... good brands would also be appreciated

 

[pleechford]

I never had luck with T8 bulbs. No matter how many watts you have you just can't get the results you're looking for. I recently invested in a T5HO fixture and its amazing. But if you keep your T8 fixture I would get a plant bulb and bulbs in the 6500k range and possibly a 10,000k bulb (to get rid of the "yellowish" look).

 

[BBradbury]

Tank Bulbs

Hi all, I'm continuing to update my 40B southeast asian tank, and I think it's time to FINALLY upgrade my bulbs in my light fixture (I've had it a bit over a year now with the original bulbs ). It's an Odyssea 4 bulb, 72 total watt fixture, so I was wondering if I should just get broad spectrum bulbs or try to mix and match different K ratings... good brands would also be appreciated

Hello bo...

I use 6500K, 32 watt, T8s in my 45 G tall and the plants grow well. I just have the standard low to moderate light plants like the taller Amazon swords, Java fern and Anubias. I also float Anacharis and Pennywort in the tank. The tank has Aglaonema and Pothos emersed.

Everything grows well with weekly water changes and a little liquid fert dosed a couple times a week when I top off the tank and the tank has a fairly heavy fish load.

Research a company by the name of Solarmax, if you decide to improve the tank lighting. I have some their T5 and LED lighting systems and they're very good. Pricing is pretty reasonable.

B

 

[bosoxlobsterman]

Ok, thanks for the suggestions! I'll probably just switch bulbs for now, and go with a couple 6500k and one 10,000 k

 

[jetajockey]

Is this the 20" fixture (4x18w) ? If so, it's t5ho. Another way to check is look at the bulb size, if its a little over half an inch thick then it's a t5, if it's an inch thick its a t8.

 

[bosoxlobsterman]

Is this the 20" fixture (4x18w) ? If so, it's t5ho. Another way to check is look at the bulb size, if its a little over half an inch thick then it's a t5, if it's an inch thick its a t8.

I was pretty sure it was t8 (I remember at least looking at them), but after looking online, giving up, and taking a closer look at the fixture, it's the 24" t5 (4x 24w + 4 blue LEDs) ! All the bulbs right now are 6500K. What's the average life of t5 bulbs, anyway?

 

[jetajockey]

Most recommend replacing them after 6 months up to a year. If they are a year old now they have likely lost a significant amount of light output if they've been run daily.