CFL bulb without Kelvin rate listed - Good for my 20g planted?

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Henri

Aquarium Advice Regular
Joined
Jul 12, 2011
Messages
93
Hi everyone!
I'm setting up my light bulb system for my 20 gallon and I replaced the T8 neon bulb with CFLs, which I haven't purchased yet. Anyways, I went to the hardware store, and the only CFL bulbs with K rates were of low wattage, such as 9 or 11 watt. I'm looking for higher wattage bulbs. I found 32, 40 and 55 watt bulbs. I'm aiming for two 32, this is going to be a high light planted tank. But these bulbs had no K rates !! What do I do? The light was bright and white. Are they okay for my tank? I'm confused, just when I thought I found something cheap :(!!! Help!
Thanks!
 
For the tubes, the generic names are roughly
soft white 3000K
cool white 4100K (probably brightest to the eye, typical shoplight)
natural sunshine 5000K
daylight 6500K (best full spectrum for plants/fish)
 
Slade said:
For the tubes, the generic names are roughly
soft white 3000K
cool white 4100K (probably brightest to the eye, typical shoplight)
natural sunshine 5000K
daylight 6500K (best full spectrum for plants/fish)

The bulbs at the hardware store vary on their color. I thought the very bright ones were the ideal for plants/fish, the 6500 K.
Can I tell the 4100 bulbs from the 6500 judging by their color?
 
Most plants do better with lights with a higher red spectrum range and a Kelvin of 8000. At least this is what I was told by the guy from the Aqueon company.
Namaste,
Gypsy
 
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