How much of a difference will new bulbs make?

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PITT

Aquarium Advice Activist
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Nov 21, 2006
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The lights over my 55 hold 2 55 W CP bulbs. They currently have a color temp of 9325k. I just ordered 2 new ones that are 6500k.

Will there be that big of a difference for the plants? I just ran across my original purchase info and saw the color temp so I decided to buy new ones since, from what I understand, 6500 is closer to what plants are looking for.

Just curious if I'll see a difference.

Thanks.
 
from what I have read and understand so far the kelvin rating deals with the color spectrum. 10000 K has the highest intensity of blue red and greens. while a 5000 K rating makes the tank appear yellowish. I read that using a 6700 K bulb and a 50/50 will give you a nice sharp color tone. so to answer your question, you will notice somewhat a difference, but it shouldn't be by much. sorry I can't provide more info I'm still a newbie at planted tanks :)
 
You will definately notice the difference in colour, but I doubt your plants will see the difference.. You might get a couple more flowering, (higher in reds), but nothing that noticable.
 
I originally had 2 6500K bulbs on my tank, I now have one 6500K and one 10000K and I can see only a very slight difference. My bulbs are staggered so one end of the tank has more 6500k and the other more 10000K and it's very hard to tell the difference. I have also not noticed any difference in plant growth. My blue fish do look brighter under the 10000Ks, though!
 
I was really hoping I'd hear I'd see a benefit for the plants.

well it looks like I jumped the gun on ordering the new bulbs. Since I always read 6500k for plants I thought I needed to change them. Oh well...I'll need to replace them eventually so i'll just store them...or get a new tank to use them on!
 
my bulbs are 6500k and they seem to be doing well... i think thats the benchmark most shoot for in planted... some overshoot that goal too, which is great because it gives the rest of us something to aim at...:)
 
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