Pink or blue lighting?

[pollex.jaypee]

I have both 15 watt tubes of light.
The first one is kinda pinkish and is branded nirox.
The other one is more bluish and is branded tfc.

Just want to ask which is better for plants? I'm really at the bottom of being novice in planted tanks. Thank you so much.

 

[BBradbury]

Tank Lighting

Hello poll...

It's best to provide the plants with a variety of lighting. The blue is 6500K and the pink 10000K. This is fine for the easy to grow plants. This is the type lighting I have and the plants grow well. Add a little liquid fertilizer like Seachem's Comprehensive. Dose according to instructions when you change the water.


B

 

[Rivercats]

Bluer bulbs have a higher K rating and pink bulbs have a lower K rating. Not the other way around as BB stated. Plants can utilize light in the range from about 5000K to 10000K but IMO a more balanced light around 6000-6700 is best. Higher K rated bulbs give more blue which can make red/pink plants and fish look washed out but looks brighter to the human eye. Lower rated K bulbs look duller to the human eye but give move red spectrum light which plants appreciate and makes pink/red plants and fish look truer in color. Many people like using 1-10000K bulb and 1-6700K bulb to give the tank a brighter look and to give plants both red and blue color spectrums they need.

 

[pollex.jaypee]

Wow.

Seriously, I like my tank with the bluish light. The plants appear greener and the aquarium looks clearer. Only downside is, yes, the colors of the fish seems to be "washed out". especially my dwarf gourami and blue rams.

Well on the other hand, my fish looks really good in the pinkish lights. But other than that, the aquarium seems odd.

I don't have red/pinkish plants.
But what do you think should I be using of the two?

Thank you very much

 

[Rivercats]

I can only guess the K rating on them is okay and if plants are growing well then I wouldn't worry.

 

[lectraplayer]

Really (and I say this as an electrician) 6500K is almost a pure white with a slight blue tint. If you do a search, your PAR (photosynthetically active region) is your reds and blues, excluding green. Search the spectra of your bulbs to find what is best.

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[Rivercats]

OP I use Geisemann bulbs in which you can find charts such as this.... Giesemann PowerChrome 6000K Midday 48" 54W HO T5 Lamp. The peaks in the blue and red spectrum are very good for both plant growth and bringing out good colors in plants and fish. You might be able to find this info on the brands your using but if your plants are flourishing then I wouldn't be concerned. Here's a good read for lighting in general... Aquarium Lighting & Light Information | Reef & Planted | PAR PUR.

 

[pollex.jaypee]

Thank you very much. I appreciate your responses.

So the pinkish is better for the plants?
But the bluish one looks better for the eye?

I think I'll just be alternating the use between the two

 

[lectraplayer]

I'm having better luck out of the blue right now. Blue stimulates vegetive (the pretty green stuff) growth per many experts. Red stimulates the reproductive growth. Peak vegetive growth appears to occur at actinic blue. I've been doing lots of Googling which has inspired an experiment.

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[pollex.jaypee]

Really? Oh might as well give it a try

 

[lectraplayer]

The worst that can happen is that it blows up. One wire, hook it up; two wires blow it up. :scared:

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