lightbulb

[nitrous]

well at the [acronym:0f2447e2f8="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:0f2447e2f8] today i bought the power glo light bulb its for my 20 [acronym:0f2447e2f8="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:0f2447e2f8] tank and it is 15 watt 18 inch(no higher wattage) it also has 18,000 [acronym:0f2447e2f8="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]k[/acronym:0f2447e2f8], would this be a good bulb for my tank? it was from 18000 to 2800 [acronym:0f2447e2f8="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]k[/acronym:0f2447e2f8] and so i got the 18000 what does [acronym:0f2447e2f8="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]k[/acronym:0f2447e2f8] really mean and what is good?

it also says good for african chiclid tank, high blue spectrum and lux of 55
is 18000 to much becuase i read in the sticky that plants use between 5000 and 10000k

[Wizzard~Of~Ozz]

[acronym:2936bed78e="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]K[/acronym:2936bed78e] is Kelvin, it's the temperature of the bulb (colour output).

the spectrum is the important part, I was growing some great anubias with powerglo's, but it's heavy in the blue so the plants tend to stay lower to the ground, at least [acronym:2936bed78e="In my opinion"]IMO[/acronym:2936bed78e].

[nitrous]

ya but it only has alot of blues the other light at the [acronym:bfa384d9fa="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:bfa384d9fa] has alot of red/orange also and has the same [acronym:bfa384d9fa="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]k[/acronym:bfa384d9fa] rating
if you had to pick from all these
http://www.hagen.com/usa/aquatic/sub...&PSUBCAT=11204
what would u pick for somewhat planted tank with 2 african chiclids

[malkore]

and now you see why [acronym:00d7fcce61="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]K[/acronym:00d7fcce61] rating is kinda useless in determining what makes a good plant bulb.

good peaks in the blue and red spectrum, make a good bulb.

[nitrous]

good think i didnt use the bulb yet so now ill take it back and find 1 with higher red and blues and does it matter if it still has a high [acronym:b384332283="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]k[/acronym:b384332283] rating? bc the 1 with high blue and red is
http://www.hagen.com/usa/aquatic/pro...01015820021001
and it has 18000k but the best red and blue

[Toirtis]

Originally Posted by malkore

and now you see why [acronym:3a749ca9d7="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]K[/acronym:3a749ca9d7] rating is kinda useless in determining what makes a good plant bulb.

good peaks in the blue and red spectrum, make a good bulb.

But, kelvin lets you know how it will look (I like 6500k for good, white light).

[nitrous]

ya ill try and exchange for a moderate [acronym:f23ebbf358="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]k[/acronym:f23ebbf358] and high blues and reds but if i cant get a moderate [acronym:f23ebbf358="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]k[/acronym:f23ebbf358] ill get a high [acronym:f23ebbf358="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]k[/acronym:f23ebbf358] or a low [acronym:f23ebbf358="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]k[/acronym:f23ebbf358], is a low [acronym:f23ebbf358="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]k[/acronym:f23ebbf358] or high [acronym:f23ebbf358="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]k[/acronym:f23ebbf358] bad? what do they look like?

[Zezmo]

[acronym:dc8e23da4f="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]K[/acronym:dc8e23da4f] is really just a rating of how the light looks to your eye. High [acronym:dc8e23da4f="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]K[/acronym:dc8e23da4f] is a stark white to a blueish tinge - like winter morning on a clear day. Mid range (8k) is blended light, like summer sun. The lower [acronym:dc8e23da4f="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]K[/acronym:dc8e23da4f] rating will give you a warmer, even yellowish/reddish light. Like late afternoon sun.

[nitrous]

ya bc i got 1 now with 2700k and it looks to dark so ima go back and exchange again and get 1 with 6700 [acronym:ad7c4d559c="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]k[/acronym:ad7c4d559c] even tho the box says for terrariums but in a book it said enhances plant photosynthesis

[Simpte]

I find 6500K tends to be yellow and by itself washes out good greens in plants. 10000K gives me the best white. 8000-9325k is a nice pinkish that mixes well with 6400-6700K bulbs [acronym:beaad9ac34="In My Experience"]IME[/acronym:beaad9ac34]. 12000K bulbs are very blue looking.