CorallineAlgae
Aquarium Advice Addict
RedLeggedHermit said:can you get t5 bulbs that shine white instead of blue? honestly im not a big fan of the blue tint. it says it makes the colors pop better but ... no.. it doesn't. my white bulb is ALOT better. which buy the way i dont remember where i got it or what kind it is. it has some writing on it which says
F20T12-PL/AQ-ECO
wide spectrum 20w (made in the USA)
dont know if thats a good bulb or not. a T12 should be weaker then a T8 right? but my xenia coral i bought will actually open and extend itself under its light. but not under my t8 bulb's. maybe its the color of the light it likes better??
A "wide spectrum" plant/aquarium bulb isn't a good choice for a reef tank. Also, many photosynthetic dependent ocean dwellers will open up and extend, and very often, OVER extend when placed under lights that are to weak to support them. They over-inflate in an attempt to expose as much tissue (and algae) to the light as they can because they must in order to (hopefully) survive. Anemones and LPS corals are known to do this under weak light. Seeing this is a clear indicator that the lights are not up to supporting them. The same animal, housed under strong light, will not extend it's tissue like that.