Coralife Colormax bulb combo

[Philly33]

Has anyone used this bulb in combination with others? If so, please advise your combinations?

Thank you

 

[Philly33]

I'm currently running 3 bulbs- 6,700, colormax, Aquaflora front to back. Any thoughts?

 

[foster53]

The colormax bulb is meant to make objects appear pleasing to the eye. It will do very little for plant growth.

 

[aqua_chem]

The colormax bulb is meant to make objects appear pleasing to the eye. It will do very little for plant growth.

Their spectrums are very similar to 'plant' bulbs like an aquaflora. They'll grow plants fine, although they may wash out greens/yellows, so I would advice using them with something in the 6700K region.

 

[foster53]

Their spectrums are very similar to 'plant' bulbs like an aquaflora. They'll grow plants fine, although they may wash out greens/yellows, so I would advice using them with something in the 6700K region.

I have to respectfully disagree. While I am not positive of their K, I know they don't grow plants very well(speaking from my personal experience) I had one in a T-5 NO light, and the plants didn't do well. Once I switched it our for a 6700K, the plants took off. Nothing else was changed in the tank except the light. Once again this is my personal opinion from my experience with them.

 

[Philly33]

6,700x colormax x aquaflora looks ok to me

 

[foster53]

From the pic you posted, the lighting does look good.

 

[aqua_chem]

Zoomed Flora Sun vs Coralife Colormax.

They are remarkably similar. Colormax has more red/blue, which is the wavelength that plants utilize (green/yellow is largely reflected).

 

[foster53]

They are VERY similar.

 

[MMantelli]

A good combo would be 2 geisman midday with a roseatte bulb for your setup. There a very quality bulb and have a good wavelength.

 

[Philly33]

I've done the midday, nice bulb but I like the look of other 6,700k bulbs.

 

[MMantelli]

I've done the midday, nice bulb but I like the look of other 6,700k bulbs.

What don't you like about the look?

 

[Philly33]

I personally like a crisper color in the life glo or coralife. There is a subtle difference that I prefer.

 

[aqua_chem]

They're very yellow bulbs, more so than most other 6700K bulbs.

 

[MMantelli]

Gotcha that would be from being a 6000k bulb I presume.

 

[aqua_chem]

Kind of. Temperature is a term that doesn't really mean much; spectrum is much more relevant to the topic at hand. Giesemann Midday bulbs have more emissions in the yellow-green range than other 6700-6000K bulbs, which generally have more discreet emissions in the yellow-green area.

 

[MMantelli]

Oh ok so are the midday bulbs as good as everyone says or are they overrated?

 

[Philly33]

They are great but I prefer less yellow with my current combo. Im trying to balance plants and bring out the colors in my Signifer Rainbows and Ember tetras. The colormax seems to be helping w/o compromising plant growth with the aqua flora and 6,700

 

[MMantelli]

Cool good to know

 

[aqua_chem]

Oh ok so are the midday bulbs as good as everyone says or are they overrated?

Complicated question. A lot of it comes down to personal aesthetics. Some people like a yellower tank. Both of Giesemann's FW bulbs are much 'warmer' than others on the market and use broader peak phosphors in their bulbs, so they tend to have better colors. They also, interestingly, have a well earned reputation for bringing out better coloration in non-red plants.


They're good bulbs, but I think that in many cases $10 Zoomed/GE bulbs would be just as good. However, in certain situations, they are far and away better than other bulbs.