Light temperature

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Bigzmey

Aquarium Advice Activist
Joined
Sep 27, 2010
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I have an Aquaeon twin tube t8 strip light which came with two 8000K lamps. They give pinkish light which I don't like. What tube temperature should I get to grow plants but also for fish to look nice. Since I have a twin set up I could mix lights if necessary.

Our local pet stores carry Zoo Med tubes (Ultra Sun, Aqua Sun, etc.) and Hagen (Aqua Glo, Power Glo, etc.).
 
I went through several bulbs last year (tried to go the menards/home depot route) and finally gave in and got Zoo Med Flora Sun Max Plant Growth bulbs, I think they're 5500K. They did wonderful compared to the Tri-color / full spectrum, etc. I would think 8000K would be OK but very bright.
 
What kind of light Zoo Med Flora Sun Max Plant Growth have? Is it a warm white? Do fish colors look good?

You would think that 8000K should be cold white or blueish white, but they are pinkish, kind of weird.
 
For plant growth, 5000-10,000K is the range. As for what looks "nice" for fish, I suppose that's relative. Probably something at the lower end of the spectrum. I have 6500K bulbs in my tanks; while I wouldn't describe the light as pinkish at all, it definitely is a very bright white. I think something down around 5000K will be slightly more yellowy, a little more subdued looking.

As for the bulbs, all those names don't really mean much, just look for a K value between 5000-6500K.
 
I have 10,000k bulbs on my tanks. Gives off a slight blueish tint, and is within the usable spectrum for plants. IMO, it makes the fish pop more than the bulbs in the 6500-8000k range
 
I have 10,000k bulbs on my tanks. Gives off a slight blueish tint, and is within the usable spectrum for plants. IMO, it makes the fish pop more than the bulbs in the 6500-8000k range

What brand do you use?
 
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