I have a 130w PC fixture over my planted 55gallon tank that is 2x65w straight pin layouts. Its CO2 injected keeping steady at about 22PPM. The bulbs the fixture came with are 50/50 daylight actinic bulbs @ 65W. SO the usable light is roughly 65w not the quoted 130W. I did this on purpose when i bought the fixture i didnt have CO2 and i didnt want to deal with any algea issues. But now that i have CO2 and i have worked the kinks out. I want to upgrade the bulbs Here are my choices.
Keep the set up I have: My water is stained with tannins from my DW (on purpose) but the yellow color of the water mixed with the blue actinic gives the water a green color I dont care for. The actinic brings out the colors in my glow lights but really that is the only benefit.
Change the bulbs to 6400K daylight bulbs: I think i will get better light and color. And my plants will have more usable light. and the green color should go away.
12000K ultra daylight: Even more lumens and better depth penatration but is this to much?
The plants i have are mostly medium light plants, but i want to try my hand at a carpet effect and wish to have more light or watts really. Like i said i dont care for the green color of the water so less blue in the light the better. So PLEASE give me your opinions or wisdom on which replacement bulbs i should purchase. Or if maybe i should look at a different bulb thats not listed. I dont want to change my fixture just the bulbs.. TIA
Here is the current pic. This was taken the day i put the DW in so it doesnt show the water color very well. Also my plants on the right have grown signifigantly
Keep the set up I have: My water is stained with tannins from my DW (on purpose) but the yellow color of the water mixed with the blue actinic gives the water a green color I dont care for. The actinic brings out the colors in my glow lights but really that is the only benefit.
Change the bulbs to 6400K daylight bulbs: I think i will get better light and color. And my plants will have more usable light. and the green color should go away.
12000K ultra daylight: Even more lumens and better depth penatration but is this to much?
The plants i have are mostly medium light plants, but i want to try my hand at a carpet effect and wish to have more light or watts really. Like i said i dont care for the green color of the water so less blue in the light the better. So PLEASE give me your opinions or wisdom on which replacement bulbs i should purchase. Or if maybe i should look at a different bulb thats not listed. I dont want to change my fixture just the bulbs.. TIA
Here is the current pic. This was taken the day i put the DW in so it doesnt show the water color very well. Also my plants on the right have grown signifigantly