FishProfiles.com Message Forums

6,800K is what I have on my plants. Is this a good amount? The actual "plant grow" lights they were selling was 2,400K so I was kind of confused...

Yes, usally 5000+k is what your aiming for with a freshwater planted tank, I think you want a little more for saltwater. Do you know what bulb you have as im looking into getting a new bulb for my aquarium but not sure which one to get.



==fish1

Hi,
Plants prefer light in two peaks of the spectrum.
The red and blue parts. Light that is rated at 5000K
or higher than 10,000K is good - but - the red light
appears dim and the higher K rating gives things a
bluish tinge and each wash out the colors of the
plants and fish. Generally speaking light around
6000-8000K will give the plants what they want/need,
and, allow us poor humans to see the various shades
of green and the colors of the fish as they should be.

Your 6800K rated bulb is ideal. Many of the so called
plant bulbs are designed for terrestrial plants and
are also sold for fish tanks. Stick with what you have.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Great! The bulb I used wasn't labelled as a plant light, the plant lights were laaame.
fish1: This one, I cant quite remember the name-- life light or day light or something, but I found it at petsmart. Just check the kelvin.

Last edited by smantzer at 12-Jan-2005 11:44