New Light Fixture- Need bulb advice

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D

dewilde2

Illinifish
Aug 8, 2006
253
0
0
41
St Louis
Hello! I recently purchased an All Glass 36" compact fluorescent 110 watt fixture for my 46 gallon planted tank. I purchased it used, and want to purchase new bulbs. I have the following plants and I would like to get what's best for them. I also prefer the more whitish/bluish look than the reddish tones. Does anyone have any recommendations or successful experience with certain bulbs? Thanks!

Plants:
Echinodorus tenellus
Java Fern
Anubias nana
Cryptocoryne
Valisneria
Amazon sword
Some other ones I'm not thinking of...

The fixture can be seen here:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+3773&pcatid=3773

And the list of compatible bulbs is here:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?acatid=287&aid=1343
 
T

tackful

AC Members
Mar 15, 2007
637
11
18
Sausalito, CA
You might take a look at the CF bulb descriptions at AH Supply. This will tell you what kind of color to expect with various K ratings.
 
J

jrvs23

AC Members
Dec 15, 2008
55
0
0
Watertown, WI
To get a whitish-blue color you would need to go w/ a 10,000K bulb but those are better for soft corals. Most common for freshwater plants are 6700K but I believe there are a few producers of bulbs that would fall in between like a 8800K and possilbly more towards the whiteish-blue.
 
Turbosaurus

Turbosaurus

AC Members
Dec 26, 2008
705
1
18
Yonkers, NY
10,000k is just fine for plant growth, that's the more whitish light.
6700s are really no better. Its a matter of preference, 10000, 6700, or 8000. The 6700 look kind of yellow/green to me, and the 10000 are a nice crisp white, but they tend to wash out the colors.
 
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