I have finally saved up enough money and am going to buy a new lighting fixture. I have the option of going with all white and 10,000K or 6700K or both, or I can go 1 white (either K rating) and 1 pink. Is there a reason for the pink bulb? Is it better or worse for plants or is it just for aesthetics? If it is just personal preference, does anyone actually get the pink and if so, how do they like it?
Any reason for Pink Bulb?
- Thread starter stussy28
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I am far from an expert on this but I think the 10,000K is better for coral and the 6,700K is closer to the best temperature for plants. (I think 6,500K actually is the optimal for most plants).
Don't know why you'd want pink unless it improves fish colours.
Don't know why you'd want pink unless it improves fish colours.
6700/10,000k are both good options for plants, the 10k bulb is closer to a blue/white light and 6700k is more yellow/green. And the pink bulbs have more red/blue in them, usually improving fish colors, but they still grow plants too.
Basically, you're given all these choices to tailor the light in your aquarium, because everyone has a different taste or style.
Basically, you're given all these choices to tailor the light in your aquarium, because everyone has a different taste or style.
Most people like 6700K b/c it falls in the range of the wavelengths that plants use for photosynthesis, although it is different with different brands. Gieseman's seem to be the best and Coralife's (6700K bulbs only) seem to be the worst. Esthetically, it gives good color to both plants and fish. 5500K is yellowish, more like morning sunlight. It looks best for green-leafed plants that have some transparency to them since it really makes the plants have a glow to them. Another favorite is the GE 9325K which is practically a 10,000K bulb. From my experience, it turns the tips of some plants such as ludwigia pinkish/red as it approaches the water surface. Just my 2 cents.
It just got a lot more complicated. Will pink and 6700K look ok together you think?
I have nothing to compare against as the only bulb I've ever used is the stock 15W bulb that comes with an aquarium combo.
I have nothing to compare against as the only bulb I've ever used is the stock 15W bulb that comes with an aquarium combo.
I think that should look fine. Although the wavelengths of the pink bulb's there, you won't see much of the pink due to the 6700k bulb whiter output. Red color fish will look "warmer." If you want to experiment, buy the blue bulb also and swap back and forth every couple of months.
http://www.gthydro.com/growlightinformation.html
the graph should explain the difference between a grow bulb and a flowering/budding bulb.
regular 6500k or so:
"pink" bulb:
seems to me to make it grow tall and bushy use the 6500k/6700k. for budding or flowering use the red or "pink". your plants should flower if they are taken care of right anyway so it's your choice. if you choose on aesthetics alone that's up to you.
also the cooler (bluer) tends to mimic mid summer light (when everything's growing). the red seems to mimic the end of summer and fall (when it's time to reproduce by fruit or flower)
so, am i way off here guys? this is just my take on things.
the graph should explain the difference between a grow bulb and a flowering/budding bulb.
regular 6500k or so:
"400 - 520 nm
This range includes violet, blue, and green bands. Peak absorption by chlorophyll occurs, and a strong influence on photosynthesis. (promotes vegetative growth)"... from graph in link above"pink" bulb:
"610 - 720 nm
This is the red band. Large amount of absorption by chlorophyll occurs, and most significant influence on photosynthesis. (promotes flowering and budding)"... also from graph in link aboveseems to me to make it grow tall and bushy use the 6500k/6700k. for budding or flowering use the red or "pink". your plants should flower if they are taken care of right anyway so it's your choice. if you choose on aesthetics alone that's up to you.
also the cooler (bluer) tends to mimic mid summer light (when everything's growing). the red seems to mimic the end of summer and fall (when it's time to reproduce by fruit or flower)
so, am i way off here guys? this is just my take on things.
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How a plant performs under different colors of light is based upon its preferred habitat.
There are three molecules that absorb light during photosyntheses; Chlorophyll A, Chlorophyll B, and Beta Carotene. These molecules only absorb light the blue and red bandwidth. The type of light that a plant prefers is different for each species. Low light plants generally prefer the red spectrum. Red light penetrates the water much easier than blue. The blue light is reflected much more easily i.e. why the ocean and sky is blue. High light plants are generally found much closer to the surface of the water in nature. There they have much more access to blue light.
A little more technical way to explain this is as follows.
Chlorophyll A absorbs much more red light than Chlorophyll B and Chlorophyll B absorbs more blue light that Chlorophyll A. Beta Carotene only absorbs the blue spectrum. Different species have different amounts of these molecules. The ratio of these molecules found in the plant is what separates out low light, medium light, and high light. Low light plants have high amounts of Chlorophyll A and less of the the other two. Medium light plants have much more balanced amounts of all three of the molecules. High light plants have higher levels of Beta Carotene and Chlorophyll B.
So basically what color of light to chose depends on what species of plants you want to grow.
There are three molecules that absorb light during photosyntheses; Chlorophyll A, Chlorophyll B, and Beta Carotene. These molecules only absorb light the blue and red bandwidth. The type of light that a plant prefers is different for each species. Low light plants generally prefer the red spectrum. Red light penetrates the water much easier than blue. The blue light is reflected much more easily i.e. why the ocean and sky is blue. High light plants are generally found much closer to the surface of the water in nature. There they have much more access to blue light.
A little more technical way to explain this is as follows.
Chlorophyll A absorbs much more red light than Chlorophyll B and Chlorophyll B absorbs more blue light that Chlorophyll A. Beta Carotene only absorbs the blue spectrum. Different species have different amounts of these molecules. The ratio of these molecules found in the plant is what separates out low light, medium light, and high light. Low light plants have high amounts of Chlorophyll A and less of the the other two. Medium light plants have much more balanced amounts of all three of the molecules. High light plants have higher levels of Beta Carotene and Chlorophyll B.
So basically what color of light to chose depends on what species of plants you want to grow.