Need to replace my lamps in my 75 gal. with 4' lamps. Should I buy them at my LFS or would some F40CW cool white lamps from Lowes suffice? Are the LFS lamps all that? The F40CW are the standard lamps in office light fixtures. I just want the best lights for my money. $24 vs. $5 makes a difference. What Lowes lamps would you suggest if that is your choice?
Lamps. LFS vs. Lowes?
- Thread starter Weasel6
- Start date
You can do better than cool white.
I think there are 4' "sunlight" or "plant" or "full spectrum" lights at most hardware stores that are still MUCH less expensive. As in maybe $6 a pop and will probably give you a better light temp and spectrum. Cool white bulbs aren't the best for growing plants.
I think there are 4' "sunlight" or "plant" or "full spectrum" lights at most hardware stores that are still MUCH less expensive. As in maybe $6 a pop and will probably give you a better light temp and spectrum. Cool white bulbs aren't the best for growing plants.
Well, I am now upgrading to Compact Flourescent - but when I was contemplating adding more regular flourescent I checked out the bulbs at Home Depot.
Saw that they have a 40W Phillips bulb that was around 5500K with a CRI of 92 I believe - for about $8. This would be ideal for plants - and a buld with those specs in your LFS probably goes for $22 or more.
Get your bulb from Lowes - but try to get one in the 5000K to 6700K spectrum with a high CRI (these would work best for plants)
OOPs, forgot to add - if you don't have plants - then pick the kelvin range you think is most attractive (5000 is more yellowish to me, 10000 is more blueish)
Saw that they have a 40W Phillips bulb that was around 5500K with a CRI of 92 I believe - for about $8. This would be ideal for plants - and a buld with those specs in your LFS probably goes for $22 or more.
Get your bulb from Lowes - but try to get one in the 5000K to 6700K spectrum with a high CRI (these would work best for plants)
OOPs, forgot to add - if you don't have plants - then pick the kelvin range you think is most attractive (5000 is more yellowish to me, 10000 is more blueish)
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Well, my Java Fern experiment isn't working out I do believe. I want the the best light to accentuate the fishs color. Saw a 2 lamp fixture at my LFS that had 1 white lamp and 1 blue. The light those 2 lamps put out was PURE. I mean it was so clean. That is the light I'm looking for but for a lot less money. I don't know anything about the proper "spectrum" for this or that etc. I just know I want a clean, pure light.
I have black, brown and white gravel. 2 tall reddish background plants, 2 green. Several green foreground plants is various spots and 4 brown lava rocks. Thats my coloration. What kinda light would ya'll suggest would be best?
I have black, brown and white gravel. 2 tall reddish background plants, 2 green. Several green foreground plants is various spots and 4 brown lava rocks. Thats my coloration. What kinda light would ya'll suggest would be best?
personally, i think 6500k is perfect for freshwater. not too blue, not too yellow. some of the full spectrum bulbs should be around 6500k for $6-8.
Well, the easiest thing then would be to go back to your LFS and find out spcifically what bulbs they were. (Most bulbs have a name / spectrum imprinted on them).
Then just go to Lowes and find something in that same range.
My guess is for a white / blue combination you describe - you are looking at maybe 1 bulb around 6500k and the other around 10000k (unless the blue you describe is a blue actinic bulb for Saltwater tanks - then the white is likely to be a 10000k bulb)
Then just go to Lowes and find something in that same range.
My guess is for a white / blue combination you describe - you are looking at maybe 1 bulb around 6500k and the other around 10000k (unless the blue you describe is a blue actinic bulb for Saltwater tanks - then the white is likely to be a 10000k bulb)
I first had just the bulbs from the hardware store 2 plant frow and 2 Daylighter in my 120. In my 20 upstairs I still had the standered bulb that came with the tank. I replaced the bulb in the 20 gal with a "life glow" from the LFS and it made a world of differance. So I decided to switch the "daylighters" out of my 120 and replace them with "Life glow" bulbs. I did notice a differance but not as much as in the 20 gal upstairs. The life glow bulbs have a built in reflector so one is not needed in the light hood but it is the most expensive bulb that the LFS sells ($62.00 cdn for a 4' bulb). I feel a person has to try the bulbs out both form the hadware store and the LFS because you have to see if it will work with your set up. Not everyones tank is the same. There has to be something different with those LFS bulbs otherwise they wouldn't sell them and they would not be such high priced. My 20 gal bulb will be replaced (when it burns out) with another Life glow but my 120 will prob get just standered bulbs.