Light K?

[red_wall]

Does it actually matter?
As in, an extra 10 bucks for shipping on 2 bulbs?
I know that plants will absorb some K's better than other K's, but is the difference REALLY noticeable?

 

[petluvr]

Aesthectically yes it does make a difference. It can mean the difference between a yellow looking tank, a white tank and a blue looking tank.

 

[leeser28]

It will make a difference in the overall coloring of your tank - regular "house" bulbs are very "warm" and tend to make things look more brown in tone. "Daylight" bulbs are cool and have bluer hue. Whether or not the plants care -- have no idea

 

[red_wall]

Ah, here I was thinking that my plants would be destroyed because of the wrong temp.

Thanks for answering my question guys.

Tomorrow I'll be off to walmart for a 2300 CFL. If I can find any brighter, I'll try.


OFF TOPIC

What do you guys think a good beginner WPG range would be? I'm going to start seriously getting into planted tanks now, but don't want to kill myself with algae. Now that I finally have a job, I'm going to be going crazy with my tanks :]

 

[inkyjenn]

home depot is a better bet for bulbs. you can check the K rating there.

 

[petluvr]

It is normally recommended for plants to go with at least 6700.

 

[macbrush]

I have used 5200K, 6500K, and 8000K MH bulbs. Plants didn't care and grew just about the same.

 

[leeser28]

Got mine at Home Depot or Lowes -- much easier on the wallet!

 

[The Zigman]

Mine are form walmart.

Dont bother with the 2300K's!!

For plants try to get the daylight bulbs around 5000-7000k


You can get them for $2 each at Walgreens right now...
They are some kind of introductory thing there..

 

[phanmc]

I have used 5200K, 6500K, and 8000K MH bulbs. Plants didn't care and grew just about the same.

Yep. I've tried them all from 3000k-18000k and I don't notice much of a difference either.

The only time I saw any noticeable decrease in growth was when I switched to 50/50 actinics, and not much of a decrease even then.