Lighting questions

[OhNo123]

Didn't know where to post this.. here or the DIY. Anyway, I just got a fluorescent hood. If I were to get another fluorescent strip, what kind should I get? My tank is moderately planted and is going to be planted more when I get a better bulb. Just got a question- What does the K mean? I see many bulbs have like 6500k or 11000k or something. What does that mean? What bulb should I replace my current fluorescent strip with? In the stores I see many like Flora-Glo that optimizes plant growth or Aqua-Glo that promotes plant growth. Any suggestions?

 

[jtburf]

is the kelvin range, it indicates the visible spectrum to the eye, higher K level more purple, lower K more red. I use 1 aqua-glo and 2 flora-grow, just because i like the color spectrum the three create.

 

[OhNo123]

My tank can only use one bulb though.

 

[loaches r cool]

The K values really arent all that usefull for plants, and arent that accurate anyhow. Most bulbs will grow plants, if you have only 1 bulb though and you want your tank to look relatively natural, 6500k-10,000k is what most use. Depending on the size and type of bulb you may have different options. But dont expect to simplay swap a different bulb with the same wattage and get double or triple the light unless your previous bulb was almost dead.

 

[OhNo123]

Yeah, I guess I'll stick with the one I have now. I'm going to add CO2 soon anyway.

 

[Cory Keeper]

what size tank and what wattage bulb is it?.

 

[boostnbuds]

A measure of light put out by a particular bulb is measured in lumens....find the bulb with the highest amount of lumen output and youll be good

 

[loaches r cool]

Just like the K rating, the plants dont care about lumens exactly... Lumens is a weighted spectrum based of human eyesight. Generally speaking, plants see red and green, but humans sight is most sensative to greens.

If the bulbs are of the same type of phosphors, lumens can be used to tell how much brighter one will be thant the other, but you cant really compare different bulbs by them. For example a particular bulb comes in 24" and 48" version you would expect the lumens and actual output to be about double in the longer one. But you cant compare the lumens directly between a daylight and plant gro bulb, they have very different spectrums (just an example).

 

[Mgamer20o0]

just go to home depot or lowes and pick up a day light bulb and be done with it. these bulbs they sell at places like petsmart are just over priced.

 

[loaches r cool]

Generally speaking, plants see red and green, but humans sight is most sensative to greens.

Aghh I meant to say plants see red and blue. Dam not being able to edit ones post. lol