Lowes/Home Depot FL Lights

C

CrohnieBoy

AC Members
Jan 21, 2003
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Northern Kentucky
Has anyone used fluorescent lighs from Lowes or Home Depot on their aquariums?

I have a 2 20 watt FL fixture and was hoping to find some good bulbs at the hardware stores (instead of inflated prices at many retail stores.)

The only promising bulb that I have found is this:
2' 20 Watt Daylight Alto T12 Fluorescent Bulb

Model 213314

Light output - 1075 Lumens Energy used - 20 Watts Life - 9000 hours
Offers a vibrant, white color appearance
Features Alto low-mercury technology - better for the environment
Ideal for indoor applications because of their daylight color

Bulb Application:
Fluorescent Straight Tube Bulbs
Length:
3 Feet or Less
Color:
Daylight
Type:
Tubular Bulbs
Watts:
20 watts
Volts:
120VOLTS
Indoor Or Outdoor:
Indoor
Base Type:
Medium Bi-Pin
Life:
9000 hrs.
Number Of Bulbs:
1
Lumens:
1075
Wet Location Availability:
No
Nominal Length:
24"
Color Temperature:
6500 Kelvin
Preheat/rapid Or Instant Start:
Preheat
Energy Star Compliant:
No
Manufacturer:
Philips
SKU #:
866671
UPC #:
046677111588

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.
 
I got my current florecent bulbs on my planted tank from Lowes. I got the ones that where labled dayglo or something like that. On the package it even listed aquariums.

I also got a dual light ballast and endcaps from them and used that to make my dual florecent fixture.

I have also used the florecent fixtures from lowes and put aquarum florecent bulbs from the LFS in them also.
 
I've been having trouble finding FL bulbs not made for aquaria use that don't make my tanks look yellow or green. I've tried a "Plant & Aquarium" tube that didn't work. I've tried "bright sunlight" and "natural daylight" tubes that also didn't look so good. I've tried the 'warm tones' tubes (as opposed to 'cool white' I guess) that also imparted more greenish tint.

What are the relevant ratings of fluorescent tubes that would allow me to get something close to a standard aquarium bulb? I'm not doing any thing fancy or trying to grow plants; I just want a bulb that doesn't make the tank look green.

Thanks,
Jim
 
Reply:JSchmidt

JSchmidt:

The CRI (color rendering index) and color temperature (Kelvin rating) would help with that.

CRI falls on a scale from 0 to 100, with 100 being a perfectly full-spectrum bulb. Anything above about 90 on the CRI scale is pretty good for rendering colors accurately.


The Kelvin range you want is around 5000 to 5500. That would give off a light equivelent to midday sun.

So if you get a bulb with a CRI>=90 and a K around 5000, you will get a "true" representation of the fish colors.

There are other factors that will affect the color also, like thick glass tanks (100 gallons +) will cause a greeninsh tint due to the glass; or if you have an algae bloom with the increased lighting ;)

Hope this helps.
 
Maybe. I tried GE's sunshine (5500K) bulbs on my old 55g and it was WAY too yellow. It may have been b/c of the green gravel, but I returned them anyway. I really like the Zoomed Flora-Sun (more blue and red spectrum). I have one along side a "normal" GE T8 bulb and the color is great! I also have a Tropic-Sun (Zoomed) on a seperate fixture that is good (doesn't seem to be too yellow even though its 5?00K) but the fish aren't as vibrant as with the Flora bulb.
JShmidt- you may try the phillips Ultra Daylight (I think that's the name) that's 6500K. I found them to be too blue and "washed out" my tank, but for $5 a pair at Home Depot, it may be worth a shot.
 
i use some 4' lights that i got from lowes...they were about $2 each and the kelvin rating was 6500...they look good to me...they are a white colored light
 
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