New Lights...Yuck!

Jay

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Feb 16, 2004
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Eastern Shore Md
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Today I installed 5; 32 watt; t8; 5000K; Full Spectrum, CRI 91, tubes on my 75-gallon tank and the look is a bright green tint to everything. I really do not like it, but thought I might float it here (No pun intended) to see what the thinking is.
 
I've never used a 5000K bulb. 6700K would put you closer to normal sunlight. Does your water have any algae in it (green water)?
 
Yah. Usually, 6700K gives a nice, bright, cool white color. The lower you go, the more yellow and warm the light becomes. I got a new bulb for my 29g (couldn't find the K rating though - and it was the only bulb I could readily find for that tank...) and it is also a pretty icky green color.
 
Hi,

I have been using 5000 K tubes for years. Their light approximates that of the sun at noon at the Equator. The 6500 K tubes do also. I have never seen a green tint or anything like it.

If there is a green tinge under a 5000 K light it is probably due to suspended algae in the water column, which has a number of causes and treatments.

Good luck.

Bill
 
If it;s a green tint, I would definately think algea. shut off all of the lights and shine a flashlight into the tank. if the flashlight has a green tint also...
If it doesn;t then look at the bulb idea.
Dave
 
As I said, I'm not too sure what K rating my new bulbs is, but I do know it surely isn't algae:) Not only was the water crystal clear with the previous bulb, but its clear when the tank lights are off.
 
When I first changed my light to a 6500K power compact bulb I found it extremely green. Now I've gotten used to the light and have no problem with it. Give yourself a few weeks to adjust and see if it's ok after that.
 
I have started using the 5,000K bulbs now instead of the 6,500K I was using and do find them to be more yellowish, but to some they seem greenish. I think it has to do with the individual and how they see colors, not everyone is the same! To get the color back to the way I wanted it, I followed the suggestion of one of the guys at a local bulb supply house... I added an actinic bulb to the mix of the 5,000's. This give's an awesome coloring IMO and I'm very pleased with it! If you added 5 t8's, then try removing one and adding a straight actinic like in the middle of them and see what happens... you'll be amazed at the difference!

now, that has become my standard setup for all my tanks. 5,000 K bulbs are cheap at Home Depot and the actinic are not too bad to replace once a year.

Good Luck,
Bill C.
 
or if you can get a hold of it throw a 10,000k bulb in the mix they are PURE white and will make the tank look soooo much better, and are way more useable to the plants than an actinic bulb.
 
When I first changed my light to a 6500K power compact bulb I found it extremely green. Now I've gotten used to the light and have no problem with it.

ditto. I first put the bulbs on and went WOW! it's bright, but it's GREEN!

looks great to me now.
 
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