Non-aquarium lights, what's the difference??

[WinterWind]

What would be the difference if I went to homedepot and selected a light there, rather than getting it at a fish store for more expensive?

Is there some type of spectrum that they have in the aquarium lights which make the plants grow better?

(BTW, would they have lights there that are for 10 gallon aquariums that fit into the hooding that is more than 15 wats?)

 

[bigmatt76]

there lights are just standard flourescents. you dont want that trust me from experience. just spend the money to get the right light.

matt

 

[Darkblade48]

There is nothing wrong with going to Home Depot and buying the lights that are there, just make sure you choose a nice tube with a relatively high colour temperature (we're talking 5500 - 6500 K or so, I believe most Home Depots have a tube called "Daylight" and is 6500 K (it says on the box, and I believe the box is a light blue/cyan in colour).

IMO, intensity >> spectrum. Spectrum is just so that the fish/plants look better to us. You wouldn't think a tank would be "pretty" if everything looked jaundiced (and it can happen if you use tubes with too low a colour temperature).

To get fluorescent lights that are more than 15 watts, you could always go to www.ahsupply.com and look at retrofitting your hood, if you can handle some DIY.

 

[RTR]

Any full-sperctrum triphosphor flourescent light will grow plants fine. The least expensive fluorescents will still grow plants but may require more tubes for the same effect, and may or may be satisfactory in appearance. For example, the Phillips Daylight Deluxe 6500K tubes from Home Depot grow just as well for me as any of the top tubes from the LFS. I prefer the "look" of Triton tubes, but the plants do well with either.

 

[Lauren]

There is nothing wrong with going to Home Depot and buying the lights that are there, just make sure you choose a nice tube with a relatively high colour temperature (we're talking 5500 - 6500 K or so, I believe most Home Depots have a tube called "Daylight" and is 6500 K (it says on the box, and I believe the box is a light blue/cyan in colour).

IMO, intensity >> spectrum. Spectrum is just so that the fish/plants look better to us. You wouldn't think a tank would be "pretty" if everything looked jaundiced (and it can happen if you use tubes with too low a colour temperature).

To get fluorescent lights that are more than 15 watts, you could always go to www.ahsupply.com and look at retrofitting your hood, if you can handle some DIY.

Plants thrive better with the right spectrum of light, I think a high red and blue mix.

 

[Darkblade48]

Plants thrive better with the right spectrum of light, I think a high red and blue mix.

True, but you could save potentially more money by buying a full spectrum 6500 K tube from Home Depot.

 

[TommyR]

True, but you could save potentially more money by buying a full spectrum 6500 K tube from Home Depot.

Agreed. You do not need a "special" aquarium tube. Save your money.