What color compact Flourscent lighting?

R

richardhmc

AC Members
Feb 27, 2007
197
0
0
I customized my 10 gallon hood by inserting two N:vision CFLs in there. Both of them are 5500k and I wanted to know should it be 6700k? Because every time I turn on the lights, the plants (anubias) are growing very little, but still turning yellow in some leaves and i have algae breakout instantly.

DSC03116.JPG
 
When I go to home depot, or lowes, the highest kelvin temp I can find is 5500k. Anyone know a place to find CFLs @ 6700k?
 
5500K isn't too bad, but I prefer higher if I can get it. I've had lo-light plants do fine at 5500K.

Home depot around here carries several nuvision lamps in "daylight" which is 6500-6700K. Look for the blue package. While you're at it, get ones that are "UL listed for wet location" I know they carry a 14W wet location in daylight.

Put the light on a timer, they are on sale for ~$4-5 at HD now. I'd start with 8 hours ON if you have algae issues.

Now to get slightly off topic:

Anubias is a VERY slow grower...It will grow in almost NO light so I doubt that is the entire problem. Be sure to prune the yellow leaves promptly.

The crinkled aluminum foil is a shock hazard waiting to happen...plus it's probably not THAT great of a reflector. I suggest spray painting (Krylon Fusion) the inside of the hood white instead.
 
What do you mean by very slow growing (anubias)? Mine has grown new leaves and stuff in my 0.5 wpg @ 2800k. I'm upgrading the lighting today, though! :)
 
richardhmc said:
When I go to home depot, or lowes, the highest kelvin temp I can find is 5500k. Anyone know a place to find CFLs @ 6700k?
Click to expand...

yea...home depot or lowes :laugh:
just look around a little better, i picked some up at both stores just a week or two ago.

i'd stay at 7.8-8 hours of light on a timer per day.

also, anubias grow slowly, they are slow growers, no real way around it.
 
So if 6500+K is best, why are "plant lights" sold usually ~2800K? That seems to make more sense, considering chlorophyll absorbs red/orange light, you'd want a redder bulb...not a bluer one (higher K). What is wrong with my logic, here?
 
Many terrestrial plants need reddish light in order to bloom. And people will pay the $$ for a "gro-light"

I have grown amaryllis under multiple lights in the the winter...I have 4 shop lites (with various bulbs) over the growing area. The bloom always heads toward the one with the reddish gro-lights, tho it is the least bright of them all.

Actually seedlings like tomatos and peppers do fine under cool white tubes...they really don't care what the color is.

Freshwater aquarium plants tend to do better under 6500k conditions. Lower color temps seem to support more algae growth.

and FWIW, I have had lo-light plants grow "OK" under warm-white 2800-3000K lights.
 
Last edited:
Where are you seeing plant lights that are 2800k?
 
So lighting that is not for aquarium plants then? I'm confused.
All plant lights I have seen and use for aquariums are all between 5500k, and 6700k.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom