Do all bulbs with the 6500k rating make your tanks look green?

jhays79

Or is just me? I actually bought a dual fixture T5 high output setup for my tank, and took it off because it gave the tank a greenish yellowish look. I just bought a Life Glo2 20 w 6500k bulb, threw that in my original fixture I had, and it has the same look to it? I have the stock bulb that came with my hood that's 8000k and it has such a nicer look, not nearly as green looking. Do I just have to sacrifice the lighting look and stick with the green toned bulbs for the plants? Any other options?

redchigh

6500k bulbs give out a bluish-white light, not green.

8000k should be even bluer though, since the lower colors (4500k and lower) are yellow-orangeish white.

Is it possible you have tannins in your water?(since blue +yellow = green)
Or a mild case of 'green water' algae?

jhays79

I seem to only notice it with the 6500k bulbs? I don't have any driftwood or anything in my tank to produce tannins. I'm going to be doing a big water change tonight since I'm long over due for the week, and I'll see what I can come up with.

redchigh

Alrighty, let us know. If you have a lot of plants, they could be reflecting green light, and it could be more noticeable with 6500k....

Quantum

If the 8000K is a 'plant' bulb then yes, the 6500K will almost certainly have more green, I know the Life Glo emits a good amount of green. The difference at first will seem quite drastic, but you will get used to it over time.

Mikaila31

All 6500K bulbs look green to me too. I use 8000K on my show tanks. My favorite bulbs are GEs Salt and freshwater 9325K bulbs.

jhays79

I have a fair amount of plants, 1 Amazon Sword, 1 Anubias, a few vals, ancharis and Hornwort.

One more question, is there really that much of a difference between the 8000k 17 watt bulb that came with my hood, and the 20 watt 6500k Life Glo bulb?

Mikaila31

as far as plant growing goes no. It depends on the color spectrum more then the kelvin temp. The GE bulbs I recommened above are really good for plants.

Ashcan Bill

It's not just you. I've always found lamps in the 6500 range to be greenish-yellow as well. A lot of people seem to like that type of color. I don't.

I have one small tank that I'm currently using an Aqua-Glo in. The Aqua-Glo is rated at 18,000K. It produces a very subdued bluish violet color that I personally prefer.

Different strokes.

As far as plants, I'm having good results with the Aqua-Glo in the small aquarium. I've tried one in a deeper tank with less favorable results. Sometimes you just don't know until you try. But eventually you do build up a nice collection of tubes.

MinaMinaMina

I have the same problem. For me, its a combination of two 6500K bulbs and blackwater that make my tank look lime green.

Does anyone know of a bulb that will grow plants nicely, but has more yellow/red looking light?
I have "Jungle Val" and a double bulb fixture. I can't afford to blow any more money on bulbs that won't give me the look I want AND be enough to grow my Vals. Is having enough light to grow the Vals AND have blackwater that actually looks like blackwater... is it just a dream?!