Received the wrong bulbs

HollyinWA

First, thank you for responding to my other thread. I will respond a little later this evening....have some things to do first. I just had to post this before I go out and do the barn, etc.

I cannot win with this 14 gallon tank. It is almost funny if I were not so disgusted. First, I break the one bulb I originally got at Petco after I got it home, and they were not cheap in the store. They only had 2 bulbs left but one was broken at the store. So, I bought the one thinking that was better than two of what I had until I could get the other one. Like I said, I ended up breaking that one when I got home. I then come on here and ask for suggestions and did some research and looking around. I could not find anything here in the stores so posted a thread as to which compacts to get. I got the answer that the 50/50 was the way to go and not the Colormax, so I finally ordered them from Dr. Smiths. It was mailed separately from the other bigger item I received via FedEx, which was super fast. The bulbs finally arrived today by USPS. I opened them up and put them in and then I realized that it says Colormax and not the 50/50. At first I thought they sent the wrong ones since I was SURE I did not make a mistake. I looked at my receipt and sure enough it says Colormax! I then go online to check the item number and sure enough I ordered the wrong one. How the heck could I have done that being so sure of what I needed and wanted????? I place orders all the time for the biz and usually never make this kind of mistake. Actually, now that I think of it, I made a mistake recently for a sample jar for the second time....plugged in the wrong one. Although, I have only messed up twice since the biz and I order a lot.

I am so disgusted with myself. Now, I need to order them again. My question is, are these ok to have on there in the meantime until I order the right ones. I would think they would be better than the incandescents that were on there.

Also, since they are compact and the twist on kind for small tanks, they only come in 10 watts. This would be 20 watts for 14 gallons. I know that the wattage thing is not as important as the type of light, but just wanted to make sure this is going to be ok whether i have the Colormax or the 50/50.

Thanks for any input on this.

HollyinWA

P.S. I just looked at the difference between the two and for one thing other the color enhancing type light for the Colormax, it is only 6,700 K's full spectrum and the 50/50 is 50% 10,000°K daylight and 50% Actinic 03 blue. Is the colormax ok for now or should I order the other one right away?

I want to cry.

Angel079

Do you have these one's Small Aquarium Lighting: Mini Compact Bulbs
For one you're crazy to buy these screw ins there for that price plus shipping, I"m gonna take you shopping!

For the colormax...I just read through it, that's PERFECT light for plants actually and mucchhhh better then the 50/50 as that would have been too high end in blues for plants; so you made the "right" mistake IMO since you wanna go planted once we convinced you fully anyway

HollyinWA

Thanks, Angel. Yes, those are the ones. I went back to the thread that I had posted with the question and Byron did say Colormax. So maybe I actually did not make a mistake. Not sure why I thought I was supposed to get the 50/50 after I received them. Who knows. Maybe I am just tired. They were on sale at Dr. Foster's for $6.79 each which seemed like a deal after buying the one at Petco for over $14.00! I had to get another item so I really did not spend anymore on shipping for the bulbs. The shipping was cheap. Since I had already shopped at our close Home Depot and did not succeed, and at the time did not realize that we had a Lowes a little closer than I thought, I rather pay a few bucks more then having to drive around looking. I hate shopping and get so stinken busy with the biz sometimes, that I hardly go anywhere. I love to be home. However, I do love to go out to eat! Since the biz got serious, my husband does all the grocery shopping. LOL I have a lot on my plate with the biz, never ending housework which Harry does not help out at all, kids, horses, dogs, cats and now fish. Since the end of last year, I am having a bit of trouble getting my business motor started again, especially with the distraction of my re-addiction with fish. January is usually a slow month for me anyway and I need a break.

Again, thanks a lot for the great response indicating either I errored in a good way or did not error at all. Not sure which it is at this point, but I am happy. You are doing a good job, along with others convicing me to go planted. I am trying, really I am.

mrdemin

You're too far in to change your mind now

Byron

These things are trying on the nerves, but in the end it's nice to know everything worked out correctly after all. And they did. On with that planted tank Holly. B.

Angel079

Good grieve gal!!!!
They're like what $2-3 for a 2 pack at Walmart & co? How on earth would someone pay $14 for them is way passed me

HollyinWA

Thanks, Byron. I will eventually get going on this, even though I sound very torn. I do have a few live plants so far, which I gor before I knew a thing about how to have live plants. I will go shopping online real soon for more plants. I have been looking at then on and off.

HollyinWA

People like me that did not know a thing about plant lighting when I bought it. I did think they were high, but did not know they were that much higher than what can be bought at an online fish store. I had know idea you can use tubes/bulbs from Walmart, etc. that would do the same thing for live plants in a fish tank. I figured they were something special for aquatic plants......specifically for "aquariums and planted tanks."

HollyinWA

You can say that again!