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Lighting upgrade

9K views 50 replies 9 participants last post by  Byron 
#1 ·
I'm starting to get very frustraded with my tank!!!!! It's no where close to where it should be. It should be done by now. I want my tank to have beautiful plants of greens and reds, but my lighting is too weak. I went from 6,500k to 10,000k to find out that wasn't gonna work. Sooo that was a waste of money right there. Plus I bought some plants that froze, because the heater wasn't plugged in!!! :evil: I was told it would be best to buy a new fixture to keep the plants I wish. My plants is a 55gal slipt hood, so I don't know if they make two part glass covers. I'm 14 soo it can't be tooo costly. I don't want to go over $100. Please help me make my dream tank come to live!!:-D
 
#45 ·
No way. The bulbs don't get very hot. I can grab the bulbs even after several hours of being on. The only part that even gets very hot is the top of the fixture by the ballast. I'm pretty sure one of the main things the glass tops are designed for is to hold strip lights so I think they'll be fine.
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#48 ·
I am using a GE 6500k and a GE 5000k. I like a little warmer look so went with one 5000k. I think it brings out the fish colors better, for my eyes anyways. Picked them up at lowes in two packs for aroud $6 I think.
This is a good combo. As you've mentioned, the 5000K adds a bit more warmth to the hue, that's fine. As I've written elsewhere, tubes with a Kelvin between 5000K and 7000K are usually good. Whether you go warm or cool within this, up to you and your preference for hue. The plants will do well whatever.
 
#50 ·
Generally the plant bulbs are much weaker light, which you see by the difference in lumens listed. Best bet is to maybe try one out mixed with either the 6500 or 5000 bulb. However it probably isn't needed. Anything in the Kelvin range that Byron posted would be sufficient.
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#51 ·
Yes, I would stay away from any so-called "aquarium" or "plant" tube. I have tried several, not all but several, and they are weaker intensity than full spectrum or daylight, about half some of them. And they give a purplish hue which distorts fish and plant colours; some may like this, many including me do not. But the weaker light is the more important issue.

A 6500K "daylight" with a 5000K ("warmer") tube, or two 6500K tubes (for a crisper white) will work. The hue is up to your preference.
 
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