[rexpepper651]

so ive been looking for a while and cannot find much info on the diff between these two bulbs besides price. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/related_items.cfm?dsbid=s67191956
Fluorescent Aquarium Lighting: Aqueon Full Spectrum Daylight Fluorescent Lamp


now to throw in a lil curve ball


Philips 32-Watt 4Ft T8 Natural Light Linear Fluorescent Light Bulbs (10-Pack)-205047 at The Home Depot



any help would be great.

 

[Boredomb]

I can not tell you much about the aqeon bulb but as for the difference between the Zoo med and the Phillips. Well that I can from what I have read and my experience.

The Zoo med bulb will have more light intensity then the Phillips. In other words its a little stronger bulb. On my 29 gallon I run these bulbs for that intensity to help with the plants on the substrate. If I run household lights such as Phillip or GE (the brand I can get locally) on that same tank my plants struggle to survive. I do run GE daylight bulbs on my other tanks but they are not as deep as the 29 and work just fine.

 

[rexpepper651]

how deep is your 29 gallon?

 

[Agent13]

I have the ultrasun ones on my 55 and my 16. Both are fast plant growing tanks. No issues whatsoever and the 16 has been running forever. I used to have the aqueon one on the 16 and my 72(I think:-?) . The zoomed one works better from what I can tell however for whatever reason I never bothered to run the solar meter under either of them.. and would be useless on the bulb on the 72 since it's older , and really I can't say for plant growth in that tank since it's the African tank.

I'd just say the ultrasun is better.. by how much I can't say

 

[rexpepper651]

I have the ultrasun ones on my 55 and my 16. Both are fast plant growing tanks. No issues whatsoever and the 16 has been running forever. I used to have the aqueon one on the 16 and my 72(I think:-?) . The zoomed one works better from what I can tell however for whatever reason I never bothered to run the solar meter under either of them.. and would be useless on the bulb on the 72 since it's older , and really I can't say for plant growth in that tank since it's the African tank.

I'd just say the ultrasun is better.. by how much I can't say

i think ill give the ultra sun a try. its twice as much as i can get the common bulbs i have been using. growth with them seems to be a bit slow but still happening. crypts are going well and every month or so i notice new growth from the vals. just a little slower then i expected even in my dirt tank i expected a little faster growth. only thing i dont like is having to replace evry 6 months with the more expensive bulbs but if im going to get better results and make my tanks look better its worth it in the long run. thank you everybody. always veery helpful
!

 

[Boredomb]

how deep is your 29 gallon?

is 18" tall

 

[Agent13]

i think ill give the ultra sun a try. its twice as much as i can get the common bulbs i have been using. growth with them seems to be a bit slow but still happening. crypts are going well and every month or so i notice new growth from the vals. just a little slower then i expected even in my dirt tank i expected a little faster growth. only thing i dont like is having to replace evry 6 months with the more expensive bulbs but if im going to get better results and make my tanks look better its worth it in the long run. thank you everybody. always veery helpful
!

It's not imperative or exact. You can stretch it out a little longer. I currently have a different zoomed light on one of my dragons that is still reading decent at almost 8 months. It's decreased but not enough worth replacing yet..but soon.

 

[rexpepper651]

ahh so this would be good for my crypts and anubis on the bottom my tanks a bit higher. yeah i can see prob differ between bulbs even how an when they should be changed. even same brand an stuff one bulb could need changing before another. im tryin it! and some of this high rated flake food.