Right now, I'm ready to change my fluorescent light tubes (two 6700K and two Pink/Plant Grow). I would like to hear your favorite combination and why you prefer it that way). Thank you.
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Your Favorite T5HO Bulb and Why
- Thread starter Crispino Ramos
- Start date
I haven't tried them yet, but the next bulb change I'm planning to use Geisemann bulbs. I've heard a lot of good things about them but no personal experience yet. If I were using a multiple bulb setup I'd mix Midday and Aquaflora bulbs. I'm only using a single bulb on my planted tank so I'm going to go with a single Midday when I replace it.
I use all 6500K. Very natural looking light, not too yellow but also not so blue that reds get washed out. Good medium blue and red spikes with lot of green for viewing.
Same here, I'm a big 6500K fanboy since i'm not that fond of mixing bulbs with different colours. Worked well in my aquarium, paludarium en ripararium, greens show very nice and red will still be red.
I'm using Giesemann bulbs now; they are not much more expensive than other brands and seem to be the choice for nearly all of the serious aquarists I know (freshwater and saltwater). They came very highly recommended and I get a good price at my LFS. I've used combinations of both Coralife 6700K/Plant Flo and Current 6500K/Freshwater bulbs in the past. The Coralife bulbs were okay, but one started to hum after about 5-6 months and all bulbs seemed to loose intensity quickly. Without changing anything else on the tank I began to see an increase in algae growth and reduction in plant growth after about 4 months.
The Current bulbs were the stock bulbs that came in the Nova fixtures and are not worth mentioning.
The owner of my reefer LFS also likes URI and Hagen GLO bulbs, although I have no experience with either. He knows his stuff and runs a pretty spectacular pleco tank with Hagen GLOs. He offered them as an attractive alternative due to the different freshwater configurations (I think there are 4-5 freshwater/planted tank specific bulbs available?). I decided to spend the extra few dollars to get the Giesemann bulbs. I mean, what's another $18 when you're already dropping $200?
I'm currently using 4 x Midday 6000K bulbs and 4 x Aquaflora bulbs. The Aquaflora bulbs are very pink and give off a very warm light. The light from these alone seems unnatural and almost yellowish. I'm not completely happy with the light color, however the roommates, the girlfriend, and other non enthusiasts seem to like the warmth of the light.
The 6000K bulbs are a whiter, cooler light. The light is more natural and seems to bring out Iridescence in fish, especially the blue in the GBRs and the blue face worming in the Severums and Acara. The plants have no complaints.
I'm going to swap out two of the Aquaflora bulbs for some more 6000K bulbs in an effort to cool the tank down a bit.
The Current bulbs were the stock bulbs that came in the Nova fixtures and are not worth mentioning.
The owner of my reefer LFS also likes URI and Hagen GLO bulbs, although I have no experience with either. He knows his stuff and runs a pretty spectacular pleco tank with Hagen GLOs. He offered them as an attractive alternative due to the different freshwater configurations (I think there are 4-5 freshwater/planted tank specific bulbs available?). I decided to spend the extra few dollars to get the Giesemann bulbs. I mean, what's another $18 when you're already dropping $200?
I'm currently using 4 x Midday 6000K bulbs and 4 x Aquaflora bulbs. The Aquaflora bulbs are very pink and give off a very warm light. The light from these alone seems unnatural and almost yellowish. I'm not completely happy with the light color, however the roommates, the girlfriend, and other non enthusiasts seem to like the warmth of the light.
The 6000K bulbs are a whiter, cooler light. The light is more natural and seems to bring out Iridescence in fish, especially the blue in the GBRs and the blue face worming in the Severums and Acara. The plants have no complaints.
I'm going to swap out two of the Aquaflora bulbs for some more 6000K bulbs in an effort to cool the tank down a bit.
I have been using the zoomed bulbs one 6500k and one 5000k flora sun bulb by zoomed. I have been happy with them. I like the blend as the flora sun really pops out colors like blues, reds, oranges and I think it deepens the greens. The 6500k daylight bulbs, IMO, alone wash out some colors and are too green/yellow. I prefer the combo. I like to have more daylight bulbs than the pink toned bulbs so that the warmer color effect is subtle.
I use these bulbs because they are available locally. Coral life bulbs are also available, but I am not a fan of those bulbs.
I use these bulbs because they are available locally. Coral life bulbs are also available, but I am not a fan of those bulbs.