Another Lighting Question

bradttu

Member
I am wanting to buy new bulbs for my tank. I am wondering about what I should buy. I have searched SWF.com for these answers, but nothing that really helped me decide. Anyway......
My tank is a 55, FOWLR. Would you buy 10,000K or 50/50? What are the advantages/disadvantages of each? What is the point of the 50/50 bulb?
Thanks!
 

salty rick

Member
The 10,000k's give off a bright white light. The 50/50's are more blue and I think run around 7,000K. The antintic is all blue and I think run around 6,500k. These are Coralife NO bulbs that I am quoting info on. Now the question is how blue do want the tank to look? If you want real blue go with 50/50's and antintic. If you want less blue go 10,000K and antintic. I have two 50/50's, a 10,000k and an antintic bulb. I don't think the tank looks blue enough.
I really don't know the advantages or disadvantages other than how you want the tank to look. Since yours is FOLR you may want to go more toward the blue side for looks.
 
T

thomas712

Guest
It would help to know what type of bulbs you want, VHO, NO what?
I love my 50/50's, I really like the way they look, they are VHO and are 12,000k.
Thomas
 

bradttu

Member
I currently have the All-Glass 48" hood with 2 24" compact fluorescent bulbs. The bulbs put off more of a "pinkish" color.
I was looking in a magazine and came across REALUX lighting. They call it "Hyper Grow" it's a blue & white 12,000K/7,100K bulb. Has anyone seen these???
 

zibnata

Member
I upgraded from 80 watt NO to 2 -55 watt 10,000k PC and 2 -55 watt actinic. My tank now is a mess with algae on the glass daily. In the morning there is no algae on the glass, but after the lights go on after about 3 hours the glass is covered.Also when I only put the actinics on there is no algae problem.I am probably replace the 10,000 k bulbs with 6500k or 50/50 because they are so white that you can't see the blue.
 

bradttu

Member
So would you recommend getting two 50/50s or a 10,000K and a actinic? Or any other combination for that matter?
 
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