4100k?

[TammyLiz]

Is 4100K T8 lighting too low for a planted tank? This was the closest I could find in my local hardware store to 5000, which is what I heard is best. Should I keep looking?

 

[George Farmer]

Should be ok. Quantity of light is generally more important than colour temp.

The net is a good source of quality lighting if in doubt.

What tank is it you're lighting?
What size and how many tubes will you use?
What plants?

 

[kenneth_kpe]

I agree with GF im using 1 36 watt 4000 kelvin bulb which makes up for abuot 30 percent of my total lighting, the plants did better after i added this bulb since i added moore lighting.. but i do not like the yellow tint caused by the 4000 kelvin bulb

 

[WendyinWichita]

Since you are in the US, you might try this. I picked up a GE Daylight 40 at a Ace Hardware. It is 6500K, very inexpensive, around 5 or 7 dollars I think. It puts out a nice white light. I have 3 of them on a 45 Gal tank and I get more pearling from it than two other tanks that have compact flourescents on them.

The one I got is a 48" but they had it in all sizes.

 

[George Farmer]

Since you are in the US, you might try this. I picked up a GE Daylight 40 at a Ace Hardware. It is 6500K, very inexpensive, around 5 or 7 dollars I think. It puts out a nice white light. I have 3 of them on a 45 Gal tank and I get more pearling from it than two other tanks that have compact flourescents on them.

The one I got is a 48" but they had it in all sizes.

Even better

 

[simonbrown403]

I was once advised by the planted tank guy at my lfs, that tubes about 3500k as they give out the two colours of light used by plants, and very small amounts of blue which algae prefers.

He said that most people didnt use them as they gave off a yellowish tinge that didnt look appealing to most people.

 

[George Farmer]

I was once advised by the planted tank guy at my lfs, that tubes about 3500k as they give out the two colours of light used by plants, and very small amounts of blue which algae prefers.

He said that most people didnt use them as they gave off a yellowish tinge that didnt look appealing to most people.

The two colours that plants use for photosynthesis and chlorophyll production are red and blue. True, algae does "prefer" blue but if there's enough plant growth then this will prevent the algae from forming in the first place.

I used to swear by the Dennerle 3000K tubes but found them far too yellow-orange even when mixed with 7500K. Now I use 6500/7500K (which has a lot of green oddly enough) and have better growth than ever, consequently no algae.

I've said it before - the colour temp. is secondary to intensity. Plants aren't really fussy about the colour of the light (within reason), as long as there's enough of it they will grow. It is the plant growth that prevents algae, not necessarily the colour temperature.

 

[TammyLiz]

Should be ok. Quantity of light is generally more important than colour temp.

The net is a good source of quality lighting if in doubt.

What tank is it you're lighting?
What size and how many tubes will you use?
What plants?

The tank is a 55gal US. (48in. long, 19in. high)
I am making a diy hood and am starting with 2x48" T8 bulbs (32watts each) with plans to possibly add a third, but I don't want to overdo it and end up with an algae bloom.
Low to medium light plants like anubias, java fern, java moss, wisteria, vals, would sort of like to add some type of lily.
No CO2 injection.
My first planted tank, BTW.

I agree with GF im using 1 36 watt 4000 kelvin bulb which makes up for abuot 30 percent of my total lighting, the plants did better after i added this bulb since i added moore lighting.. but i do not like the yellow tint caused by the 4000 kelvin bulb

Good information. These bulbs are cheap so I may try them just to see if I mind the yellow or not, since you guys seem to think the plants don't really care.

Since you are in the US, you might try this. I picked up a GE Daylight 40 at a Ace Hardware. It is 6500K, very inexpensive, around 5 or 7 dollars I think. It puts out a nice white light. I have 3 of them on a 45 Gal tank and I get more pearling from it than two other tanks that have compact flourescents on them.

The one I got is a 48" but they had it in all sizes.

I don't have Ace around here but I'll look for one at another place. Is it a T8 or T12? I was hoping to go with T8. It seems like it would be better but am I just being stupidly stubborn?

Thanks so much for the help. Because of people like you my tank is gonna be fantastic!