Aquarium Lighting

[Barlet]

Is there a specific fluorescent bulb I need to buy? The bulb in my aquarium just blew out. It's a 48" 40W bulb. That's all I know about it. I also have no live plants. And my tank is a 100G.

I was thinking of this one:
http/www.petco.com/product/5721/Coralife-20-000K-High-Intensity-Purified-Super-Daylight-Lamps.aspx?CoreCat=FishFC_Hoods_Lighting

Would that be ok? Or if you guys have any recommendations, I'd appreciate it.

I noticed there's different K values. Does higher equal a stronger lighting?

Thanks

 

[ChilliPepper]

You can buy whatever bulb you want as long as it matches the ballast/controller. So if you have a T5 get T5 bulbs, if you have a T8, get T8 bulbs. Get the same length and no higher wattage than your current bulb and you'll be fine.

Yes the higher K number means it's brighter.

 

[nick87]

As above, except that the kelvin number is the colour tempreture of the bulb and not the brightness, a higher kelvin means a bluer light, lower kelvin is more red.

 

[Barlet]

Thanks for the replies.

How do I tell the type of controller I have? I looked on the label of the casing and it doesn't mention anything, whether it's T5, T8, or T12.

I did some reading on the Kelvin rating and it said that 20,000K is used for really deep tanks. My tank is about 32" deep. Is that really deep? Or will 10,000K suffice?

I also read on bulb sizes. I'm pretty sure I don't have a T5, because I saw a picture of it and it's mostly transparent and thin. The bulb that I had seemed standard and had a matte white color. It also said T8 and T12 can fit in the same fixture. So would that mean it doesn't matter if I choose T8 or T12?

 

[nick87]

Thanks for the replies.

How do I tell the type of controller I have? I looked on the label of the casing and it doesn't mention anything, whether it's T5, T8, or T12.

I did some reading on the Kelvin rating and it said that 20,000K is used for really deep tanks. My tank is about 32" deep. Is that really deep? Or will 10,000K suffice?

I also read on bulb sizes. I'm pretty sure I don't have a T5, because I saw a picture of it and it's mostly transparent and thin. The bulb that I had seemed standard and had a matte white color. It also said T8 and T12 can fit in the same fixture. So would that mean it doesn't matter if I choose T8 or T12?

A t8 bulb has a diameter of 1" and t5's are 5/8ths inch.

Also as i said, the kelvin is just the colour of the bulb, and since you have nothing photosynthetic in your tank the coulor temp is going to be personal preference.

 

[Twinklecaz]

Butting in again.

What K do plants like? Just I've been thinking of getting a new bulb coz I've noticed by fish's colours show up better in natural daylight.

 

[ian]

It doesn't matter about kelvin with plants, they don't really care about kelvin

 

[DJ Day 1]

a guy at my LFS has told me that aquarium lighting is "mostly aesthetic" because fish (like all animals) naturally know their day/night cycle.. i can see the logic behind this, but are there any benefits to using the artificial lights to manipulate the natural cycles?

 

[Twinklecaz]

It doesn't matter about kelvin with plants, they don't really care about kelvin

So basically as far as the plants ar concerned you can have whichever bulb you like?

Which are the one's that are like natural daylight/good for showing up fish colours?

 

[ChilliPepper]

I did some reading on the Kelvin rating and it said that 20,000K is used for really deep tanks. My tank is about 32" deep. Is that really deep? Or will 10,000K suffice?

I have a pair of 18,000k ones in my 30" deep tank. Well, with the hood it's probably the same depth as yours that the light needs to penetrate. I'd recommended at least the 18,000k for deep tanks. I also have a pair of 10,000k and the light is quite subdued.