Coralife Compact Fluorescent Square Pin Bulbs

[coco*butter]

I wanted to know if one blub will be enough or should I just get both bulbs? Also should I get 50/50 and 10k or both the same of one type? I dont think I could afford to get both right now. Which should I get first?
Thank you so much for all for your help

 

[aaronnorth]

Is this a planted tank or marine? |Because the 50/50's are half white, half actnic which is designed for coral growth.

I cant tell you how many bulbs to get unless you give a few more details,

tank size?
wattage of lights
diameter (T5, T8 etc)

and also where are you located, because lampspecs.co.uk sell tubes for about £3 which are fine for plants but i think they only post to England.

 

[coco*butter]

This is for a planted tank I want to start and am located in California

 

[Mikaila31]

And the other stuff? Like aaronnorth said we can't help at all without knowing tank size and bulb wattage.

Though I suggest staying away from square pin bulbs, the square pin are less commonly used and the bulbs cost a little more. I have a square pin fixture and I keep planing on chopping off the socket and putting on a straight pin socket, I really don't like it.

 

[coco*butter]

I have 40 gallon tank and it a 36" blubs which is 96watts or something but they are old now and I think that was giving algea problems. So am buying new one for 40 bucks. Am getting the 10k. I duuno if i should get one or two.

 

[aaronnorth]

10k are fine, although you might want to get a lower kelvin to balance the light out. something around 4000-6000k. Dont get 50/50's.
Having less lighting will help to minimize algae.

Old lighting doesnt give you algae problems, check the guide in my sig to get an ID and how it is caused etc.

$40 is a lot, i get mine for about $4!! they dont have to be aquarium branded, they will be fine as long as they are the correct length, wattage and diamter.

 

[coco*butter]

But wont old bulb not give the right light waves to help your plant grow?
Omg that is cheapo, well am from CA and I dunno if I could find any bulb for the type I have. Any will look at the hardware store and see.

 

[aaronnorth]

But wont old bulb not give the right light waves to help your plant grow?
Omg that is cheapo, well am from CA and I dunno if I could find any bulb for the type I have. Any will look at the hardware store and see.

plants use blue & red wavelengths, it is highly unlikely that an old bulb will totally change spectrum like that.

 

[coco*butter]

So it ok to use my 7 year old 10k bulb?

 

[aaronnorth]

after 7yrs it wont be as efficient, or output as many watts as it used to do.
i would change it, just buy any bulb that fits, and the colour of the tube is ok, preferably between 5500-11 000k as it isnt to red, yellow or blue!