Lighting, What Spectrum Tubes Do I Look For?

[julioarca]

I am basically looking to replace my lighting tubes on my Rio 180 tank.

Can some kind peops answer a couple of questions for me, basically I know its easier to get the new tubes for a LFS but they are pricey so can I use ones from my local CEF, this is what they have...

I can get an 'Flora Grow' tube, this is used for gardeners to grow indoors etc, what K levels should I be looking for, would this be any good?

Would a 'Day Light' tube ge anygood? I think it was 65000K, obviously this would just be to show the fish off, would it do anything for the plants?

Thanks Guys

 

[SuperColey1]

You can either go by the 'old wives and their tales of special colour renditions for plants etc which then sends you on the route of spending silly amounts on special plant lights or you can just buy the colours that look best to your own eye. In truth plants will do equally well with any light between 3500 - 10000 as they will all contain some of each of the colours. I personally use 1 x 4500 (pink) and 1 x 6500 (green) This to my eye gives a nice natural look.

check out the following thread page from one of this forum's posters:
http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/lighting.htm

Andy

 

[Wolfenrook]

You can either go by the 'old wives and their tales of special colour renditions for plants etc which then sends you on the route of spending silly amounts on special plant lights or you can just buy the colours that look best to your own eye. In truth plants will do equally well with any light between 3500 - 10000 as they will all contain some of each of the colours. I personally use 1 x 4500 (pink) and 1 x 6500 (green) This to my eye gives a nice natural look.

check out the following thread page from one of this forum's posters:
<a href="http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/lighting.htm" target="_blank">http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/lighting.htm</a>

Andy

Similar here, only I use 2x 6500k tubes, 1 10,000k tube and onw that is probably about 4,500k (the only expensive tube I have in there) with a pink colour to it. There is absolutely no need to buy £20+ tubes to grow plants and grow them well, the £3.23 ones do just as good a job.

Ade