Which Tubes For My Tank?

[stryker_uk]

Hi all.

I've bought a 2nd hand aquaone 850 that has 3 lighting tubes in the hood (all looking a bit worse for wear), but I can't read the writing on them. 2 are 30 inch 25 watt, the other is 23.5 inch 20 watt according to the instructions, but it doesn't actually say what sort of bulbs they are and looking round the LFS there seems to be quite a few different types with different spectrums of light. Can anyone tell me the ideal tubes that I should fit???

 

[BigC]

http/www.aquarium-parts.co.uk/acatalog/A...cent_Tubes.html

 

[RedeyesUK]

It does depend on what you have, or intend to have, in your tank.
If you're just planning on fish and maybe a couple of easy plants, then you can put pretty much any sort of light in there.
If you're planning on keeping a lot of plants, then you'll need some tubes that have the correct spectrum for plant growth. Something around 6500K is generally ideal.

 

[Truck]

anything from 2000k-10000k will be fine for plants. with 6500k being a white colour

 

[stryker_uk]

Thanks for that. At the moment I've got 6 plants in it, don't ask me their names!!!

Would I be best fitting 3 differnt types of bulbs then or all the same??

 

[Truck]

Thanks for that. At the moment I've got 6 plants in it, don't ask me their names!!!

Would I be best fitting 3 differnt types of bulbs then or all the same??

yeah if i were you i would go for a 2000-3000k bulb a 5000k-7000k and a 9000k-10000k

you will have a nice white balance their

 

[BigC]

Hi,
If your wishing to grow aquarium plants sucessfully then you would be better utilising the planted forum section. There is a lot more to sucessfully growing aquarium plants than correct lighting balance. ie substrate, water parameters, additives, heating, CO2 all play a part.
Regards
C

 

[stryker_uk]

Great.

Thanks for all your help