Janmitch22

Jason

The Icandescent bulb may help to grow the plants but a fluoresecent fitted with a plant growing fluorescent tube is much better, no heat, better light, I'd say better growth, low wattage. More money but a much better growth. I suggest you read http://www.fishlore.com/aquarium_light.htm

atmmachine816

ya there was a post by me about the two types of bulbs just look down a little more in the plant section and you should find it

Isabella

I have never heard of incandescent bulbs for growing plants. But it appears they exist. Interesting. But if I had to choose myself over an incandescent and a fluorescent, I'd definitely go for a fluorescent, even at a greater price. From what I hear, incandescents really do heat up the water and use up much more electricity than fluorescents do. I think incandescents are mainly for terrariums, reptile tanks, etc ... Perhaps they're for plants in reptile tanks that are not fully submerged? (Just a guess.)

P.S. Is this the post you were talking about? http://www.fishlore.com/Forum/index.php?topic=553.0

Janmitch22

0morrokh

The "plant growth" thing was probably just some marketing thing. In my opinion incandescent lights are junk--they produce more heat and less light. ('you get what you pay for')

vin

The issue with incandescent lamps is that it's much more difficult to find proper color and temperature. They also have a much shorter life than a fluourescent lamp.

A good broad spectrum fluorescent lamp should be relatively easy to find and will offer the best combination for growth for both the fish and the vegetation in the tank.

Jon

Incandescents put off like 1/10 the light of flourescent or something... i forget i posted something on this subject a while ago... dont buy incandescents though they are not effective and put off too much heat... Flourescents and VHO/HO or power compacts will be good for growing plants... depending on how much light the specific plants need

if you are doing this for a reef tank with stony corals that require more light you might need metal halides or multiple power compact tubes

nap83

whatever a label says, an incandecent bulb will now grow ANY plants, it just doesn't have power to do that. if you have an incandecent outlet, your better off buying spiral flourescents found in home depot, they're 6 for $10. i use them in my nano planted tank and gives me 3 watts oer gallon. incadecents just heat up your aquarium and costs so much to run.