Has Anyone Tried These Lights Before?

One of my lights burned out yesterday, so I went to my LFS to get a new bulb. I am growing mostly low-medium plants, so T8 Flourscent is what i've been using for this tank. I have an Aqueon Hood and the original stock light were Full Spectrum, so I decided to try Floramax this time since they are supposed to promote plant growth. Unfortunately, these lights are very dull and very purple, and they were more expensive than the others. I'm a little disappointed with the low purple shade and will probably return them. So I would like some suggestions, if anyone has used these lights before? I have no spare lights for my plants so I have to buy local, very soon.

Coralife 10,000K Daylight T8
Aqueon Floramax T8

If anyone has used any of these particular bulbs, please let me know what you thought of them, or how they make the tank look and how they do with low-medium plants. All of those bulbs are T8 flourscent.

 

I don't know, but I used the Zoo Med Ultra Sun Trichromatic T8 before and liked it. It didn't turn things a funny color.

 

Posting here to remind myself to check back on this.

I have the same problem- I really didn't like the pink glow of the floramax. But, I've been to Home Depot, Lowe's, and even a specialty lightbulb store looking for a 24" t8 with 6500K. They're nowhere to be found! It's a $6 bulb, and it looks like now my only options are to order it online and end up paying $15 with shipping, or buy a marked up aquarium bulb from Petsmart for $15, which is kind of sad.

Plus I can never seem to find the kelvin rating on those things. My plants have been struggling along with an insufficient bulb for way too long at this point. I need to buy something soon.

 

Have you looked at Walmart 24" t8 is super common and most plant bulbs are pinkish purple as the color they do is around 7500k+ where as daylight or full spectrum are 5000k to 6500k

 

Full Spectrum lights are decent if you want a moderate white/sunlight look, and the colormax lights make the fish look great but they did nothing but hurt my plants. I'm not sure if Floramax helped or hurt plant growth but I thought they looked great with a bright substrate and horrible with a dark substrate/driftwood.

I'd still like to hear anyone's experiences with Floramax or Coralifes, and Coralife 50/50s.

 

You don't want coralifes for a planted tank. Their spectrum is geared toward saltwater and could cause a massive algae outbreak in a Freshwater tank.

 

I'm using the zoo med ultra sun t8 on my 29g. The plants are shooting off new leaves slowly (due to the height of the tank it's low light) but it does make the colors of the fish pop more than just a plain florescent.

 

You don't want coralifes for a planted tank. Their spectrum is geared toward saltwater and could cause a massive algae outbreak in a Freshwater tank.

I actually bought a Coralife light last night before I saw this...I do agree though that the 50/50 probably wouldn't be a good choice for a planted tank.
The one I bought is T8 Flourscent daylight spectrum 10,000 K. The box said it was for fresh and salt water, and there isn't any of the deep blue ocean colors. Do you think this one would be okay?

 

Possibly...generally the rating you want is something around 7500, and possibly something a little pinker for a plant boost.

 

Yes. I myself am curently using the Aqueon Full Spectrum T8. I think it's great.

 

Yes. I myself am curently using the Aqueon Full Spectrum T8. I think it's great.

I am using the Aqueon Full Spectrum on my othe tank since its all low-tech plants. Its great for them but I find some of my low-medium plants don't do as well with that one. Might try Floramax someday, its just so dark and purpleish though..

 

Possibly...generally the rating you want is something around 7500, and possibly something a little pinker for a plant boost.

Its not really pink, more of a bright white light. The box said it is supposed to mimic tropical midday suns, and the chart on the back shows it being high in blues, purples, greens, and reds. I thought that was good because I read in a fish hobby magazine that plants soak up blue, red, and green light and those are the best colors for them. I believe the Aqueon lights I tried were all around 8500 K and my plants seemed to do worse around the switch. I'm just hoping this light would be okay cause its very bright and makes the tank look very nice.

 

Well, you can certainly experiment with it.

 

Well, you can certainly experiment with it.

Do you still think it would be likely to cause huge algae growth?

 

Algae likes blue light. That's all I can say for sure.

 

Algae likes blue light. That's all I can say for sure.

Algae actually likes red light

 

Algae=borg so it's moot

 

Algae=borg so it's moot

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Nice a fish nerd AND a Star Trek Nerd - Thanks for making me feel at home!

The more plants I add the less nutrients algae has to eat. I also read that in the book "The Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquariums (Second Edition)" by David E. Boruchowitz

 

I'm on that note too, cichlidmac....lol.

I think algae likes anything it can take advantage of. Darn single celled lifeforms.

 

?

"Captain, they've adapted."

 

For all the non star trek people (that really includes me I have no idea why I know this) borgs said all the time resistance is futile

 

"Captain, they've adapted."

Winner!