nudge Posted September 3, 2011 Report Share Posted September 3, 2011 Hi, am runnig a 5ft malawi tank with a 3ft aq1 single tube light. The bulb is due for replacing. It is an aqua glo 18000 K t8. I do have some java fern as well. I would like to go with something that is not as bright as my current tube as i think it is to bright. When the fish are in front of it at the top of the tank the light kinda washes out their colour. Can anyone give me any ideas on what they use, what are the blue tubes like? Also does the K rating refer to the "brightness" of the tube?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 3, 2011 Report Share Posted September 3, 2011 Hi, am runnig a 5ft malawi tank with a 3ft aq1 single tube light. The bulb is due for replacing. It is an aqua glo 18000 K t8. I do have some java fern as well. I would like to go with something that is not as bright as my current tube as i think it is to bright. I don't know how that wimpy little 30 watt bulb would be remotely too much light in a 5 foot tank. Also does the K rating refer to the "brightness" of the tube?. No. It has nothing at all to do with the brightness. It's the overall color relative to the light produced by a carbon block of that temperature. 18,000 K will be a relatively blue light with relatively little light in the red spectrum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Li@m Posted September 3, 2011 Report Share Posted September 3, 2011 Im pretty sure 18000k is a Blue Colour- the best for bringing out the colour in africans IMO. check out this link http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=32844 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted September 3, 2011 Report Share Posted September 3, 2011 The 18000K tubes you get from a fish shop are not true 18000K lights. They are specially formulated to have more red and blue spectra and appear pinkish in colour over time and more purple when new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nudge Posted September 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2011 cheers for the link, explains alot, perhaps my wimpy 30watt bulb is just the ticket Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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