What is a 12,000K fluorescent tube

[robotuna]

So I have been looking at either retrofitting my current hood or
getting a new one so that I can put more light on my plants. They are
doing well so far (3+ weeks) but are only geting 15W in my 20-gal
aquarium plus indirect light from outside. I know that 5000K bulbs are
most like sunlight, and I'm using one of those now. But if 3500K is a
yellowish incandescent bulb, and 6000k are the bluer fluorescents, what
is a 12,000k bulb. It seems like that would be outside of our visual
spectrum and well into the UV range. Thanks for you help in straitening
me out.

Sincerely,
Travis

[Charles]

On 10 Apr 2005 20:48:38 -0700, "robotuna" > wrote:

>So I have been looking at either retrofitting my current hood or
>getting a new one so that I can put more light on my plants. They are
>doing well so far (3+ weeks) but are only geting 15W in my 20-gal
>aquarium plus indirect light from outside. I know that 5000K bulbs are
>most like sunlight, and I'm using one of those now. But if 3500K is a
>yellowish incandescent bulb, and 6000k are the bluer fluorescents, what
>is a 12,000k bulb. It seems like that would be outside of our visual
>spectrum and well into the UV range. Thanks for you help in straitening
>me out.
>
>Sincerely,
>Travis


A tube with much more blue. It will still have some green/red, the
lower temperature colors, but a significant part of the energy will be
blue and ultraviolet, useless for fresh water tanks, but good for
coral.

some general info at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_balance


--
Charles

Does not play well with others.

[robotuna]

Thanks for the quick reply. So, this dual-bulb compact florescent hood
I was looking at won't work? I'm open to any comments. Would it be just
as easy to custom retrofit my existing hood? Thanks

http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=5

Travis

[Charles]

On 10 Apr 2005 21:18:41 -0700, "robotuna" > wrote:

>Thanks for the quick reply. So, this dual-bulb compact florescent hood
>I was looking at won't work? I'm open to any comments. Would it be just
>as easy to custom retrofit my existing hood? Thanks
>
>http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=5
>
>Travis


The hood will work, just most of the light will be wasted. They have
a contact point, ask them if you can get it with whatever color temp
lamp you want, it's just a matter of replacing the tube.

I personally favor the 6500 to 6700 degree lamps, but it's a matter of
taste.

Retrofitting your hoods depends on what they are, but I've done it
with some of the cheap plastic hoods that come with tanks.

Check out www.ahsupply.com for parts. They get a lot of good press on
the newsgroups, I've bought stuff from them and been satisfied.
--
Charles

Does not play well with others.

[Charles]

On 10 Apr 2005 21:18:41 -0700, "robotuna" > wrote:

>Thanks for the quick reply. So, this dual-bulb compact florescent hood
>I was looking at won't work? I'm open to any comments. Would it be just
>as easy to custom retrofit my existing hood? Thanks
>
>http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=5
>
>Travis


That's a lot of light for a what 20/30 gallon tank. Plants should do
well there if they don't burn.

the Krib is a good source of information

http://www.thekrib.com/Lights/


--
Charles

Does not play well with others.

[Bob]

Hello, robotuna!
You wrote on 10 Apr 2005 20:48:38 -0700:
I've had to set up a small 20gal tank after one of the others decided that
holding water wasn't it's main aim in life.
The 20 was an emergency measure and a quick cycle was all that time
allowed, any way because I didn't have lights for this tank I improvised by
making a timber hood and fitting it with 2 x 6000k bayonet cap Fluoro energy
savers, so far these seem to be doing the trick as the plants seem to be
growing steadily as well as giving a pleasantly bright appearance to the
tank.


r> So I have been looking at either retrofitting my current hood or
r> getting a new one so that I can put more light on my plants. They are
r> doing well so far (3+ weeks) but are only geting 15W in my 20-gal
r> aquarium plus indirect light from outside. I know that 5000K bulbs are
r> most like sunlight, and I'm using one of those now. But if 3500K is a
r> yellowish incandescent bulb, and 6000k are the bluer fluorescents, what
r> is a 12,000k bulb. It seems like that would be outside of our visual
r> spectrum and well into the UV range. Thanks for you help in straitening
r> me out.

r> Sincerely,
r> Travis

With best regards, Bob. E-mail: