"Tynk" wrote in message
...
On Dec 20, 6:24 pm, "Reel McKoi" wrote:
* I didn't check mine. I Just picked some cool white and warm white.
Lights
are on 10 to 12 hrs a day. There are 4 40w bulbs per 55g tank. I tried
less
and couldn't keep any plants alive but floating hornwart. The water is at
78F. These are regular shop lights, not aquarium fixtures.
snip

BUT...........what kelvin is the cool and warm bulbs you bought?

What does Kelvin mean? Where would I find that information?

Are
they run of the mill bulbs commonly found in Lowes or Wally World for
use in household / shop light fixtures?

Yes. I got them at Wally World.

Check into bulbs that are rated for plants in an aquarium like those
from URI or Coralife..........buy your bulbs according to Kelvin
rating not warm or cool or sunlight..........

Kelvin rating? What rating should they be when there are four 40w bulbs
over a 55g tank? Where is the rating found and does it go by a different
name?

I bet you find out there
is a difference in the bulbs over the common florescent bulbs you can
buy in big box stores etc. Proper light can also playb a part on them
not getting yellow as plants do a certain amount of photo-synthesis,
and proper specturm of light means a lot......all plants are not
critical but there are some that require lighting within the mwave
length that they are commonly found at for them to thrive and do
right. You can get the proper 7200K etc bulbs in all the lenghts any
other florescent bulb is available in from 10" to 96 inches in
length.........

Do you mean the "light output" when you say Kelvin? I already threw away
the packaging these new bulbs came in.

..even in a sal****er setup lights is the key player
when it comes to having algae blooms.....the other main player is
water that contains too much nitrate or phosphates, which is usually
more beneficial to a FW than a SW setup though......than it is a reef
tank..
--

RM....
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
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