What kind of lighting do you guys use?

[phillyofish]

just wanted to see what different type of lighting/tubes that you guys use.

[mack74]

I have compacts and reg old t-12's. I love the compacts. I use 50/50 bulbs in all my tanks. I like them the best.

[phillyofish]

what are 50/50 bulbs?

[fischfan13]

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3794
http://www.zoomed.com/db/products/EntryDetail.php?EntryID=118&DatabaseID=2&SearchID=3&SearchContext=YTo1OntzOjQ6IlBhZ2UiO3M6MToiMCI7czo4 OiJTZWFyY2hJRCI7czoxOiIzIjtzOjEwOiJEYXRhYmFzZUlEIj tzOjE6IjIiO3M6NzoiSGVhZGluZyI7czo4OiJBcXVhcml1bSI7 czo4OiJLZXl3b3JkcyI7czo4OiJMaWdodGluZyI7fQ==

[phillyofish]

Thanks Bill

[mack74]

U beat me to it Bill lol.

[TwoTankAmin]

I use t-5, t-8 and t-12. My favorite bulbs for showing fish as well as growing plants are no longer made- they were the t-8 Triton made by Interpret. However, there are acceptable replacements- just look for full spectrum, tri-phosphor bulbs with a high CRI.

The Power compacts (t-5) I use bulbs are in the 5300-5500K range or else 6500-6700K. One tank uses both- higher K for the back and lower in the front.

While the K rating of a bulb is relevant for plants and for the general appearance being overall bright or muted, for showing the most accurate, and imo the best colors, of one's fish, CRI is the most important issue.

Color rendering index (CRI)

The color rendering index identifies the degree of color shift objects undergo when illuminated by a particular light source. In simpler terms, the CRI expresses the degree to which a light source renders the true color impression. The CRI is an index and ranges from 0 to 100. A light source having a CRI of 100 means objects illuminated by it look like they're supposed to; that is their natural color is not distorted. A light source having a very low CRI would tend to make objects appear to be a different shade or even color that they really are. An example of light with a high CRI is, obviously, sunlight. Some fluorescent tubes such as Daylight, Chroma 65 or Vita-Lite have a very high CRI. Some light sources such as Gro-Lux or sodium vapor lamps have very low CRI's.

From http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/4742/lighting.html