PL light

[hotsoup]

Hi,

I'm using 4 x 36w 10000 k (two white and two blue) Pl light for my 3ft tank. Is it ok for me to change them all to white? If not, pls advise.

[souphamster]

extract from a website :=

*** FAQ:

Q. What's the difference between all the daylight bulbs?

A. Here’s the best way to summarize it:

5,000K = Warm daylight, slight hint of yellow when fired next to a 10,000K. Great for freshwater fish and plant tanks.

6,700K = Nice white, not as visually bright as a higher K bulb. Not as yellow as a 5,000K, also great for freshwater fish and plants.

8,800K = Strong, bright, crisp light, comparable to 10,000K.

10,000K = Bright crisp white light.

*i am thinking later, maybe going to nature aquarium to buy one 2' 10'000k light, but not sure if white or 50white/50blue is better! Please advise???

[Tanzy]

Go ahead and change them to all 10000K if you want. The actinics are supplemental light and in the case of all PL systems they are there to give fluorescent to the corals. Note that you will lose the fluorescent when you change to all 10000K, assuming that the blues you have in the first place are true actinics and not just normal blue bulbs.

[hotsoup]

Thanks Tanzy, but wat will be the effect without blue light? Will it bleaches out the coral?

[boxfish]

Go ahead and change them to all 10000K if you want. The actinics are supplemental light and in the case of all PL systems they are there to give fluorescent to the corals. Note that you will lose the fluorescent when you change to all 10000K, assuming that the blues you have in the first place are true actinics and not just normal blue bulbs.

The actinics are supplemental light and in the case of all PL systems they are there to give fluorescent to the corals. Note that you will lose the fluorescent when you change to all 10000K

Hi Tanzy,

What does "give fluorescent to the corals" mean? is it to make the coral luminous?

[Tanzy]

Some corals have fluorescent pigments, usually green but other colours are also possible, they respond to light at 420nm, which is the peak in the spectrum or actinic 03 bulbs. When given the light they will glow.

Don't think changing 2 PL light will bleach corals.

[boxfish]

Some corals have fluorescent pigments, usually green but other colours are also possible, they respond to light at 420nm, which is the peak in the spectrum or actinic 03 bulbs. When given the light they will glow.

Don't think changing 2 PL light will bleach corals.

Hmm ..a bit confuse...

1. PL light is good for coral

2. but will cause those that can glow to lose their fluorescent

3. but glowing coral is a main attraction

..dilemma

[Tanzy]

They won't lose their fluorescent, it's there but you can't see it well. If you can then, change all the PL to 10000K and add a FL true actinic which is cheaper than PL ones. Dilemma solved.

[boxfish]

roger rabbit

[hongqixian]

roger rabbit

Rabbit?? Turtle!