Best T-12 bulb model for planted aquarium?

Question

Have you had success with a particular make / model of 40 Watt / 48 Inch / T-12 / F40 Bulb? Its about time to replace mine, and I'd like to find something better. I have 2 open slots.

My setup is kinda weird. Its been built up over time. I have 2 T40 bulbs in one standard aquarium hood. In my other hood, I have 2 current usa 32 watt compact flourescent retrofits & a dual incandescent socket with 2 25 watt CF screw in bulbs.

Answer 1

You can also use the more efficient T-8 bulbs for this length fixture. Zoomed makes an excellent one for your application, The flora Sun 8500 K.

Aquarium plants need more infrared and more watts of light. Photosynthesis takes place at the blue end and even more so at the red end of the Nanometer curve (420 nm blue and 670 nm red). The "valley" is around 550 nm, this is where most visible light is present and is why plant leaves mostly reflect green light, while they absorb red and blue. This curve drops sharply below 400 nm and above 700 nm.

For the reason above, a 20,000 K would also be a good compliment such as the Coralife 20,000 K or the Hagen Power Glo 18,000 K.

As for the Inc. Bulbs there are god ones for plants as well such as the CFL 6400 K compact flourescent bulb which more efficient and would screw into a standard socket.

Avoid cool white bulbs, these fall into the "valley which not of much use for plants. This is where most green and yellow light resides and is why chloraphyll is green.

I have an article here that has a few charts and a lot of information and links to even more indepth information, I think you would find this article very helpful:
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Lighting.html

Answer 2

Personally I feel that a mix of bulbs beats any one bulb any day. All I would do is mix them up while staying away from the bulbs that produce a lot of red spectrum. Most cheaper bulbs, like shop lights, fall in this group. The red end of the spectrum is not used as well by the plants you want to grow but is very well used by algae. Since you have incandescent bulbs which often throw extra red, I would stay to the really blue / white bulbs for the new ones. Just my opinion.

Answer 3

I don't really see much difference between bulbs. I have an eclipse uv light in each of my tanks. Try looking up Vita Lite. I hear they are supposed to be long lasting and a good buy.