Are The Pet Store Fluorescents Really Worth It?

[Ceramicbull]

Quick question folks, are the pet store fluorescents really worth the added cost? What is the real difference between a "full spectrum" "sunlight" GE bulb for $7 and a Hagen Flora-Glo for $16? (both 24" length and 20W in this example)

 

[BigIan]

It depends what you want, if you just want a light on your tank then yep normal fluros are fine. However some of the specialist ones have a certain kelvin rating that can be good for plants / corals.

 

[Rafael Dilone]

It depends what you want, if you just want a light on your tank then yep normal fluros are fine. However some of the specialist ones have a certain kelvin rating that can be good for plants / corals.

Well put. It all has to do with the spectrum of colors it has so the tank may look different under certain types of kelvins. Some fish also look different under different lights. So it would help to state what type of tank you have.

 

[Ceramicbull]

I thought the wavelengths were what mattered for proper growth?

Yes, I am thinking of a modestly planted tank. Specifically I am comparing the "full spectrum" quality of the "sunlight" bulb from GE compared to the Hagen produced "Flora-Glo" which is ostensibly designed for plants. It's also a fair question whether the "full spectrum" is any better than a generic bulb. This study seems to suggest that perhaps they are not. Regrettably (perhaps for legal reasons) they don't mention the brands being tested. What still makes me question it is that the wavelength graphs on the Hagen lights look virtually identical to the "claimed full-spectrum T12" in the following graph (from the linked study).

Flora-Glo

Admittedly I have no idea if the GE "full spectrum" I am considering is similar to the light used in the studies, but it certainly seems worth considering.