Lighting - Trying To Match My Compact Fluorescent To Glow Of Fluor.

[skiltrip]

I have a Coralife 130watt dual bulb compact fluorescent fixture on my tank. I like the brightness and coverage I get from the light, but it's way too white. The bulbs in it are... one 6700, and one 6500.

My old single-strip 20watt All-Glass fluorescent strip gives off an awesome glow... makes my yellow labs and cobalt blues really look awesome, but it's simply not bright enough. are there bulbs I can get for my Compact Fluorescent fixture that will make my fish glow slightly like the All-Glass fluorescent bulb does?

 

[SkiFletch]

I assume you want more of a bluer and phosphorescent look? If so you might want to try mixing in a 10000k bulb or even add one actinic 50/50 (1 side 10000k the other side 20000k). If you've got square-pin bulbs I'd look into either ebay or hellolights.com for replacements

 

[Lead]

Or you can use one black light tube and one normal 10K bulb.

 

[skiltrip]

I assume you want more of a bluer and phosphorescent look? If so you might want to try mixing in a 10000k bulb or even add one actinic 50/50 (1 side 10000k the other side 20000k). If you've got square-pin bulbs I'd look into either ebay or hellolights.com for replacements

yes, exactly.. that very slight bluish tint to the water. makes the yellows glow slightly and the blue fish much deeper blue. i have straight-pin bulbs actually... so you think a 50/50 might do it? what about the actinic lighting? would that be tooo blue? maybe i'll try one 50/50 and see how i like it. thanks!

 

[SkiFletch]

Yeah, I'd start with a 50/50. If you want a little more blue, get a second 50/50, if you want a lot more, get a true actinic