T8 Bulbs...options? (Shop Light Lowes)

[bur01014]

So on my 55, I got the idea of upgrading the lights. As of yesterday, I was just using the stock 2 separate 18 inch bulbs under the 24 inch black plastic hoods. I decided to try the cheaper route and go for shop lights. I have no plants at all, but just was looking for better lights for viewing purposes. I ended up finding a 48 inch shop light already painted shiny black and fits perfectly and actually looks quite good on my existing lid covers. It was 12 bucks and the box says it takes 2 32 watt T8 bulbs. So I bought a couple bulbs there too measured at 6500 K. The tank appears to be far better, but my fish look washed out....I compared the bulbs to my other bulbs and they are more purplish/blue. I found they were measured about 8000-9000 K...does this explain the color change? For african peacocks, should I lower the K or raise it to a more bluish purple color? I could not find any T8 32 watt bulbs at Lowes above the 6500 K I chose.....do they not make them? Where can I find them? Home Depot? How much are they? I really want some good colored bulbs to bring out the color of my fish. I love the increase in watts, but my fish look much more washed out. BTW, what is a 50/50 light? Any help appreciated!
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[Geddonight]

Lowes doesn't carry anything higher than 6500K.

What may work is if you find an actinic blue light to help contrast the light of the 6500K

I'm currently looking for similar solutions for ours.

Mods--Is posting links to website light vendors okay?

[BillD]

the 6500 K lights have a relatively poor CRI which gives an inaccurate colour rendering. Lights in the 5000K range usually have higher CRIs. So, it depends whether you want natural colour, or not.

[Yajna]

I recently purchased the same fixture. The fact that it is black and budget friendly made it a pretty simple choice for me. And like you, I couldn't be more pleased with the way it fits on the old hoods and I think it looks great too. Think I may have purchased the same bulbs as you also, GE Daylight 6500K. I'm not disliking the bulbs and the fish don't seem that washed out to me, but the fixture was on the tank before the fish went in so I don't have a comparison point. Even so, I have wondered what other bulbs might be out there. Am curious to see what suggestions people have.
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55G: 10 Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos--all juvies, 11 Labidochromis caeruleus--all juvies

[Geddonight]

BillD

CRI = Color Rating Index?

What should we be looking for here?

[BillD]

The higher the CRI (Colour Rendition Index) the more true the colour rendering. Sunlight is 100, so the closer to 100, the more true the colours. As an example, the 6500K Philips Ultra Daylight I have, have a CRI around 84. The Philips Natural Sunshine have a CRI of 92 or 94.
Having said all that, if you frequent fish forums, it is quite obvious that most people would rather make the fish look a certain way rather than what they naturally are. They want the colours to "pop", so they try to find a light that makes their preferred colour look better. Personally, I'm quite happy to have the fish show their natural colours.
You will also see some tubes that have poor K numbers but reasonable CRI numbers. With these tubes, the manufacturer has added something to improve the CRI. I like both the 6500K Daylight, and the 5000k Natural Sunshine., but I was given some Philips Alto Hi-Vision, that also look good on a tanks and also grow plants very well. This tube is usually used for lighting work places. Not sure of the colour temp or CRI, but they work well.

[iplaywithemotions]

Did you guys buy the 12$ black shop light fixture at Lowes? I bought a $10 T12 fixture at Home Depot, but its a T12 fixture, and its white. I would much prefer a black T8 fixture.

[scales77oi]

yah where did yah buy the t8 fixture from? i want 1
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“If today were a fish I'd throw it back"

[Yajna]

They sell them at Lowes. Black T8. 48" dual bulb. It was $12.99. They had so many white shop lights I practically tripped over them, but there were only 3 of the black ones.
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55G: 10 Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos--all juvies, 11 Labidochromis caeruleus--all juvies

[K20Z3]

This sounds great, but I can't seem to find them here in TX. Can you please post a pic of what it looks like?

Thanks so much!
Brian
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"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end." Unknown

[bfg112]

If you go on the Lowe's website you can probably find whatever you want, and it will tell you if your local Lowe's carries that product. If your local store does not have it you can call the 800 number for customer service and they will arrange for your local store to get it for you. That's how I got my 4 bulb 48 inch T8 fixture I found on the Lowe's website.

[Yajna]

Maybe the OP can help with a pic, unfortunately I can't right now (long story). It's made by Utili Tech, same as alot of their other light fixtures. Item # on receipt is 313520, but searching for that at Lowes online showed no results. Odd. Wish I could have helped more.
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55G: 10 Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos--all juvies, 11 Labidochromis caeruleus--all juvies

[K20Z3]

Is this what it looks like?

http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-Fans-Fluorescent-Lighting/h_d1/N-5yc1vZare3Z66 xgp/R-100427185/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

This is on Home Depots website, and it is listed for $39
_________________
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end." Unknown

[mnguyen]

A couple months back I was told that Lowes and Home Depot not long carry the T8 light strips anymore. The standard is T5 now but that just will wall mount strip, not sure about the hanging ones.

[austinramirez]

I ran into this same problem with the wash out effect on my fishes color, so i left one bulb white but placed a $3 color changing tube over the other.With one blue and one white, the colors stood out much more and at night i just leave the blue on.it's beautiful,and cheap too.I found the blue color changing tube at my local lighting store,it's really only a blue plastic tube.Good Luck!