First tank in years!!

They are not Blue actinic, but Blue coral. You might be right about them being used to grow corals. I am sure thou if corals grow in these lights plants will grow just as well. They all need light of the same spectrum more or less to grow. But I will give some of the planted tank boffins a chance to give some advise.

 

Blue coral lights cater for the blue band of the light spectrum. For plants you want between 6000K and 8000K lights which caters for the red and yellow bands. Best would be to get the daylight tubes which rate 6500K which is full spectrum in fact. Google for known brands that cater for these lights and go hi-jack your local light shop to order them for you. Much much cheaper than the designated aquarium ranges at LPS.

 

I would definitely disagree with that. First off, Corals are animals, not plants, so it stands to reason that their requirements are very different, but more importantly (for me at any rate) at the depth they grow the light is very blue. If you've ever gone scuba diving on a reef, you can see how blue the light is a couple meters down. It's very different to the light in most freshwater bodies.

 

Best to get is 6500k lights.

 

Yes you guys are right! Just what I wanted to know. Thanks Double-D! I will go for the full spectrum tubes.

 

Thanks! Ryno!

 

Diving in krugersdorp is not so good. I do tend to go for the 800 km drive option

 

HaHa!! Must be some water filled mines out there thou? I tell u what!! That 800km drive must be worth it!!