[robxc80]

Hello Everyone,

In addition, i have 4 X 65 Watt 48" PC fixture and wanted to do two 6000K and two 10,000K.

Whats the best combo for looks and purpose?

Thanks everyone

 

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Quality varies in everything. Some manufactures use quality components and test their products and only sell that which passes their quality testing. Other manufactures make products designed to sell at the lowest possible cost. Other manufactures use will do what ever it takes to fill the specifics of the order at least possible cost.

For power compact lighting your choice will probably be fine. You might want to look into the GE 9325 bulbs.

In my personal experience cheap PC bulbs are fragile and easy to break at the base.
Brand name bulbs such as Sylvania and GE have been thicker glass and better attached to the base.

 

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Here is a good article on fluorescent lighting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorescent_lamp

 

[Left C]

Here are some threads with pictures using various K rating PC's. They may help to give you an idea about what you want. Some people like to use GE's 9325K bulbs mixed with various daylight bulbs. AGA's 8000K bulb is similar to the 9325K bulb.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/lighting/83495-best-bulb-combo-ah-supply-2x55.html
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/tank-journals-photo-album/77791-indigos-75-gallon-aga-56k.html
from this thread

Here is a comparison that I did. The white balance wasn't adjusted as a basis. All photos are with the same aperature, shutter and white balance setting.

1) 5000K/6700L

2)5000k/GE

3)6700k/GE

4)GE/GE

 

[skiboarder72]

I bought the cheapest PC bulb I could find (current brand from drsfoster) for my odyssea 65w PC fixture two years ago and its still kicking and looks great

 

[robxc80]

whats the color rating on pic #4? It looks beautiful

 

[Left C]

whats the color rating on pic #4? It looks beautiful

The bulb that is mentioned as GE in those pictures is the GE 9325K bulb that I mentioned in my post. It is a very good bulb and works better when mixed with a daylight 5000K to 10,000K bulb. Using all GE 9325K bulbs may make the aquarium look to lavender or pinkish.

AtlantaLightBulbs.com has the GE 9325K 55w straight pin bulb for $17.95 plus shipping.
http://www.atlantalightbulbs.com/ecart/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=F55BX.AR.FSGE

DrsFosterSmith.com also has the GE 9325K bulb, but it is $29.99 plus shipping.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+8068+15381&pcatid=15381

They also have the AGA 8000K bulb which is very similar for 22.99 plus shipping.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+8068+8070&pcatid=8070

GE 9325K color spectrum

 

[FSM]

I bought the cheapest PC bulb I could find (current brand from drsfoster) for my odyssea 65w PC fixture two years ago and its still kicking and looks great

The output has most likely diminished significantly without you noticing.