IS 6700 lumens betetr for planted tanks?

[pepetj]

I mix and match different Kelvin rated lamps for my planted tanks. Light, water temperature and turbidity, CO2 bio-availability and good substrate/fertilization should meet and covary at certain ranges for plants to do well in any tank.

I have no algae problems with the 10,000K Resun T-8 lamps (models D-20W, D-25W, D-30W, D-40W), and in at least three tanks I combine them with Power-Glo T8 lamps, rated at 18,000K.

The thing is Kelvin rating is not the most important/single variable for healthy plant growth. Of course using lamps below 5,500K is not a good idea due to its poor use in photosynthesis.

As low as 5,500K (sun at noon in the tropics) might work well but for plants it seems better at 6,400-6,700K range. Plants mostly use light frequencies at the red-orange and blue-violet "extremes" while reflect most of the "yellow-green".

In your case I would use the 6,700K and the 10,000K T-5s.

Pepetj
Santo Domingo

[shrimppaste]

Hi pepetj, yah I am in fact using a mix of 6700 and 10,000 K

[herns]

9325k is an excellent bulb too.
I use 6700k on my planed tank.