Which PL Lamp bulbs are suitable?

[MosFat]

Hi

Are PL lights good enough for a planted aquarium? There don't seem to be any aquarium use PL bulbs available in the market. Is the spectrum of normal household use Daylight bulbs suitable, or do they have too high an UV content?

In general, the lighting should be centered around the green and the blue (but not violet) wavelengths right?

Has anyone tried using some sort of "bandpass" filter on normal bulbs to take out the red and UV wavelengths?

Thanks.

[bclee]

----------------
On 4/25/2003 2:41:04 PM

Are PL lights good enough for a planted aquarium?
----------------

Yes.

----------------
There don't seem to be any aquarium use PL bulbs available in the market. Is the spectrum of normal household use Daylight bulbs suitable, or do they have too high an UV content?
----------------

They are ok. Plants growing under the sun will get much more UV.

----------------
In general, the lighting should be centered around the green and the blue (but not violet) wavelengths right?
----------------

No. Plants use red and blue ends of the spectrum for photosythesis.

----------------
Has anyone tried using some sort of "bandpass" filter on normal bulbs to take out the red and UV wavelengths?

Thanks.
----------------

Won't the lights appear weired to the eyes? Plantts need red and blue, but it doesn't mean that you have to filter the rest out.

BC

[MosFat]

No. Plants use red and blue ends of the spectrum for photosythesis.

Ok thanks for setting me straight on this.

Won't the lights appear weired to the eyes? Plantts need red and blue, but it doesn't mean that you have to filter the rest out.

I was thinking about whether it is possible to buy lower cost Daylight tubes and get the same spectral density as "tailored made" aquarium tubes by using filters.