Where to localy buy a good fuge light bulb

[Roc]

I have one of those silver hood HD lights over my fuge but the bulb (spot light style) is frankly lame. I tried to find a 6700k bulb and for the life of me can't find one localy. I have a REALLY bed time buying bulbs over the net (*read over 150.00 in unreturned losses in 2 years) so I very much do not want to go that route.

Any ideas?

 

[Gomer]

Aren't those bulbs just big heat throwers/ I would just use a PC setup for a fuge.

 

[sfsuphysics]

honestly you probably could get away with a warm-white bulb, IIRC most "plant growing" bulbs are less than 6500K anyways

 

[seminolecpa]

I use one similar to this thread think I got mine from Home Depot. My cheato is growing out of control to say the least.

http://www.bareefers.org/discussion/index.php?topic=3352.0

 

[Gomer]

Most plant growing bulbs fit a BB less than 6500K because they have a massive emission peak at around 650-700nm. typical >6700K bulbs do not have this. I am pretty sure someone did a chaeto growth study with a normal 6700k and normal 3000k(ish) bulb on RC and the 6700k did mch better.

 

[Roc]

[quote author=Gomer link=topic=4122.msg49401#msg49401 date=1216400644]
Most plant growing bulbs fit a BB less than 6500K because they have a massive emission peak at around 650-700nm. typical >6700K bulbs do not have this. I am pretty sure someone did a chaeto growth study with a normal 6700k and normal 3000k(ish) bulb on RC and the 6700k did mch better.
[/quote]

I saw this as well, and he was using the same fixture I am using now the real question is where do you find the bulb?

 

[Dyngoe]

I have two n.vision 55w Daylight bulbs in standard shop light reflectors over my 55G fuge and everything is going CRAZY! The daylight bulb is a 5500K light. I think the bulb runs ~$3 regularly, but I bought 4-packs for $5 a few months back at HD. If you have the standard aluminum shop light reflector, you are gold.

BTW, I thought everyone trusted Melev's review of the lights where he found 6700 was not that good, but that 5100 was. I couldn't find 5100, but 5500 is pretty close.
Here's his review:
http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html

 

[Gomer]

Can you use a screw in hydroponic CF bulb?

 

[Roc]

[quote author=Gomer link=topic=4122.msg49410#msg49410 date=1216411027]
Can you use a screw in hydroponic CF bulb?
[/quote]

It's a standard 75 watt fixture, so I guess so.

 

[hiepatitis]

Costco stop selling those 65w CF flood lights. It was perfect. 6500K and it was only 8 bucks. I wnet there last week and they had no more so I ordered 3 replacement bulbs for 11 bucks each.

 

[Dyngoe]

Back to my point before....

Isn't it accepted that the ~5000K bulbs are better growth bulbs than the 6700K?

Roc-go buy the n.vision bulbs at HD. They have up to 100W bulbs, but I found 2x55w gave me better coverage and work great!

 

[Gomer]

Coming from the Planted Tank world, both grow pretty much equally well and at that point it is just a color preference. 3kk is generally considered too low of a kelvin and 10kk generally too high

 

[Roc]

[quote author=Dyngoe link=topic=4122.msg49430#msg49430 date=1216439690]
Back to my point before....

Isn't it accepted that the ~5000K bulbs are better growth bulbs than the 6700K?

Roc-go buy the n.vision bulbs at HD. They have up to 100W bulbs, but I found 2x55w gave me better coverage and work great!
[/quote]

I don't have a flrosent fixture set up over my fuge, just a single screw in silver refector type light.

 

[Dyngoe]

Yes Roc,

That was my assumption. The bulb I bought was the CF bulb replacement for the standard lightbulbs. You know, the spiral ones with the plastic base. I believe I'm using the exact same reflector. It looks like this:

 

[Roc]

[quote author=Dyngoe link=topic=4122.msg49443#msg49443 date=1216483962]
Yes Roc,

That was my assumption. The bulb I bought was the CF bulb replacement for the standard lightbulbs. You know, the spiral ones with the plastic base. I believe I'm using the exact same reflector. It looks like this:

[/quote]

I guess I got thrown off when you said you use to 55 watts instead and I though you were using a 4 pin lighting sysytem.

So what K rating are they bulbs you bought?

 

[Dyngoe]

I completely understand the confusion.

The "DayLight" bulbs, those in the blue packaging, are rated at 5100K (written on the plastic base socket). The "SoftWhite" I believe are 7000K or higher. I'd go with the Daylight bulbs and you will be happy. They only come in 55W and 100W and I found that 2x55W is enough to grow macro like MAD in a 55G fuge.