Fluorescent Bulb Selection Guide

Drs. Foster & Smith Educational Staff

Color-Enhancing Bulbs High K-Rating Bulbs

Natural Daylight/Plant Bulbs 50/50 Bulbs

White Bulbs Actinic (Blue) Bulbs

Color-Enhancing Bulbs - Less than 5,000K

These fluorescent bulbs are typically used for fish-only aquariums. The
colors in the lower-end of the lighting spectrum (red) will exhibit your fishes'
colors more brilliantly. Color-Enhancing Bulb
Watts/
Color Rating Manufacturer's Comments
Bulb Size

14W-15"-T8
15W-18"-T8
GE Aqua Rays Aquarium lamp for
4,400°K 20W-24"-T12
Freshwater freshwater applications.
30W-36"-T8
40W-48"-T12
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Natural Daylight/Plant Bulbs - 5,000K - 7,500K

These fluorescent bulbs are designed to mimic natural sunlight, and

considered "full spectrum," which means they contain all the different colors
of light in the light spectrum. Plants need the red, orange and yellow colors Natural Daylight Bulb
found in the lower end of the light spectrum in order for photosynthesis to
occur. Although these bulbs are well suited for many different aquarium
applications, they are especially recommended for planted freshwater
aquariums. They are also good lamps to be used in conjunction with actinic
bulbs in the reef aquarium.

Fluorescent Bulb Selection Guide - Page 1 of 6

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 Plant Bulb
Watts/
Color Rating Manufacturer's Comments
Bulb Size

14W-15"-T8
15W-18"-T8
GE Spectra Rays Aquarium wide
5,000°K 20W-24"-T12
Full Spectrum spectrum lamp.
30W-36"-T12
40W-48"-T12
Peak emissions in the blue
and red regions. Emission
15W-18"-T8
spectrum closely matches
Zoo Med 17W-24"-T8
5,000°K absorption curve of
Flora Sun 25W-36"-T8
chlorophyll-A, promoting
32W-48"-T8
maximum
photosynthesis.
Balanced full spectrum
daylight lamp, which
15W-18"-T8
simulates natural sunlight.
Zoo Med 17W-24"-T8
5,500°K Brings out the natural
Tropic Sun 25W-36"-T8
beauty of aquarium fish
32W-48"-T8
and plants while
enhancing clarity.
High intensity trichromatic
full spectrum daylight lamp
15W-18"-T8 CRI rating of 98 provides
Zoo Med
17W-24"-T8 excellent color rendition
Ultra Sun 6,500°K
25W-36"-T8 and contrast perception.
Trichromatic
32W-48"-T8 Balanced coverage of
the full spectrum of
visible light as well as UVA.
15W-18"-T8 Color-enhancing
Coralife Colormax 20W-24"-T12 phosphors enhance the
6,700°K
Freshwater Bulb 30W-36"-T12 natural beauty of
40W-48"-T12 freshwater fish and plants.
Provides aquatic plants with
the light energy necessary
15W-18"-T8
Coralife to stimulate lush growth.
20W-24"-T12
Nutri Grow 6,700°K Full-spectrum, high-
30W-36"-T12
Plant Lamp intensity output in the
40W-48"-T12
appropriate wavelengths
to promote photosynthesis.
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Fluorescent Bulb Selection Guide - Page 2 of 6

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prohibited under copyright law. Site content, including photography, descriptions, pricing, promotions, and availability are subject to change without
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images that are altered or edited after download could result in misinformation that may harm companion animals, aquatic life, or native species.
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White Bulbs - 8,000°K - 14,000°K

These bulbs have a higher temperature rating, which means they produce
light waves in the higher end of the spectrum, towards the blue end. While
these bulbs can be used in a variety of applications, they are most often White Bulb
used in marine reef aquariums. Depending on the type of coral contained in
your aquarium, these bulbs may not contain enough of the blue light waves to maintain proper health
of your marine invertebrates. Therefore, supplementing these bulbs with an actinic bulb is
recommended.
Watts/
Color Rating Manufacturer's Comments
Bulb Size

14W-15"-T-8
15W-18"-T8
GE Aqua Rays Aquarium lamp for fresh
9,325°K 20W-24"-T12
Fresh/Saltwater and saltwater applications.
30W-36"-T8
40W-48"-T12
Strong emissions in the
15W-18"-T8
Zoo Med blue spectrum simulating
17W-24"-T8
Ocean Sun 10,000°K deeper ocean environments.
25W-36"-T8
10,000 K Emission spectrum strong
32W-48"-T8
in the blue and red regions.
14W-15"-T8
GE 15W-18"-T8
Aquarium lamp for
Aqua Rays 10,000°K 20W-24"-T12
saltwater applications.
Saltwater Blue 30W-36"-T8
40W-48"-T12
High-intensity, purified
super daylight with rare
earth color-enhancing
15W-18"-T8
Coralife phosphors lamp simulates
20W-24"-T12
10,000°K 10,000°K the midday tropical sun.
30W-36"-T12
Lamp Sparkling, blue-white
40W-48"-T12
daylight
rays and bright,
high-intensity output.
15W-18"-T12
URI 20W-24"-T12
10,000°K Includes internal reflector.
AquaSun 30W-36"-T12
40W-48"-T12
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Fluorescent Bulb Selection Guide - Page 3 of 6

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prohibited under copyright law. Site content, including photography, descriptions, pricing, promotions, and availability are subject to change without
notice. These restrictions are necessary in order to protect not only our copyrighted intellectual property, but also the health of pets, since articles or
images that are altered or edited after download could result in misinformation that may harm companion animals, aquatic life, or native species.
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High K-Rating Bulbs - 15,000°K - 20,000°K

These bulbs have a higher temperature rating than "white light," which
means they produce even more of the blue light waves. They are best
suited for marine reef aquariums. Depending on the type of corals in your High K-Rating Bulb
aquarium, these bulbs rarely need to be supplemented with Actinic bulbs.
Watts/
Color Rating Manufacturer's Comments
Bulb Size

Promotes coral, invertebrate

and plant growth. High
15W-18"-T8
intensity photosynthetic
Hagen Power- 20W-24"-T8
18,000°K deep marine spectrum. Total
Glo Bulbs 30W-36"-T10
illumination for living
40W-48"-T10
corals, marine algae and
freshwater plants.
High-intensity, purified
15W-18"-T8
Coralife super daylight lamp that
20W-24"-T12
High Intensity 20,000°K simulates the deeper ocean
30W-36"-T12
20,000°K Lamps environment. Casts
40W-48"-T12
sparkling blue daylight rays.
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50/50 Bulbs (Half Actinic, Half Daylight or White Light)

These fluorescent tubes produce 50% actinic blue light, and 50% white light
or natural sunlight. They are designed to provide your corals with the extra
blue light they need, while providing white light to maximize the appearance 50/50 Bulb
of your aquarium inhabitants.
Watts/
Color Rating Manufacturer's Comments
Bulb Size

50/50 lamps are a mixture

of 50% 6000°Kelvin natural
daylight and 50% Actinic
15W-18"-T8 03 blue. These full-spectrum
Coralife 50% - 6,000°K 20W-24"-T12 lamps enhance color and
50/50 bulbs 50% - Actinic 30W-36"-T12 clarity while providing
40W-48"-T12 the tank's inhabitants
with the proper light
required for essential
biochemical reactions.

Fluorescent Bulb Selection Guide - Page 4 of 6

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 50/50 combination of
trichromatic daylight
phosphor and actinic 420
phosphor in the same lamp.
15W-18"-T8 Provides high intensity full
Zoo Med 50% - 6,500°K 17W-24"-T8 spectrum illumination,
Reef Sun 50% - Actinic 25W-36"-T8 strong in the short
32W-48"-T8 wavelength
blue region, balanced
with 6500°K daylight for
natural color enhancement
and viewing pleasure.
15W-18"-T12
URI 50% - Actinic 20W-24"-T12
Includes internal reflector.
Actinic White 50% - 12,000°K 30W-36"-T12
40W-48"-T12
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Actinic Bulbs - Blue Light Waves Only

In nature, blue light travels deeper into the water than does the other colors
in the light spectrum, such as reds, yellows, and greens. Actinic bulbs
produce only the blue end of the light spectrum. Actinic bulbs are Actinic Bulb
recommended for deep water invertebrates, and fish that don't like bright
light, such as African Cichlids. Actinic blue bulbs are normally used in combination with other
broader spectrum (5,000°K-10,000°K) bulbs. They can also be used to simulate dusk and dawn in
your aquarium, providing your aquarium inhabitants with more realistic sunrise and sunset conditions.
Watts/
Color Rating Manufacturer's Comments
Bulb Size

High intensity actinic

lamp with strong emissions
15W-18"-T8 in the short wavelength
Zoo Med
17W-24"-T8 region of the spectrum,
Coral Sun Actinic
25W-36"-T8 peaking at 420 nm. Simulates
Actinic 420
32W-48"-T8 the short wavelength blue
light which penetrates to
reef depths in nature.
Designed to condition the
tank before and after the
15W-18"-T8 daylight cycle and enhance
Coralife
20W-24"-T12 the vibrant colors of the
Actinic Blue Actinic
30W-36"-T12 fish and invertebrates.
Lamps
40W-48"-T12 Best when used in
conjunction with daylight

Fluorescent Bulb Selection Guide - Page 5 of 6

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prohibited under copyright law. Site content, including photography, descriptions, pricing, promotions, and availability are subject to change without
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 conjunction with daylight
(trichromatic) or 50/50 lamps.
15W-18"-T12
URI 20W-24"-T12
Actinic Includes internal reflector.
Actinic "03" 30W-36"-T12
40W-48"-T12
15W-18"-T8 Promotes marine reef life.
Hagen
20W-24"-T8 Visible actinic blue spectrum.
Marine-Glo Actinic
30W-36"-T10 Simulates deep marine light.
Bulbs
40W-48"-T10 Stimulates marine growth.
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Fluorescent Bulb Selection Guide - Page 6 of 6

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prohibited under copyright law. Site content, including photography, descriptions, pricing, promotions, and availability are subject to change without
notice. These restrictions are necessary in order to protect not only our copyrighted intellectual property, but also the health of pets, since articles or
images that are altered or edited after download could result in misinformation that may harm companion animals, aquatic life, or native species.