10000k vs 6500k LED lights

[WmTasker]

I am setting up a 125 for discus and I would like to have a few plants but nothing heavy. Which light is going to be better for discus color and plant growth 10000k or 6500k? Do I need 88 watts or will 39 watts work?

https://www.amazon.com/Beamswork-6500K-Aquarium-Freshwater-Discus/dp/B01KYELCLC/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1485485001&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=72+led+aquarium+light&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01FRT4086/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1485534574&sr=8-7&keywords=72+beamswork+led

[smsimcik]

6500K is best for freshwater plants. 10000K is more for reef tanks.
For a 125 gallon tank I would go with the 8000 lumen fixture. That smaller fixture might be adequate for low light plants like anubias, crypts of java fern. But I don't think it would be enough for swords, val, etc.

[WmTasker]

6500K is best for freshwater plants. 10000K is more for reef tanks.
For a 125 gallon tank I would go with the 8000 lumen fixture. That smaller fixture might be adequate for low light plants like anubias, crypts of java fern. But I don't think it would be enough for swords, val, etc.

Thanks for the reply. I just didn't know if 6500K would look to yellowish and if the 8000 lumen would grow more algae than plants. I was also looking at this light. It uses 1w LEDs instead of 0.5w. It also has a higher lumen of 9500.

https://www.amazon.com/Beamswork-6500K-Lumen-Aquarium-Freshwater/dp/B01FVNPZMI/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1485538805&sr=1-2&keywords=beamswork+led+1w

[Neptune]

Go with the 6500k.
The Beamswork lights are OK. They are pretty basic. won't grow anything past low light plants.

[pitdogg2]

nothing yellow about 6500K unless you are in direct comparison with the 10,000K then yes it will look yellowish

[smsimcik]

Thanks for the reply. I just didn't know if 6500K would look to yellowish and if the 8000 lumen would grow more algae than plants. I was also looking at this light. It uses 1w LEDs instead of 0.5w. It also has a higher lumen of 9500.

https://www.amazon.com/Beamswork-6500K-Lumen-Aquarium-Freshwater/dp/B01FVNPZMI/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1485538805&sr=1-2&keywords=beamswork+led+1w

Not sure there's that much difference between the 8000 lumen and 9500 lumen fixture. They will both grow the same type of medium to low light plants.

[bluelagoon]

I have great success with Fluval 6700K bulb and a 18000k bulb in 24"deep planted tank.The 18000k would really bring out the blues if they have blue colors.

[Jack L]

6500 or lower for plants.

light intensity, well there are a lot of variables, i've found that if i use low light plants, i don't need very much light. if these don't let you adjust output, might want to look around for one that do. too much light seems to result in algea.

[modealings]

You could build your own - potentially much cheaper. I think DIY Joey did a recent video.

https://www.amazon.com/Warmoon-Outdoor-Daylight-Waterproof-Security/dp/B01DIO7J26/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1485609890&sr=8-3&keywords=led%2Bflood%2Blight%2B6500k&th=1

[bluelagoon]

6500 or lower for plants.

light intensity, well there are a lot of variables, i've found that if i use low light plants, i don't need very much light. if these don't let you adjust output, might want to look around for one that do. too much light seems to result in algea.

Not necessarily.A good range is anything between 5000K and 10,000K for planted tanks.You may also mix then as long as they have both red and blue rays.The greater the kelvin the more blue and if you have a deep tank,you may want to consider a higher Kelvin cause blue penetrates deeper than red.

[Leland F.]

I have 10k bulbs over my planted tank, and everything grows great. I've seen many tanks with 10k lights also growing plants like weeds. I'm sure 6500k bulbs might grow things a bit better, but 10k works fine, and imo gives a crisper look to the tank.

-Leland

[Neptune]

Color temperature is mostly about how the human eye perceives the light and whether it is pleasant or not for viewing situations not about growing plants.
PAR is a better measure for plant growth. AND that's NOT the PAR rating on bulbs at Home Depot.

PAR =PHOTOSYTHETICALLY AVAILBLE RADIATION
PAR= Light bulb size when buying LED light bulbs

[planter]

Not necessarily.A good range is anything between 5000K and 10,000K for planted tanks.You may also mix then as long as they have both red and blue rays.The greater the kelvin the more blue and if you have a deep tank,you may want to consider a higher Kelvin cause blue penetrates deeper than red.


Color temperature is mostly about how the human eye perceives the light and whether it is pleasant or not for viewing situations not about growing plants.
PAR is a better measure for plant growth. AND that's NOT the PAR rating on bulbs at Home Depot.

PAR =PHOTOSYTHETICALLY AVAILBLE RADIATION
PAR= Light bulb size when buying LED light bulbs

I completely agree with these two statements

I personally use 10k and a red flora bulbs with my t5 fixture. I just like the way these two bulbs look.

My led fixture have RGB leds but the white leds are 8000k. Both fixtures grow plants well but look very different

[bluelagoon]

This is a very old pic but it gives you an idea of what a 6700K and a 18,000K appears to the human eye.Plants will grow well in the lighting.This is T5 bulbs.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x104/bluelagoon_02/72gal020.jpg~original (http://s183.photobucket.com/user/bluelagoon_02/media/72gal020.jpg.html)

[WmTasker]

This is a very old pic but it gives you an idea of what a 6700K and a 18,000K appears to the human eye.Plants will grow well in the lighting.This is T5 bulbs.
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x104/bluelagoon_02/72gal020.jpg~original (http://s183.photobucket.com/user/bluelagoon_02/media/72gal020.jpg.html)

So is this what the led light with 6500k and blue leds will look like?

[bluelagoon]

A 6500K is about the same as mid day sunlight.It would depend on how many blues you have on the stripe.Maybe look at some LED marine fixtures if you want that color.