Suitable light for plants?

[Laki]

Browsing ebay and wondering if this is suitable for plants? It doesn't mention the k rating so I don't know. This is basically my budget though. And my hood only takes tubular 25w max. I cannot find plant lights which will fit my hood!! Please help!

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/3-8W-68-LED-A...#ht_6694wt_952

[Laki]

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/13W-225-LED-B...#ht_7193wt_952


http://www.ebay.ca/itm/New-Underwate...ht_4697wt_1186 <<< Actually this one. Does anyone know the k rating? It says its good for plants.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/NEW-Blue-Whit...ht_7257wt_1186 << Okay this one has 7000k rating. Will this be good for my beginner plants? I have hornwort, java fern, anubias, duckweed and marimo. And how would I fit this over my tank? Would I need to remove the hood and put something over it to prevent jumping? DO you think I should get this last one?

[Oldfishlady]

Does your hood use regular 2 pin florescent bulbs and what size is the tank.

I don't know anything about LED's other than what I have read/researched and I haven't found anything on them to support plant growth underwater or that will penetrate the water well enough to support plant growth.

[Laki]

I have a regular old 5g with a small hood. Takes tubular lights the warning says not over 25w. Looks like this:
The only light I found in stores that will fit it is a 15w regular incadescent. My hornwort is dying and I think I need better lights.

[Oldfishlady]

The pic is too dark for me to see....but if its a regular 2 pin florescent-look at the home centers like home depot, lowes and even wal mart in the light bulb section for the correct light. That is where I get my small diameter tubes for my 3-5gal tanks..."Daylight" 6500k but I think they are 15w....

[Laki]

Oh I'm dumb. No it's not 2-pin it's a screw-in bulb :(

[SpookyTooth]

Screw in bulbs may actually be easier to find.

Just a note on LEDs: they can be used for aquatic plants but I believe you need a certain type. Some simply don't offer the right colour spectrum nor are they powerful enough to penetrate the water column. For terrestrial plants LED grow lights are quite common but aquatic ones are harder to find and expensive in the short run, you'd probably have to go to a specialist aquatics store and ask them to order a light unit in for you.

[Laki]

The screw in bulb I have, though, isn't bright enough for my plants.. Is it?

[Oldfishlady]

This is the one I use for my screw in light bulb needs for planted tanks
Its a 10w 6500k

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Lights-Of-...-Pets/10448675

[registereduser]

Originally Posted by Oldfishlady

This is the one I use for my screw in light bulb needs for planted tanks
Its a 10w 6500k

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Lights-Of-...-Pets/10448675

very helpful, thanks!