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I accidentally stepped on my new t5ho fixture and broke the bulb(rest of the fixture is fine reflector bent a little though)
so now I am looking to buy a new bulb. So what is you favorite t5ho bulb for a freshwater planted tank? The bulb will be for a 48 inch fixture and be 54 watts.

Aponogeton ulvaceus . Sorry I can't help with the actual question.

Jools

I buy regular "Daylight" (865 specification) tubes from an online lighting specialist. These are 6500K, which is a "neutral" light.

As far as the "best for planted aquarium", I listened to the talk a while back, by a chap called George Farmer, who is pretty good at planted tanks and such (as in, aside from being invited to give talks on the subject, he's also a judge at international tank-scaping competitions). His thoughts on the matter was pretty much that "what matters most is the amount of light you get - if you have two T5 tubes that are reasonably white [that is, not "moonlight tube at" 14000K], they difference between the one that is 'for plants' and one that isn't 'form plants' will be very marginal".

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Mats

Hi all,

Aponogeton ulvaceus

I like this one as well.

The bulb will be for a 48 inch fixture and be 54 watts

This is a standard length so I'd follow "MatsP" suggestion, any standard 6500K tube. If you are worried about aesthetics, the excellent "James' Planted Tank" has some pictures taken using different tube combinations <http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/lighting.htm>.

If your local shop has no 865 daylight tubes and only has "cool-white" (840)buy them, they are fine as well.

by a chap called George Farmer

Usually found at UKAPS <http://www.ukaps.org/forum/>.

cheers Darrel