T5 tube Spectrum for Malawi cichlids

Question:

hi i keep wild malawi cichlids and i need a bulb that will bring out all the colours (ie) red,blue,yellow,orange,black ect!!,and at the same time i dont want colours to be washed out or have an unnatural look to it and also most important i do not want my tank to have an unnatural colour look to it,

I have read about the midday 6000 bulb and this does sound good, what colour is the light output? I have also read up on the Aquaflora t5 but to be honest it sounds like its a very bright bulb.

Answer:

All of our bulbs are bright as they are T5 which is 2-3 times brighter than a conventional T8.

The Aquablue that you mention is also our bulb that we supply to Giesemann and is really a marine bulb with a spectrum that is 60% white and 40% blue.

The Mid day 6000 is a full spectrum 5 point daylight bulb which simulates natural light and will be much less blue than the current bulbs however I am not sure that you will find it less bright.

The Aquaflora is no brighter than any of the other bulbs but is designed with a red shift to the spectrum to improve plant growth.

The spectra for all of the bulbs are shown on the web site

http://www.theaquariumsolution.com/?q=node/121

http://www.theaquariumsolution.com/?q=node/170

http://www.theaquariumsolution.com/?q=node/171