Aquarium bulbs seem very expensive. Can I use cool white fluorescent bulbs from the hardware store?
Please don’t unless you absolutely have to! Many algae, plants and animals, including humans as well as many fish and sessile invertebrates, require all or part of the specific spectrum of light the sun produces, to manufacture, or to metabolize important nutrients. Many fluorescent aquarium bulbs are designed to simulate part or all of the spectra produced by the sun. Some aquarium bulbs produce a spectrum designed primarily to enhance the colors of fish. While cool-white bulbs will illuminate the aquarium just fine, they are not designed to produce the correct spectrum to promote health in fish, plants, algae or invertebrates. Not to mention that if you do use cool-white bulbs, you’ll see your fish in a whole new dull-and-drab-colors-all-washed-out kind of way. You may also experience rapid growth of funky-looking brown algae in your aquarium. Top • What does Kelvin temperature refer to in aquarium light terminology? The Kelvin temperature scale is frequently used in science because
