T-5 & T-8 Aquarium Fluorescent Bulbs

T-5 and T-8 Aquarium Fluorescent Bulbs

Need a little sunshine for your aquarium? There are a lot of options when looking for an aquarium bulb. If you already have an existing fixture, you will need to select a fluorescent bulb to match your existing setup. Fluorescent light bulbs come in varying sizes, T5 and T8 being two of the most popular. The "T" in T5 indicates the bulb is tubular shaped, while the "5" denotes that it is 5/8 of an inch in diameter, T8 is 1" in diameter. T5 lamps are 40% smaller than T8, but are capable of containing just as much and sometimes more light output in a smaller area.

The color temperature, or Kelvin of the bulb you are selecting will come down to some personal preference and the types of aquatic life you are caring for. An aquarium with just fish, you may want to select a bulb that makes the tank visually appealing to you. Although, an aquarium containing plants or coral life, you would want to select a spectrum that will support their needs.