These are the things in my hood

In the first place, please don't mind the photo shows a bit underexpose, because used high shutter speed to take photo, it will cause the lights look a bit dim, and also the old rusty metal clip & messy hood. This is a custome made aquarium hood that fits in 3nos. 32W NEC 8000K circular light, 2nos. 22W Philips 6500K circular light, and 2nos. 9W red PL-C tube light(bought it wrong, suppose need blue colour instead of red). For the reflector part is using the aluminium foil that normally use in microwave oven.

Some explaination of what is the K, Color temperature is a characteristic of visible light that has important applications in lighting, photography, videography, publishing, and other fields. The color temperature of a light source is determined by comparing its chromaticity with that of an ideal black-body radiator. The temperature (usually measured in kelvin (K)) at which the heated black-body radiator matches the color of the light source is that source's color temperature; for a black body source, it is directly related to Planck's law. Yellow-red colors are considered warm, and blue-green colors are considered cool. Confusingly, higher Kelvin temperatures (3600–5500 K) are considered cool and lower color temperatures (2700–3000 K) are considered warm. Cool light produces higher contrast and is considered better for visual tasks. Warm light is preferred for living spaces because it is considered more flattering to skin tones and clothing. Color temperatures in the 2700–3600 K range is recommended for most general indoor and task lighting.

From the photo above can compare between the 8000K & 6500K colour temperature of the lights, the lower the K value means the more yellow or warm in the flourescent tube. 6500K is the good colour temperature for a healthy plant to grow and almost like the outdoor(places near to Equator, such like South America, Africa and Asia), and when reach to 8000K is almost like in the middle of the mountain, some people using over 10000K of tube lights, the brightness is like standing on top of the mountain looking out from their eyes.

Update: 3' Aquatic Tank

The photo above is a month plus without a good care and left behind, then overwhelm with black brush algae. After replace with the 8000K flourescent light, can see some good sign on the red leaves plant. Certainly, the Micranthemum umbrosum drying without the consistent dosage of nutrient
Thereafter put in some time to do the trimming work, now the tank(aquascape) looks better and tidy.

Installed new lights

I have found a circular light from a local electrical shop, it is 8000K colour temperature with 2360lm and the cost is only RM18(US$5.45). It's brand is NEC - After Glow 3-band Type Daylight Color( FCL32EDF/30-SHG ), fully made in Japan.




" With a color temperature of 8,000K EDF-SHG* lamp emits light that emphasizes white colors and creates a cool, refreshing and clean-looking ambiance. This lamp is better suited to situations such as living rooms, bedrooms, corridors and kitchens where lights are turned off last of all."

After installed and tried for a week, plant grows and carpet plants producing O2, compare to existing Philips 32W circular tube light not doing so well.