15 Watt Colormax Fluorescent Bulb 18"

by Coralife (energy Savers)

Product Description

<p>The ColorMax Fluorescent Lamp has color&#045;enhancing phosphors that provide full&#045;spectrum light from 350 to 750 nanometers&#046; It offers high&#045;intensity output that enhances the natural beauty of freshwater fish and plants&#046;</p><ul><li>18&#046;75"x1"x1"</li></ul>

Product Details

• Item Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• ASIN: B003OYBHAQ
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #343,882 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars better with time, April 16, 2011

By 

Mark Pulley (SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 15 Watt Colormax Fluorescent Bulb 18" (Misc.)

I have tried for years to find a good bulb for lighting (both in the house and the aquarium) that renders colors as well as incandescent or halogen, but without a yellow tinge. I think that by now we should be able to reproduce the full spectrum of sunlight artificially without making it feel harsh, cold, or unnatural. Apparently technology hasn't caught up to my expectations. No fluorescent bulb looks like pure white sunlight.

I originally rated this bulb a two, because I wanted a pure white light that made the tank look the same as it does in sunlight. If that's what you're looking for, don't buy this bulb. Unfortunately, don't buy any fluorescent bulb. I tried about four different bulbs by different makers of high quality fluorescent bulbs before I tried colormax. Since it wasn't the natural look I wanted, I tried six more bulbs, again by different manufacturers at different color temperatures. I've spent over two hundred dollars and still haven't found a bulb that doesn't have a yellow, blue, red, or purple tinge. This bulb has a purple tinge, by the way. However, after a couple months of searching and trying bulbs of all kinds, I keep putting this one back in as my default bulb. It's not exactly what I was looking for, but it does make my blue dwarf gourami, yellow molly, and red guppy stand out nicely, just not the same color they have under sunlight.

If you want a bulb that looks as close to white sunlight, this is at best a 2/5. But, if you want a bulb that makes the colors of your fish look brighter, deeper, and more vibrant (and you don't care if the colors of your fish look like the would in sunlight), then this bulb gets a 4/5.

The average is 3/5. So, depending on what you want, take the rating with a grain of salt. Unless I can find something I like more, I'll keep using this.