if you use regular household flurescent bulbs make sure you get the daylight ones, not the soft white. Or get ones that says it gives noonday light.
Different companies advertize the daylight bulbs different ways. The daylight bulbs actually have a higher kelvin rate and lumen rate than the soft white. Technical jargon again but important to know.
i use just the household bulbs and they work great and are much cheaper than bulbs made for the fish trade.
And don't forget to change bulbs at least once a year. The intensity( not brightness) wears off by about 50% and the plants will not do as well and the algae starts to grow.
I now have a container of slightly used bulbs.
I have 6 planted tanks and change my bulbs yearly. There is lots of life in them yet.
I will probably not have to buy bulbs for lamps for many years but do have to buy for the tanks!
I plan on leaving the used bulbs to my kids in my will!!
