Upgrading incandescent 15-watt T10 hood lights. CFL or LED?

[Parzival]

I picked up a crappy hood for a 10 gallon tank that uses 15-watt incandescent T10 (tubular) bulbs. It's really dim and I wanted to put some plants in there.

I'm thinking of replacing the incandescent bulbs with 7-watt tubular CFLs, or these LEDs:

http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/led-household-bulbs/t10-led-bulb-35-led/432/1456/?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=base&utm_content=E27-W35HF-T

The cost is about the same. I'm curious what you guys think... Any other suggestions would be great, too.

[algarciajr]

For plants I use the 7 - 15 watt CFLs. Not sure how good the LEDs would work for plant growth.

[mistahoo]

Re: Upgrading incandescent 15-watt T10 hood lights. CFL or LED?

It depends on what plants you are going with (low/med/high light).

Sent from my spaceship using Tapatalk 2.

[Parzival]

I want low to medium light at most. The incandescents don't even manage low light.

I hate CFLs because they need replacing frequently and recycling them is a pain. I may just gamble on the LEDs.

[mnemenoi]

CFL's get better growth and allow for more options, but LEDs are certainly becoming more of an option.

[mistahoo]

CFL's get better growth and allow for more options, but LEDs are certainly becoming more of an option.

After owning a Finnex Ray 2, I'd have to disagree with CFLs getting better growth over certain LEDs. There is also a large variety and options to choose from with LEDs. The only problem I see with the LEDs is that some are just terrible. Even being the same wattage and voltage there are major differences just based on quality in general.

[Parzival]

Upgrading incandescent 15-watt T10 hood lights. CFL or LED?

Most LEDs are terrible. For some reason I thought aquarium peeps liked SuperBrightLEDs. Honestly, though, not much could be worse than those 15 watt incandescents. They are depressing.

OT, but the new $13 Cree bulbs at Home Depot are pretty good.

[mistahoo]

Cree LEDs are bright and usually the ones you want to look for. The others are subpar.

[Parzival]

Upgrading incandescent 15-watt T10 hood lights. CFL or LED?

Disclaimer: I am a Cree shareholder.

I haven't seen tubular lamps with Cree LEDs.

[mistahoo]

Nope. I haven't seen them either. DIY rig that hood and put CREEs in it!

[Parzival]

Upgrading incandescent 15-watt T10 hood lights. CFL or LED?

My wife would kill me. Too many other projects