Articles like this one are what really make Advanced Aquarist Online shine (no pun intended) as a resources for aquarists looking to dig deeper into the hobby and experiment. Though some sites stick “expert” or “advanced” in their title or description AAO really means it. The site really is filled with deeper knowledge that is science based. Though there are occasionally editorials that I disagree with, these are editorials, there’s no beating the science and experimentation they put out and which has informed my husbandry over the years.
In this particular experiment they take LED bulbs from Lowe’s and Home Depot and test them for PAR and spectrum to see if they could be utilized by aquarists as an affordable alternative to much more expensive LED fixtures.
Walking through big-box home improvement stores, we see an increasing selection of LED bulbs. Are any of these bulbs suitable for aquaria? Dana investigates seven LED lamps.
Source: LED Lamps from Lowe’s and Home Depot: Intensities (PAR) and Spectra