TrueLumen 36-Inch TrueLumen Pro LED Strip Light, 8,000K Sun White with Canopy Brackets

While the quality of manufacture and finish of these lights is very high, as is the level of customer service, I have found the 8,000K Sun White lamps promoted by Current USA as "the perfect spectrum for freshwater planted aquariums or refugiums." to be poor at encouraging the growth in a planted tank. To be fair they give off a very nice white light that shows fish well, and they supported reasonable growth in cryptocoryne, cardamine and wisteria, however they failed to meet the needs of most other plants I tried, including ocelot swords, amazon swords, bacopa, rotala, cabomba, lotus, madagascar lace leaf, aponogeton, baby tears, chain sword, sagittaria, and vallisneria. Even with CO2 and Flourish supplementation growth in these species was absent and over time they eventually died off. It was not until I removed two of the four lights strips and replaced them with 6,700K HO fluorescent lighting did plants respond positively. Given the price of these strips, it is very disappointing to have $260 in lighting I cannot use as intended.

These strips are fine if you are just looking to illuminate your fresh water tank and want the shimmering effect and energy savings that comes with LEDs. BUT Current USA would do well to stop marketing these as "perfect for planted tanks" and develop a 6,000K or 6,700K (or a blended 6,000k + 8,000K strip similar to their marine Pro LED) version of their Pro LEDs for aquarists who keep planted tanks as the quality of illumination from these lights remains consistent throughout the day and the shimmering effect much preferable to high output or VHO fluorescent lighting. Further the reduced energy consumption and much lower heat generation is highly desirable.

I bought this because the hood I had was older than Methuselah. The plastic housing was so brittle that pieces were starting to break off. When the ballast went out -again -and crumbled into dust when I tried to remove it, I decided it was time for a new light fixture. The guy who maintains my aquarium recommended LED lights instead of fluorescent, so I did some research and found this one. It was easy to install to the bottom of the lid of the oak canopy that fits over my aquarium, but it came with "feet" that can be used if you don't have a canopy. The only negatives so far: (1) the size was just a little too long to install it horizontally, so I had to install it diagonally instead. (2) the price. This is a lot more expensive than fluorescent. (3) When the aquarium maintenance guy takes off the canopy, he has to unplug the light first, and remember to plug it back in. (not so much a negative as something to be aware of.

It's supposed to last longer than the fluorescent bulbs I had. I hope so, because I would hate to pay the cost of this light very often. Also, the light is better, brighter, and makes my plants grow better, which is why my maintenance guy suggested it in the first place. I knocked off one star on account of the negatives I mentioned, but so far so good. I really have no complaints, and I like the fact that I don't have the bulk of a lighting fixture under the canopy anymore. It allows easier access to the tank.

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