Aqua One PL-18W Compact Fluorescent Tube Sunlight and Tropical Mix

In Depth: Aqua One PL18 Compact Fluorescent Tubes

PL 18 Tubes are compact energy saving fluorescent tubes. Their small size, low heat production and energy efficiency makes them ideal for use in compact aquariums. Aqua One fit to several of their set ups including the AquaStyle 620 , AquaStyle 620T and AquaMode 900 . The PL18 Marine Blue was also fitted to some of Aqua One’s, now discontinued, metal halide luminaires.

What colour Aqua One PL18s are available?

Aqua Ones PL18 range comprises three single colour tubes and two mixed output tubes.

Single colour PL18s

As a starting point Aqua One produce their Sunlight PL18 . This is a single colour tube producing a golden, white light that reaches down into the aquarium and is good for plant growth. The Aqua One PL18 Tropical tube is very similar but slightly softer and pink looking in use. It’s a very gentle effect – it doesn’t make the aquarium look pink but it will tend to be a little easier on the eye and render your fish’s colours in positive way, making the best of them. In complete contrast the Aqua One PL18 Marine Blue offers a pure blue light that makes for a wonderful ‘under the sea’ effect. Be a little careful here – the effect is really quite blue and fun to look at but not that great if you keep real plants.

Aqua One Mixed Colour PL18s

Our bestselling PL18 tubes are the mixed types. The PL18 Sunlight and Tropical Mixed tube offers golden white sunlight on one side of the PL with softer, warmer, pinker tropical light on the other side. The Sunlight and Marine Blue PL18 tube is sunlight on the one side and pure blue on the other.

Which Aqua One PL18s are best for my set up?

To a large degree it’s up to you which Aqua One PL18 tube you choose and a change is often as good as a rest. The mixed tubes tend to offer the best solution in many instances with the Sunlight and tropical mix being the tube that Aqua One themselves prefer to supply in new set ups. The sunlight side offers punch, while the tropical side gently brings out your fishes colours. Similarly the Sunlight and Marine Blue mix PL18 tube enables you to add some blue light to your set up without it becoming totally blue. Those who focus on plant growth might well enjoy success with basic Aqua One Sunlight PL18 tubes while the Aqua One Tropical PL18 is very easy and pleasant to look at especially if your fish selection is small and colourful.

How long do Aqua one PL 18 Compact Fluorescent Tubes Last?

All PL tubes, in fact all Fluorescent tubes of all types, lose their output over time with the best performance being given over the first six to eight months. After this fish colours are lost and greater algae growth frequently occurs. We frequently mark the date on the end of the PL tube so we can check and see easily if its time is done.

Aqua One PL18 for Aqua Nano

Earlier versions of the Aqua One Aqua Nano 40 had a light fitting that featured a unique PL18 sunlight tube with two pin connection. Naturally Aqua One Parts have this tube in stock for our customers be please note that none of the other PL18s will fit this light unit as they all feature 4 pin connections.