Finnex Planted+ 24/7 Vs Fluval 3.0: Which Should You Get

In the new age, there are so many options regarding everything. Even buying a lightbulb for the aquarium can be confusing.

So stuck between Finnex planted+ 24/7 vs Fluval 3.0?

Finnex planted+ 24/7 and Fluval 3.0 both have some differences. The differences in watt and lumen do not factor in much practicality. Fluval has a much longer warranty than Finnex. It also has a better PAR rating. But the Finnex is cheaper.

This is just the gist of the comparison between the two lights. There is so much more to discuss. We have all the details you could want right here in this article. 

Finnex Planted+ 24/7 Vs Fluval 3.0-General Overview

Some of you may think how much difference can two light bulbs have? Well, you’d be surprised by the amount of difference there can be.

So let’s see what they are.

DifferencesFinnex Planted+ 24/7Fluval 3.0
WattsSee details below
LumensSee details below
Kelvin7000K 6500K 
PAR3” 545 PAR18” 71 PAR3” 402 PAR18” 60 PAR
Warranty6 Months3 Years

This just names a few of the differences. There is so much more to understand. So let’s get into the details. 

In-Depth Comparisons

Comparison between Finnex Planted+ 24/7 and Fluval 3.0

We already glanced over the differences once. But there is more to it than you think. There are so many other aspects one might want to know.

So don’t make any decision based on the table alone. Go through the detailed comparison we have for you.

Watts

For instance, knowing about watts is not all that crucial. “Watts per gallon” was the primary consideration for aquascapers in back the day. It was when planted tanks were popular because more up-to-date information was not readily available.

But thanks to science, we now understand that two bulbs and wattage more. Two bulbs with the same watt value do not output the same amount of light power.

So between Fluval Plant 3.0 and the Finnex Planted+ 24/7, don’t bother considering the wattage.

But here is a chart of how light size and wattage of each light compare.

Fluval Plant 3.0

Finnex Planted+ 24/7

Light Size (in inches)Watts (in watts)Light Size (in inches)Watts (in watts)
24-34322017
36-48452425
48-60593029
 3636
4846

The two lights don’t exactly come in the same size, so directly comparing them is a little tough. But you can get a rough idea.

Winner: The winner is Fluval because it has a higher watt value compared to size. 

Lumens

The value of lumens is much like the value of watts. But now we understand that the value of a lumen doesn’t tell you very much. It does not tell about how a plant will react to light.

Lumens are a measure of how brilliant light appears to human eyes. But they do not indicate how intense the light is in the spectrum that is necessary. The necessity for photosynthesis is what we care about.

The main reason we are talking about lumen is that we’re human. And we need to know about this. As it is the standard unit of visible light.

So, the plants in your aquarium will not get the benefits of a specific lumen value. But you as a spectator of your aquarium should absolutely take it into consideration.

The Lumen value for Fluval Plant 3.0 is

Fixture Size24-34”36-48”48-60”
Lumens235033004250

Now, unfortunately, only Finnex has lumen information that is currently available. So we cannot draw direct comparisons.

Winner: Fluval wins this round because it has clear lumen values available that you can consider. 

Kelvin

Now we are coming to a figure that actually matters; it is measured in kelvins. Generally, the Kelvin scale describes the color of light. This is relevant to plants because the colors red and blue are the ones plants prefer the most.

Plants soak in blue light and red light. They reflect green light. That’s why we see green when we look at them. Because red light may be absorbed by plants, a low Kelvin temperature is not required for plant growth.

Green appears in light between 4300 and 4700. Without it, your plants will not have a very green appearance. Because there will be no green light for them to reflect!

A greater kelvin is desirable for us. Because it will enable our plants to have a lush and green appearance.

But, if it is increased too much, it can start to look quite blue. It all depends on one’s personal taste as to whether or not one likes a particular shade.

The Finnex has a color temperature of approximately 7000K. It is somewhat bluer than the Fluval. This does not necessarily indicate that Finnex is superior for growing plants.

But, the Finnex does provide plants with a useful blue hue, whilst the Fluval does not. The shorter wavelength of blue light penetrates the water to a greater depth than red light. Only FInnex does this.

Winner: The Finnex Planted+ 24/7 wins this round because of its useful blue light

PAR

Not everyone might be familiar with PAR. Photosynthetic active radiation is most commonly referred to as PAR. It is just radiation (light) that the vast majority of plants are able to use.

When we measure photons per square meter, or PAR. in doing so we are determining how much light energy is contained within the useable range.

Here is how the Finnex aquarium light stacks up against the Fluval in terms of PAR

Depth (in inches)Fluval 3.0Finnex Planted+ 24/7
3545402
6270202
1211396
187160

Winner: We can see that Fluval 3.0 par wins this round easily. It greatly outperforms Finnex.

Warranty

Warranty is a huge factor in buying technology. Having the knowledge that the manufacturer has your back, is a big relief.

Now the Finnex comes with a 6-months warranty. It is dwarfed by the 3-year warranty of Fluval. But remember these numbers are not everything.

Official vendors have much better warranty services than third-party vendors.  So be a bit skeptical while buying it.

Winner: The Fluval 3.0 wins this round due to its vastly longer warranty. 

Price

Price is another huge factor for consumers. Is the extra cost of one of the lights worth the premium you have to pay?

The 48” Finnex Planted+ 24/7 costs around $110. On the other hand, a Fluval 3.0 48 inch costs around $210.

So the Fluval costs more. But we already mentioned that it has many premium features as well.

Winner: The winner should be FInnex because of its much cheaper price. But the feature the Fluval offers for some extra money is also lucrative. 

Verdict

Both are excellent options for you to choose from. So which light bulb is for you depends on your needs.

If you want a more featureful bulb with a higher PAR rating and a better warranty. get the Fluval. But if you are on a shorter budget and the higher Kelvin count matters, then go for the Finnex.  

FAQs

Is 6500K Good For Aquarium Plants?

No. there is no proof that 6500K is better for an aquarium. If you see any such claim in the packaging, know it is just a marketing gimmick. The K rating mainly comes into play with household lighting. And sometimes while reporting an aquarium.

What Is The Best Kelvin For Aquarium Plants?

There is no proven Kelvin rating that is better for an aquarium. But many will say that 6500K is ideal. It is because daylight is 6500K, so people associate it with good growth in the aquarium. Note that, kelvin is the unit of measuring light.

Is 2700 Kelvin Good For Plants?

Yes, 2700K light is good for plants. Especially in certain stages of life. Around 2700K light is the best for plants in the flowering and stage of fruiting. it is because 2700K is the color temp of sunrise. It is very good for plants. 

Conclusion

Now we know so much more about Finnex planted+ 24/7 vs Fluval 3.0. Both are excellent options.

So which light is better for you depends totally on you. Go through our article and see which light meets your requirements.

Good luck!

Howard Parker

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