B
barkdog
Guest
What kind of lights do people use for their fish only tanks? I'd like to upgrade my lighting. Should I go all out and get MH? Or is that overkill for a fish only tank?
granny
Member
MH are not necessary for Fish only tanks, are expensive and will cause your water temps to rise. All you need is something to give you good color. A full spectrum daylight bulb in your standard fixture will work just fine. Save your money for another tank-you will want one before you know it-there are so many fish and so little room!!
lion_crazz
Active Member
I agree about the metal halides.
I use power compact's on my 210 FOWLR.
I use power compact's on my 210 FOWLR.
B
barkdog
Guest
I went with compact's that have built in lunar lights. Its a 384 watt fixture. Right now I have 4 36" fluorescent tubes on the tank (tank is a 180 and fish only). Should use the old fixtures in conjunction with the old ones? Or will the new lights provide enough?
N
nereef
Guest
since its a fish only tank, the choice is yours. more light=more algae. depends on what you think looks good.
N
nereef
Guest
Originally Posted by fiji_blue
it could also mean more coraline algae if you use additives
.
coraline does better in lower light conditions
it could also mean more coraline algae if you use additives
coraline does better in lower light conditions
N
nereef
Guest
Originally Posted by SaltFan
Poor quality lighting= algea...Not more lighting...??? :notsure:
it's true that old bulbs can cause excess growth of algae. also, the more light the more energy in your system for photosynthesis.
Poor quality lighting= algea...Not more lighting...??? :notsure:
it's true that old bulbs can cause excess growth of algae. also, the more light the more energy in your system for photosynthesis.
fiji_blue
Member
Coraline will do better under pcs than MH. Thats because in the ocean coraline algae only gets the actinic light. All the other light gets filtered out except for that deep blue and thats what coraline algae thrives off. But more light does not mean more algae. It depends on the light you have and your water quality.
B
barkdog
Guest
Well my new lights came in yesterday. I ordered a 6' Corallife light with the lunar lights for my 180G and the 4' for my 55G. The 4' one has a nice stainless steel look to it, but I didnt realize when I ordered online that it didnt come with lunar lights.
The light on the 55G makes a HUGE difference. Its so bright in there now, I think the fish are going to need sunglasses.
One of the 10K lights was broken on the 6' fixture, so it hasnt made as big an impact on that tank. The company I ordered from said another bulb would be in the mail. I might pick one up today to use in the mean time, and will just save the other one for the future. I understand they should be replaced once a year or so.
The light on the 55G looks great, but it is nearly as big as the tank. I have to lift it up to feed the fish. How do others deal with this? Should I suspend it over the tank?
The light on the 55G makes a HUGE difference. Its so bright in there now, I think the fish are going to need sunglasses.
One of the 10K lights was broken on the 6' fixture, so it hasnt made as big an impact on that tank. The company I ordered from said another bulb would be in the mail. I might pick one up today to use in the mean time, and will just save the other one for the future. I understand they should be replaced once a year or so.
The light on the 55G looks great, but it is nearly as big as the tank. I have to lift it up to feed the fish. How do others deal with this? Should I suspend it over the tank?
N
nereef
Guest
Originally Posted by fiji_blue
Thats because in the ocean coraline algae only gets the actinic light. All the other light gets filtered out except for that deep blue and thats what coraline algae thrives off.
this just has to be false. coraline algae, at least the type that we commonly talk about, is purple. this means that reflects light on the blue end of the spectrum an absorbs light from the middle and the red end of the visable light spectrum. it can't use the light that it reflects for photosynthesis.
Thats because in the ocean coraline algae only gets the actinic light. All the other light gets filtered out except for that deep blue and thats what coraline algae thrives off.
this just has to be false. coraline algae, at least the type that we commonly talk about, is purple. this means that reflects light on the blue end of the spectrum an absorbs light from the middle and the red end of the visable light spectrum. it can't use the light that it reflects for photosynthesis.