Chosing a new light

[jaysee]

I have a black background and black sand in my tank - no live plants. Is there a particular type of bulb for my strip light that is best for illuminating the fish?

[NanoTankGuy]

I'm using Coralife 30" 40 W (one actinic, one "normal") on FW tank and fish look much better than with the light that came with my tank when I bought it.

[korith]

Since you are not doing any live plants, the light you choose really depends on what you like.

I like daylight spectrum lights, they give a nice white light. I had this 10g that came with these stock bulbs that put an ugly yellow tinge to the tank. Ended up replacing those really quickly.

[bushwhacker]

only tank i wouldnt have plants in is an african tank

[plantedlab]

I don't have any evidence to support this, but I feel that fish are generally healthier with plant lights. Maybe it's psycological?

I know I feel better with a little sunshine.

[jaysee]

only tank i wouldnt have plants in is an african tank

Plants die in my care.:scry:

[jaysee]

Since you are not doing any live plants, the light you choose really depends on what you like.

I like daylight spectrum lights, they give a nice white light. I had this 10g that came with these stock bulbs that put an ugly yellow tinge to the tank. Ended up replacing those really quickly.

One of my 10G has the yellow lights - I just haven't gotten to that yet.

I want something that is going to illuminate the fish. The rainbows are irredecent so they flash, so I guess I want a light that replicates normal daylight, as that;s the light in which they flash the most.

[robflanker]

One of my 10G has the yellow lights - I just haven't gotten to that yet.


I had same problem and resolved it with these.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Difference is amazing, pictures of before and after in sig

[NanoTankGuy]

Plants die in my care.:scry:
Just wrong plants, believe me. Or wrong plant+fish combination. You can get "proper' plants. Better lights usually helps and everything that's in my sig survived in my tank on just seachem flourish tabs (I used to use liquid fertilizer, but algae started consuming that.
P.S. YOu cna tell I tend to ramble on - try to get the plants I have if you get your mind on having plants at all.

[robflanker]

Hmm I'm in a similar boat but looking for a bulb to grow plants in my 30g. Stocking contents is similar.

The one that came with the hood is 20W 24" so for a 30g, that's clearly not enough to do even low-light plants

[jaysee]

Just wrong plants, believe me. Or wrong plant+fish combination. You can get "proper' plants. Better lights usually helps and everything that's in my sig survived in my tank on just seachem flourish tabs (I used to use liquid fertilizer, but algae started consuming that.
P.S. YOu cna tell I tend to ramble on - try to get the plants I have if you get your mind on having plants at all.

I've never tried aquatic plants because I can't keep regular plants alive. Except for cactus. I think plants in the aquariums will be a project for the winter - summers here in Atlantic City are when we work all we can to make our money for the year.

A little rambling never hurt anyone.