Lighting question

[TeaPea]

Okay, I know there used to be a separate forum for lighting discussions but I don't see it anymore...

For this 10G I am currently planning. It's going in a basement rec room and I want it to look "fun" and playful.

After getting feedback from you guys I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with black sand and a black backround. I want to do something different with the lighting.

Can someone give me a brief lesson in those different colored lights? I think a pink light would look awesome with the black bottom, but are those colored lights something you put in for special occasions or can they be used all the time? In other words, do the fish need the brighter white lights? I don't plan on using live plants.

Any suggestions as to what lights would look cool with a black bottom/backround are welcomed!

[SnakeIce]

I guess my question would be do you want a funky looking tank or one that you can see your fish in the best?

fish aren't exactly like those posters you can get that glow under a black light, although they can be made to seem flashyer under the right light.

most fish, exepting something like the blind cave fish, have selected towards what looks good under daylight conditions... so a cool white or something a bit warmer like ge's sunlight lamp would show your fish off the best. Ime the wierder the colors that the decorations have in the store the worse they end up looking after a while in the tank

other than that play around with it, fish do need some light just as people do to sence that it is daytime but are not dependant on a particular color or wavelength to be happy

[yashinfan]

I am pretty sure they sell pink-tinted flourescents at PetSmart. They are not crazy pink, but they still look pink. I have blue tinted ones, which I think look really nice. If you can't find pink lights, you could aways get a pink background with white light and everything would reflect pink and it would give it the illusion that your lighting is pink.

[ianjoe]

just a suggestion, but i would just get a normal white light. Then get colored transparency sheets to put under it. Then you would be able to change the color very easily when ever you wanted.
You know kind of like stage lights with the colored geletin sheets in front of them.

[TeaPea]

Thanks for the suggestions everybody. The colored transparacy sheets are a great idea! I think I'll try that out. :D

[125gJoe]

Check on those 'transparency sheets' often to see if they melt from the heat of your lights!! Worse yet, look to see if they burn..!

Just a precaution....
Some materials are better with heat than others..

:eek: