Wow, I didn't realize how different the tank would look with descent lighting.

NJ Devils Fan

#1 Devils fan
Oct 28, 2002
2,522
3
38
39
Yonkers, NY
members.tripod.com
I just got back from Home Depot. I got a ballast the holds 2 bulbs. It cost $16.99. I also got two 6500K bulbs to put in it. I couldn't believe how much of a differenct it made in the tank. I also kept the old ballast with the one 40 watt bulb. I just moved it to where you open and close the lid. When I actually have to open it like to feed the fish, I can just put it on top of the new ballast. I can't believe how much of a difference it made. Thinking about it, it was a pretty big jump, going from 40 watts to 120. I hope the plants will do a bit better. They started to look a little brown, but I think that will greatly change.
 
Ok here are the before and after pics.

Before

20719349.jpg



After

20879786.jpg
 
Last edited:
It's amazing!

one minute you can think nothing is wrong. then the next, some real light reveals all the dark places, and then there is such a change that you can barely believe that you thought what was there before was light!

NJ did you get the fluourescent tubes from HD? or just the light fixture or what?

It even looks like the plants perked up in the after picture. I don't know if that's coincidence or what. What have you observed?

-Josh
 
Thanks.

josh, I got the bulbs at HDat the same time. both of them came in a package together for about $5. I could believe how cheap everything was. I was expecting it to be at least $50.

Although it looks like the plants perked up from the light, the didn't. It was because the were curled up in the bag, and when I took them out and planted them, I took the pic right away, so the were curled. After a few days, they started to straighten out.
 
6500k Bulbs

What were those bulbs called? I definately need to get a couple of them. I usually pay about 6-8$ per bulb for plant and aquarium lights, or daylight bulbs. $5 for two 6500K's would rock!

-Josh
 
AquariaCentral.com