Florescent Lighting

[Quartermain]

Greetings! This is my first post to this forum. Just a quick background first.. This is the first time I've kept fish since I was very young. Now a 32 year old graphic artist I have found more time and money to spend on this wonderful hobby. But before I get into a big tank and way over my head I'm starting out with a 5.5 Gal tank, if for no other reason than to see if I stick with it.

I am currently keeping 5 Tiger Barbs with no other fish and they seem to be doing great. The thing is that when the original plain-old incandescent bulb that came with the tank blew out I decided to replace it with a florescent tube specifically designed for aquarium use. This new light made the fish and the tank look wonderful! But after I gave the Barbs a few minutes to acclimate to their new 'sun' I suddenly realized they're not swimming around as usual. In fact one of them was twitching in the corner under a plastic plant, another was under the overhang of a rock, three others were huddled together in the corner. And none of them were swimming around as usual.

The instant I turned the light off, out they came! So Lesson #248 about keeping Tiger Barbs... they don't like bright florescent light... I guess.

Most lights I see at the pet stores are quite bright and the fish don't seem to mind but it could be that this particular light is esspecially bright. It certainly lit up the corner of the room with the aquarium quite well. Should I not panic and just give the Barbs a bit longer to get used to it, or is my guess correct that they do not enjoy bright light? Is this true of most tropical fish? Any recommendations for ideal conditions for Barbs and other tropical fish?

Much thanks for any info you can give.

- Kevin

 

[Remmy]

i think they just need to adapt
i imagine the sudden intensity of light overwhelms them a little, i'd say give it a few days or so and if they continue to behave like this then post back here

goodluck

 

[Quartermain]

So you don't think it'll stress them too much? I hate to test them like guinae pigs.

One other question popped into mind. Has anyone ever heard of a timed electronic light dimmer switch? I'm thinking of something like a timer switch but one that slowly dims the light instead of flicking it on and off. I think something like that may be a bit kinder to the fish than a quick flash on and off each night. Hmm.. wonder if I could make something like that.

- Kevin

 

[Swimfins]

5 tiger barbs in a 5.5 gallon is way over crowded.... Fis are usually small when you buy them, but full grown, these fish are approx. 2 inches each.

You will need at least a 10g tank, or a 20g preferably IMO.

 

[carpguy]

Make sure to get them some decoration. Rocks, driftwood, plants (fake are ok by the fish). They'll feel more secure if they have a place to take cover.

And yes there are dimmable fluorescent setups out there in the world, but I think they're on the expensive side of the coin.

For now my fish have to put up with the quick flash. Doesn't seem to bother them.

 

[kveeti]

When do you feed them? My fish know that when the "lightening" hits, it soon means foodfoodfoodfoodFOOD - there is an increase in activity for a short while. If I don't get around to feeding them right then, the next burst of activity is when "the feeding shadow" (term taken from wetmanNY) arrives.

 

[TKOS]

Fish will get used to it. But have a plant or some rocks for them to hide if they need to will make them feel much better.

Do not add any more fish to that tanks, and I would also watch out for ammonia and nitrite levels. Those fish can grow fairly fast and can overwhelm a tank that size.Frequent water changes will be your friend and in that size tank are very easy to do.