Freshwater Lighting.. need help!

A

Akysten

AC Members
May 28, 2006
259
0
0
I'm starting a third tank, it's a 37 gallon.
It will be a planted tank, BUT, the focus is on the fish, the plants are there to provide them an environment to look in, as well as beauty.

What I'm looking for is a trade off of good display of fish colors, and decent plant growth.

I can get a good deal on a Auqalight single...
I have two choices... 6700 and a 50/50 actinic/10000

Which would be best? I'm afraid that the 6700 won't show off the color of the fish, and may look, without actinic, a bit white, and lifeless. But I'm also afraid that the 10k/actinic may be too bright for my tank.

Cost is of an issue... so I'm limited to these three... Unless there are other options:

$45 Aqualite t5 2x18w 1x6700 1xcolormax
$60 Aqualite single 65w 1x50/50 10k/actinic
$60 Aqualite single 65w 1x6700

Either has got to be better than my standard Perfecto 20w perfect-a-lite.
 
John N. said:
Go with the Coralife 65w with the 6700k bulb. You'll get good plant growth and vibrant colorful fish. Or get a pinkish type bulb that will show off the colors of the fish (reds and bright colors) and also the plants. The bulb is GE 9325 from lightbulbsdirect.com.

-John N.
Click to expand...
This GE 9325 is 9325K. That isn't too high. I have a pinker light on my 10 gallon and i love it for the fish. But, what about a planted aquarium/ I thouhght this would be too high for plants?
 
So i think the answer is the 6700k at this time...
I can get it locally for around $60 before tax... which is a couple dollars cheaper than online.
that would give me almost 2w/gallon... my only issue would be phasing in the light to simulate dawn like on my big tank. I have it timed so that ONE of my t5 strips comes on an hour early, and cuts off an hour before the other strip.. it also allows for more subdued lighting in the evening.
 
Lorazoo said:
This GE 9325 is 9325K. That isn't too high. I have a pinker light on my 10 gallon and i love it for the fish. But, what about a planted aquarium/ I thouhght this would be too high for plants?
Click to expand...

The color temperature isn't too high for planted tank. Any light that also emits in red spectrum will work for plants. I've grown plants with lights between 2,700k through 10,000k without any issue.

6,700k full spectrum daylight gives good clarity to most colors. 10,000k makes blues and greens stand out more but tends to wash out reds.
 
i have always seen on here people saying not to get the 50/50 bulbs which are half 10000K and half atnic. i have one on my tank and you can really see a diff when the fishg swim under it. i will look into getting those red/pink ones though. they really do make a diff and if it doesnt hurt the plants, why not? i like a mix of colors.
 
People advise against the 50/50 lights because it throws off the wattage. Since half the wattage is used for the actinic side, which only gives light in the blue spectrum and does not aid photosynthesis, you don't get the full benefit of all the wattage (i.e. a 65w 50/50 does not equal 65w beneficial plant light, more like 33w). That said, I do use 50/50 lights in one of my setup where I mix them with 6,500k lights where I know I have enough beneficial light for the plants I'm growing.
 
I was glad to read this post as I just ordered the Coralife 65w with 6700K bulb for my 37 gallon tank... I have 6700K bulb on my other tank and it shows the fish well and the plants are growing like crazy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom