Lighting Help!

[TipStylez]

I have a 30gal fish tank, and im using a pice of glass that fits over my tank, and a 10gal hood on top of the glass.

Reasion why im using the 10gal hood is cause id ont like bright lights, and any biger is expensive =p

B4 i ran only 1 incendescent(sp) blue bulb. Gave my fish tank a nice clearish blue tint and not too bright. I like that, and my fished did also.

But my bulbs went out...cheep walmart stuff.

And i remberd that theres some incendescents somewhere in the house, got one and put it in...it was clear, and made the tank look natrual, with the yellowish tint. I liked that.

Now i am trying/running 1 compact flourescent(sp), but its too bright...so i gut a pice of thick paper with slits and it and all and put it under the hood so the light dosnt come through too much. I kinda like it cause it brings the colors of my tank out, since its a black setting with black gravel and dark grey rocks.

So what im asking is, is there a lighbulb out there, that is a nice tint like my blue one or yellow, thats not too bright, but good enough for my amazon swords?

Thanks
-Q

 

[mooman]

It sounds like enough light for your swords, would be too much light for your liking. You could try java fern and anubius (both need very little light). Another option is to "spotlight" the swords. In my 10g one side has a cf and I grow plants under it. The other side just has regualr incandescent from lfs. Gives the lighting in the tank a heterogeneous look. Kinda like the sun breaking through tree cover.

 

[TipStylez]

yeah i like that "heterogeneous look" thats what im trying to go for, cause my amazon swords. 2 of them are mothers to atleast 8 baby plants.

I guess i can get some more plants up in there, thats what i was planing.

Thanks
-Q

 

[patoloco]

so i gut a pice of thick paper with slits and it and all and put it under the hood so the light dosnt come -Q

Be careful. If the light get's too hoy it might ignite the paper, and I't would be a shame if you tank gets contaminated with ash, or even worse, if you get a house fire. Be extra careful

 

[Galaxie]

Try lightbulbdepot.com. You can order the wattage and color temperature you like. Although.....you said you like your bluish light and yellowish light? Those are pretty much opposite ends of the spectrum. My 5000 kelvin lights look nearly pure white to my eyes. The 6500 kelvins have a distinctly blue feel to them. Anything lower than 3000 k is yellow to me.

 

[ttan]

ever think about tinting the glass? There are different colors and I think they can take the heat or direct lighting

 

[mooman]

If the light get's too hoy it might ignite the paper, and I't would be a shame if you tank gets contaminated with ash, or even worse, if you get a house fire

Don't get me wrong here, I'm not advocating turning your tank into hibachi or anything, but a little ash in a tank shouln't hurt anything. Check out the ingredients on your fishfood. I used electical tape to create my "spotlight" effect. Totally opaque, and can stand high temps.

 

[patoloco]

Don't get me wrong here, I'm not advocating turning your tank into hibachi or anything, but a little ash in a tank shouln't hurt anything. Check out the ingredients on your fishfood. I used electical tape to create my "spotlight" effect. Totally opaque, and can stand high temps.

Electrical tape is specially manufactured to stand hi temps and retard flame. Paper not.

Couriosly, just about an hour ago I was looking at the ingfredients of Hikari food and it say ashes. What's that for?.