Lighting?

[joeyg2100]

I have noticed looking at some of the members aquariums that some have a really white like look to it, and some have what looks like a black like/hinto of blue, purpule look to it. My tank right now has just two regular florecent tubes lighting it. I like the look of the black light look. Plus I don't think the fish like the brightness of the tank since i have wight gravel it reflexs off of it. SO what kind of lights do you have in your tank to make it look like black lights. Thanks

 

[Hannys_Papa]

Any way to show us an example pic of what kind of "black light" tank you are talking about ?

 

[joeyg2100]

somthing like this
Tank

 

[ParadoxLiz]

This is probably a consequence of taking a photo in a darkened room. If you scroll down, he says what kind of lighting he's using.

FWIW, in this picture:
http://www.lizmcguireonline.com/3tanks.jpg

...the tank on the left (6g) is using an 8 watt T5 flourescent tube (don't know more about it, it came with the tank and not much info on the Kelvin rating or anything). It's a Marineland Eclipse System 6 - their web site has some info, but I don't think there's anything more specific about the bulb.

...the tank in the middle (2g) is using a flourescent candalabra-type screw-in bulb you can buy from HomeDepot - 4W, I think, 4xxx K, if I remember right.

...the tank on the right (10g) has one screw-in compact flourescent (on the left side), 10W 50% 10,000K and 50% Actinic 03 blue (which I've read some say causes algae (or at least encourages it)) - I've got another bulb around here somewhere, 25W w/ no Actinic blue, I think, which I thought was in there - guess I need to quit doing my own thinking and find it!

Liz

 

[Hannys_Papa]

It depends a lot on the "colour" of the light you are using. (K = Kelvin)

This page might gve you a basic idea of what i am talking about - but there are many more out there.

A 6500K bulb will (usually) give you a little blue tint - and in the picture you used as an example he used a black background together with that. I am sure if he had used a regular background with plants on it (as an example) the whole tank could've looked more green or otherwise. I think thats why a lot of people like black backgrounds.