Can I Use Ordinary Flourescent Tubes In Tank?

[Harlequins]

I have two 3ft T8 tubes the 30w has just blown,the other tube is very dim in comparison,is there a reason why one tube is brighter than the other? for plants?

Anyway when i bought a tube for my small tank the lfs wanted £10,so i dread to think how much a 3ft tube might be.

So i thought b&q must be cheaper than lfs?

Can i put ordinary flourescent tubes in my aquarium?

 

[drobbyb]

Yes you can as long as they are the proper length and wattage. I buy my tubes at the local hardware store for about $3 a piece. I use 6500k for color temperature.

 

[loachman]

If you dont' have plants, it makes no difference what lighting you use.

 

[drobbyb]

If you dont' have plants, it makes no difference what lighting you use.

Actually, some bulbs enhance the color of the fish or surroundings. Nice lights aren't just for a planted tank. The more light on your fish (to a degree) the better they can look.

 

[Harlequins]

Thank you

I have just got two 30w tubes from B&Q £3.49 each,out of interest i went to the lfs and they wanted £18.95 each!!!

 

[Tropical_Fish]

I just borrowed mine from work - regular office light bulbs - works a treat, I tried an aquarium purpley colour bulb but we didn't like it and went back to the cheapy office bulb

 

[Harlequins]

I'm not overly sure whether i like these tubes they make the tank look yellowish!!

 

[drobbyb]

They do. That's why I get the 6500K bulbs as they are close to the sun's natural color temperature of 6700K. They will be significantly whiter than regular tubes.

 

[Harlequins]

They do. That's why I get the 6500K bulbs as they are close to the sun's natural color temperature of 6700K. They will be significantly whiter than regular tubes.

Ahh thats what you meant when when you said 6500k, brain not clicking earlier
Think i will have to get another one nearer that,this one makes the fish look dull and yellow

Thanks

 

[OldMan47]

You can get all different spectra of bulb at the local home improvement center. A "daylight" tube will typically have a spectrum of about 5500K so it makes a decent planted tank bulb. The warm white and cool white bulbs run in the 2500K to 3000K range and look sort of yellow to our eyes. I have even seen 6500K bulbs in my local home improvement center.

 

[dthoffsett]

I don't remember what the light spectrum was on the bulbs I always got. I just went to Walmart and got the "kitchen" bulbs, I found some of the others made the tank look yellow, so I must have been getting the 6500K ones.

I know completely random post, just thought I'd confirm that you can use "ordinary" bulbs.

 

[Harlequins]

Thanks

But after a few days i couldn't stick the yellow look,so i went to Blagdon water gardens today and bought a power glo 18000k,looks fab and fish look their normal colours again if not better!!

 

[the420buzz]

I've got an Aqua-glo (18000k) on my 30gal, and although there's a slight blueish tint, it looks great. The fish colors stand out very well, and even the fake plants I have look 10 times better.

On my 15gal, I've just got an ordinary desk lamp that is made to clip onto a desk, but I've clipped it onto my tank lid. I just use a typical spiral energy saving bulb in it. Works great besides the fact that it's not made for a fish tank, therefore light escapes out the top and such, but it's not a big deal. Kind of adds to the effect in a way.

So while I'm no expert, I'd say you should be good to go.