Clip On Lights

[ghent_3rd]

I need some clip on lights to add to 2 x 3 foot aquariums I am setting upmin the next month or so. There will be no live plants except maybe the odd floating plants and I do not want the tanks to be too bright as they are going to be housing blackwater type fish mentioned below. Any ideas or is anybody currenrtly using anything that can be used??

Going to be housing:

Ember tetra
Black widow tetra
Either bronze/peppered/sterbai/julii cories
Bristlenoses
Apistos

The tanks will be set-up to have a very similar environment to natural habitat, so usually sand with some gravel and bogwood throughout. Maybe some over hanging branches also.

 

[OldMan47]

That is quite a reversal on the usual question about lighting.
Maybe you could use a "standard" fluorescent light strip that houses a T-8 bulb rather than the high performance ones the planted tank people would send you to. Any decent lighting supply house ought to carry an assortment of easy to replace standard fixtures that could be mounted above an aquarium.

 

[ghent_3rd]

Yes a bit of back-to-front question I admit! That's a good idea about a standard fluorescent, my Mum and Dad work for a large DIY chain so I get discount there, just then need to mount it on the tank which should be easy enough.

Thanks,hadn't thought of that!

 

[kiriyama]

Hi , sorry to barge in...
I was just about to post a very similiar question,
I have sourced a second hand tank locally, glass top, no lighting, the seller said that they used to have lights that clipped onto the tank but offered no further info
Any ideas on what sort of lighting avaliable

 

[OldMan47]

How long is your tank Kiriyama? For a 4 foot tank, almost any garage light system will work fine. For odd sizes, the selection is a bit more limiting.

 

[JoshuaA]

Saw a post with someone trying to imitate the same sort of environment only the other day, he just used small clip on LED lights, I will try dig up the post I did only read it about a week ago. He wasn't growing any plants at all. It wasn't a 4 footer that was for sure but the lights were strong enough to penetrate mildly to the bottom.

Looked great and I really do admire the more natural darker tank look.

 

[kiriyama]

I'm hoping to view the tank on Tuesday, Rena450 so 5' long , no hood, glass top

 

[njstockley]

JoshuaA did you find that other post? My new tank came without lid/lights, so I'm working out how best to light it. I would quite like just one (although for size of the tank probably a couple more) spotlight, meaning parts of the tank are much darker and parts lighter, but trying to work out whats best to use, and where to position them.

nick