Floresent T5 Lights

[Dano]

hi there everyone, hope your well. Today i purchased an overtank light with 3 56w T5 bulbs. the bulbs were discribed as daylight which to me means nothing. i had once been told that if the colour of the light is wrong algea will start to take over your tank. my tank ia about 100 imperial gallons but is empty at the mo. i am planning to fill it with LR, fish and a few shrimp ect... i also have a bio filter and skimmer which are both ready to go. my question is, is this daylight bulb type any good for marine tanks or do i need to get ripped off at my LFS for some different one's?


Also any important pointers anybody has picked up over the years would also help alot. Thanks

 

[Lovesfish]

I beleive those lights should be fine as long as you don't plan to do corals or it isn't good for hard corals anyways. It would be fine for just fish and shrimp and LR at least I'm pretty sure someone else can verify that for u. dave

 

[crazyelece]

In a marine tank you really need full spectum lighting. Daylights are fine but you should also add some acitinic lighting to get the entire spectrum of light for your livestock.

 

[superman]

In a marine tank you really need full spectum lighting. Daylights are fine but you should also add some acitinic lighting to get the entire spectrum of light for your livestock.

"Full spectrum" lighting is not needed in marine tanks, the only reason for blue spectrum in our tanks is for asthetics really. A person could have just daylight bulbs on their tank, though it may make the tank look to yellow for most people.

 

[crazyelece]

I quote "Fishes and nonphotosynthetic invertabrates can get by on normal wattage illumination provided by full spectrum flourescent lights." p.52 in The Conscientious Marine Aquarist

I have used this book many times while starting into this hobby and usually trust the advise in it. Fish may be tolerant to other spectrums but it is only right to provide as close to natural light as we can.