Lighting Advice

[angelmouse]

getting 2x40watt twin t8 starter units making my tank about 3wpg. What bulbs would be a good mix for plant growth and showing blue/red fish colours. Ones i`ve used in past made my fish looked washed out.
Any recomendations
Thanks Angel

 

[newfishaddict]

getting 2x40watt twin t8 starter units making my tank about 3wpg. What bulbs would be a good mix for plant growth and showing blue/red fish colours. Ones i`ve used in past made my fish looked washed out.
Any recomendations
Thanks Angel

What are the dimensions of your tank? How deep is it most importantly?

 

[angelmouse]

tank is 48x15x20 think thats about 60 gall
Angel

 

[newfishaddict]

tank is 48x15x20 think thats about 60 gall
Angel

My fish look fantastic in my 55g (4 feet long, 20" deepth). I can tell how much the lighting matters when I turn off certain lights but leave others on...

I have 1x68w 6700k, 1x14w "colormax" by coralife, and 1x14w 6700k on each side of the tank, this gives me about 3.6 wpg. The one 14w colormax on each side makes a MASSIVE difference with how the fish look, and even how the plants, wood, ect looks. I have the colormax positioned so that they are in the center of the tank (from a front to back perspective). I never have algae unless I let my co2 or ferts get too low; I have never had algae problems from overdosing any of : N. P, K, MICRO, OR PHOS...

I dont know the K value of the colormax but, they are very pinkish purple.

If you had 3 bulbs per side I would suggest what I have, but with 2 per side I would TRY a 5000k(or even lower k value) bulb and a 10000k on each side.