Lighting

[guppymonkey]

Do I have to have a light made specifically for the aquarium? Why can't I use a bulb that is full spectrum. Is there a huge difference?

 

[A.K.A Zak]

well, i don't thank a regular light would fit it the tank soccet thing. and if you did get it to fit it would probley melt your plastic and eat you tank very quik.

 

[pondfreak4365]

We use regular fluorescent bulbs, but these may not be the best for growing plants. Our planted tanks get natural light also. I love a mixture of warm and cool tubes...the fish seem to change color when swimming from back to front!

 

[Happy Fish]

I assume you have a florescent bulb...
that said talk to your local hardware guy or fancy light place there is a cri index and a temp scale you can use to get a bearing on your bulbs
temp means =avereage wavelenth temp or something not actual temp..
I use one in the 5100K range called a cool white vs a 38-4100k or warm light
it has to do with your perception of the color..

the cri or color rendition index is a measure of how a color looks under natural conditions vs under that bulb I push to get near 100 ie natural light.

the trouble with all this is the suns spectrum is full of most the wavelenths and bulbs are not and may or may not contain the wavelenth your plants need or to see your fish in there best color...good luck....

NO< I do not pay 25$ for grow lights or aquamarine lights.
I spend 3-6$ for 5100K temp lights my plants grow some.. fish look good

 

[Bol]

If you don't have live plants, I don't think it will matter much at all.

 

[mrV]

Why can't I use a bulb that is full spectrum.

So, why can't you? Who has said you cannot use? I have used and I'll use - why to pay more for so-called "aquarium tubes"? I have used Philips daylight serie. (Like Philips tld 865, 36W. 965 is full spectrum tube. Not so high intensive like 8-serie but it's full spectrum still)

 

[Losi]

If water touches a normal bulb doesnt it explode?!

 

[Lateral Line]

>>> If water touches a normal bulb doesnt it explode?!

Why should it?

 

[mrV]

If water touches a normal bulb doesnt it explode?!

How the so-called aquarium tube is different? Same tube, only spectrums are usually diffrent and tube is more expensive.

And there is no reason to let water touches tubes

 

[Aulonochromis]

Fluorescent tubes will not explode when touched with water. They don't really get that hot compared to a standard bulb. You can use any tube that will fit your fixture. Ive used cool white. Cheap, but ugly. I currently have one 6500k Phillips daylight bulb from Home Depot and one Powerglo in my tank now and it works great. I tried a 5000k bulb but it was much too yellow and gave the tank a sickly look, so IMO you should go for higher kelvin bulbs, 6500k and up.

 

[MizPlaya692003]

I heard that sunlight is bad for a tank casue it casues algae and others bacterica i think to grow. Is this true ?

 

[pondfreak4365]

Natural light does cause a lot of algae growth, but I never heard about bacteria. The "warm" flourescent tubes we like are actually not warm as in temperature, but in color. We found some on closeout at Home Depot, made by GE in a color called "Natural Light". It's for kitchens and bathrooms and is supposed to make people and food look more appealing kind of pinkish. Sorry for the confusion!