Lights

[funkyhoney]

I have a 2ft tank with a few smaller cichlids and a dual globe light with a Hagen Powerglo and a Marineglo and I like the colour it gives off with both turned on and with only one or the other. I've been having troubles with the tank getting way too much algae build up as there aren't any plants in there, any idea of how I could make them dimmer without changing the look too much?

Would it be best to try to DIY electronics, change the bulbs for different, less UV orientated variates or should I simply run 1 at any given time?

Thanks

 

[Lateral Line]

It is possible to get dimmers for fluorescent lamps, but they are expensive and not terribly linear, particularly at the lower end. Frankly, I would not bother trying them. You can always dim the lamps by placing something between them and the water, a translucent material or neutral density filter gel, which should not alter the colour much. What to use depends on what you ave available of course.

As for your algal problems, look on the planted board, there is a lot of useful stuff in the pinned topics, and if that doesn't help ask.

 

[Rooster]

Cover some of the tube(s) with foil... doing it electrically will cost a bomb !

 

[connorsbala]

Buy a reflector from your LFS and have it facing upwards (not with the reflector facing the tank). Alot of people do this with moonlights etc

 

[BigC]

Use floating plants such as Salvinia natans for to subdue the lighting.
Algae is caused not only by light but also by phosphates which is in abundance in tapwater, try also investing in a small Reverse Osmosis unit and also use Rowaphos in your filter.
Regards
BigC