Freshwater lighting questions?

AR_Clint · 10/01/2007, 12:46 PM

I just made a hood with lighting for my 125 gallon freshwater tank, but now I can't decide on the bulbs. I have a 55 gallon saltwater tank and know something about saltwater lighting, but I don't know anything about freshwater lighting. For lighting, I have a 48" Shop Light in the middle that can take either T12's or T8's. I also ran an extension cord to each side of the shop light and plugged an adapter into them for a typical bulb. I figure I'll use compact fluorecents in those.

Well, I figured this would be an easy project, but I've run into a wall. Here is where I need help. I don't plan on placing plants in the tank. Just native fish. I want the lighting to make the fish look as nice as possible. So, here are my specific questions

1. Should I use T12's or T8's and why?

2. What color spectrum should I be looking for? (I know about general saltwater rules of thumb, but do the same rules apply to freshwater?)

3. What wattage should I use for the compact fluorecents on each side
(60, 75, 100, 150)?

Thanks guys,
Clint

OnlyCrimson · 10/01/2007, 12:54 PM

I would use t-12's just because the are more common.

I would think the spectrum you should be looking for is 5500k to 7000k or so. But you'll have to mess with that.

Are these the screw in compact flouresents? If you can find them in the right spectrum probably 100 watters. These bulbs will need to be bigger becasue they are not made fo aquariums and are wrapped. So your gonna be losing a lot of light regardless of what wattage. You may want to leave those out since they suck a lot of power.

Why not go with two 3 foot fixtures if they have them? then you can cover the whole tank and not have to worry about the ends. Or just see how it looks with the 4 foot?

AR_Clint · 10/01/2007, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by OnlyCrimson
Why not go with two 3 foot fixtures if they have them? then you can cover the whole tank and not have to worry about the ends. Or just see how it looks with the 4 foot?

That was the original design, but putting 2 shop lights next to each other wouldn't fit. About 1/2" too long.

PSam · 10/01/2007, 03:59 PM

I like a 5500 + 8000 combo. 5500's for plant growth & the 8000K bulbs I use bring out a nice color to the fish.

10/01/2007, 12:46 PM	#1
AR_Clint Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Mesa, Arizona Posts: 239	Freshwater lighting questions? I just made a hood with lighting for my 125 gallon freshwater tank, but now I can't decide on the bulbs. I have a 55 gallon saltwater tank and know something about saltwater lighting, but I don't know anything about freshwater lighting. For lighting, I have a 48" Shop Light in the middle that can take either T12's or T8's. I also ran an extension cord to each side of the shop light and plugged an adapter into them for a typical bulb. I figure I'll use compact fluorecents in those. Well, I figured this would be an easy project, but I've run into a wall. Here is where I need help. I don't plan on placing plants in the tank. Just native fish. I want the lighting to make the fish look as nice as possible. So, here are my specific questions 1. Should I use T12's or T8's and why? 2. What color spectrum should I be looking for? (I know about general saltwater rules of thumb, but do the same rules apply to freshwater?) 3. What wattage should I use for the compact fluorecents on each side (60, 75, 100, 150)? Thanks guys, Clint

10/01/2007, 03:59 PM	#4
PSam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 3,036	I like a 5500 + 8000 combo. 5500's for plant growth & the 8000K bulbs I use bring out a nice color to the fish. __________________ ..no vemos las cosas como son las vemos como somos nosotros...

10/01/2007, 12:54 PM	#2
OnlyCrimson Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Royal Oak,Michigan Posts: 863	I would use t-12's just because the are more common. I would think the spectrum you should be looking for is 5500k to 7000k or so. But you'll have to mess with that. Are these the screw in compact flouresents? If you can find them in the right spectrum probably 100 watters. These bulbs will need to be bigger becasue they are not made fo aquariums and are wrapped. So your gonna be losing a lot of light regardless of what wattage. You may want to leave those out since they suck a lot of power. Why not go with two 3 foot fixtures if they have them? then you can cover the whole tank and not have to worry about the ends. Or just see how it looks with the 4 foot?