12g Nano Cube

[dwatson]

My 12g nano cube has three bulbs, two of them seem to be fused together, one being white, the other blue (50/50). I want to know if i can replace the blue light /white light as the blue desaturates the color of my aquarium and fish (casting a blue color cast). What is the best kelvin light to bring out aquatic color ? Also what color gravel best brings out the color of fish ?

Thanks,
Daniel

 

[sylvia]

I don't know about the light. I suppose it's for planted tanks and it wouldn't effect your fish or low-light plants if you replaced it.

Fish are said to look brightest when there's a dark to black substrate. Personaly I think the best way is to keep new fish in very low light for a couple of weeks and feed them well when you first get them with rich foods. Afterwards, when the light is stronger, you will find the fish that were kept in lower light are brighter than those that weren't and this brightness remains for the rest of their lives. I discovered this accidentaly but I can't say for sure whether this is the case with all fish - just my experience.

 

[modernhamlet]

Most nano cubes come with a blue actinic bulb, which has a very high color temperature (~15,000K). It is designed primarily for saltwater reef tanks. If you are keeping live plants, you probably want a good 6500K "daylight" or full spectrum bulb. Otherwise, it doesn't really matter. The fish won't care.

 

[dwatson]

Most nano cubes come with a blue actinic bulb, which has a very high color temperature (~15,000K). It is designed primarily for saltwater reef tanks. If you are keeping live plants, you probably want a good 6500K "daylight" or full spectrum bulb. Otherwise, it doesn't really matter. The fish won't care.

Thanks, I had a feeling it wouldn't hurt, but the blue color tends to 'cool' the color of my fish making the seem desaturated.

 

[dwatson]

I think I answerd my own question. I called JBJ, maker of the nano cube. He stated the blue light is for plants or reefs. I stated that I thought it desaturated the color of my tank, he stated I could buy a daylight bulb, but the blue/white 50/50 is better to bring out color as standard white bulbs lend a yellow cast.