Help With Lighting

[markspark]

Hi guys and gals ive just got my self a 5' x 2' x 2' tank and im looking to replace the hood on the tank it currently has the jewel type lights in it 2 blue and 2 white but they dont seem to be bright or bring out the colour in the fish, the tank will have live plants in and the hood is going to be a wooden type with lift up flap to the front. Ive had a look around and there seems to be more and more led's for sale compaired to standard light tubes, which are the best and how many would you put in the hood

 

[woody88]

Hi guys and gals ive just got my self a 5' x 2' x 2' tank and im looking to replace the hood on the tank it currently has the jewel type lights in it 2 blue and 2 white but they dont seem to be bright or bring out the colour in the fish, the tank will have live plants in and the hood is going to be a wooden type with lift up flap to the front. Ive had a look around and there seems to be more and more led's for sale compaired to standard light tubes, which are the best and how many would you put in the hood

I had a T8 grow lux tube in my 20G which shown up the colour of the fish brilliantly but I have now removed that and have fitted my D.I.Y Twin T5 lighting unit.

TBH It does'nt bring out the colour of the fish as good but its a hell of a lot brighter and more modern looking.
Its basically setup as a marine lighting unit with 1 x marine white tube and 1 x reef blue tube.

I only added it because my bogwood has turned the water 'tea' colour and I wanted to restore the blue tint look in the tank.

L.E.D's are a rip off. If you want to go L.E.D without paying the price then rig up a DIY unit and use GU10 LED lamps. [mains voltage so no ballast required, lamps are a tenner each and there is a variety of colour].

It would be no good for my Marine tank but fine for tropical tanks.