Lighting... To Make Sand Look Lighter

[JL94x4]

Okay before i start my tank is 4 foot 280 litres. so on with my query, I see people on here using Argos Play Sand, ive got a bag and put it in my tank, but the sand still looks really dark and nothing like anyones on here, who have got live plants! It MUST be the lighting..

So whats the best lighting for making the sand look lighter aswel as helping the plants grow? Also if you are using Play Sand from Argos could you possibly put a picture up, so I can compare how yours looks to mine? Ive put my picture, below.

Although the sand does look darket than it does on the camera, to the naked eye, is this normal?

 

[Paradise3]

All looks normal

This is the best picture I have...

 

[Cazgar]

This is my edge with play sand, it has two led bulbs for lighting, nothing special

Same tank with halogen lights

 

[JL94x4]

All looks normal

Yes its Argos Play Sand, non toxic, safe, etc etc as it says on the bag.

Looks really dark to the naked eye though, and if a better light would make it look lighter, that would make me happy..

 

[Spurry]

Hi your sand looks ok to me and the same as mine
I actually with mine was darker....

Click my sig link so see my tank

 

[JL94x4]

This is my edge with play sand, it has two led bulbs for lighting, nothing special

See now this is the kind of look i want mine to look like. Does it look like it does on the picture actually with your eyes?

Sounds stupid, but does it look exactly like the picture, or does the picture make it look lighter?

Hi your sand looks ok to me and the same as mine
I actually with mine was darker....

Click my sig link so see my tank

Again to me, yours looks lighter.

On my photo, my camera (taken without flash) makes the sand look lighter than it actually is.

 

[Cazgar]

Just edited my post to show what it looked like with halogen bulbs.
The first pic does make it look a little lighter, but even with no lights in the day it's quite light

 

[Spurry]

This is my edge with play sand, it has two led bulbs for lighting, nothing special

See now this is the kind of look i want mine to look like. Does it look like it does on the picture actually with your eyes?

Sounds stupid, but does it look exactly like the picture, or does the picture make it look lighter?

Now I new you was going to say that, but his sand is the
Same as yours the reason it looks and it is only looking
Is the fact of his photograph skill ( sorry don't mean to diss you)
It just glare or flash back m8 that all

Basically the exposure the camera uses

 

[JL94x4]

Because the tank i have came with bulbs installed (it doesn't say what bulbs they are on the bulbs) how would i find out what the bulbs are? Heres a picture.......

I'll need to know at some stage anyway, when they go. And im not too fond of the colour of the lighting as its kind of a yellowish kind of bulb, instead of a white.

 

[Spurry]

See now with different photograph skill and how
He has set it up to take the photo the sand now look
Same as yours

Regards Spurry

 

[Cazgar]

The pics were taken on an iPad, no flash, at the same time of day as I was selling the led bulbs at the time so the pics were taken to show the difference

 

[Spurry]

Because the tank i have came with bulbs installed (it doesn't say what bulbs they are on the bulbs) how would i find out what the bulbs are? Heres a picture.......

I'll need to know at some stage anyway, when they go. And im not too fond of the colour of the lighting as its kind of a yellowish kind of bulb, instead of a white.

If they came with it I would say there standard same as mine
You can buy other builds in LFS they will say on them
How and what they will enhance in your set up

 

[JL94x4]

On the lights themselves it actually says Kengo F30T8/840 does this just mean the stock number in the store or.....?

Or am i right in thinking these are Flurescent 30Watt T8 bulbs?

 

[Spurry]

On the lights themselves it actually says Kengo F30T8/840 does this just mean the stock number in the store or.....?

Or am i right in thinking these are Flurescent 30Watt T8 bulbs?

That could be the model number google it

Mine are aqua-glo t8's 30w standard colour

 

[Spurry]

ok so as far as i no a 30w t8 840 is Cool White in colour i dont no if that is standard as mine just say 30w t8's

any way i want to show you as well how photography can make it look lighter or darker i took them at different camera exposures using a canon DSLR camera
there not my best work lol as i did then free hand anyway

this is light and over exposed

this is dark and exposed to show the sands real colour but is still light in places this is due to lighting that's all

i hope this help you....

this is my usual photography skills sorry its off topic but i hope you like it..