Looking For A Bluish Tank Light

[wodesorel]

Hiya!

I'm using the lights that came with the aqurium kits that I bought. I love the all-glass bulb on my seven gallon - it's a white/blue and it makes the colors pop. I've always been VERY biased towards light being on the blue side. It's a 14 watt bulb, and looks just right for that set-up.

The Eclipse bulb on the 20 gallon is a really icky yellow color, and I think that's why I just can't get the aquarium to look "right".

I don't want anything too bright - I'm keeping 5 snails, 8 black kuhli loaches, and a male betta in there - so I'd rather have lower lighting to keep the night dwellers more active during the day. There aren't any live plants - the snails would eat them in minutes.

So in summary, what's a good bluish flouresent bulb that's between 20 to 30 watts? I'm new to the whole lighting concept, though I get the basics.

Any idea you could give me would be welcomed!

 

[Underwurlde]

Hi,

I was recommended an Arcadia Freshwater bulb.

That made my colours go 'pop; (good description BTW )

I could only get a 15W bulb as that was all they appeared to have that matched the orignal bulb length. (18")

Also I would not describe this bulb as particularly blue - but it made all the difference to my tank's appearance, ESPCIALLY after I added a 'proper' (from my LFS) shiny pure BLACK background.

Hope this helps (you can see the visible transformation of my tank in the members tank photos section),

Andy.

 

[SamUK]

Hi,

I was recommended an Arcadia Freshwater bulb.

That made my colours go 'pop; (good description BTW )

I could only get a 15W bulb as that was all they appeared to have that matched the orignal bulb length. (18")

Also I would not describe this bulb as particularly blue - but it made all the difference to my tank's appearance, ESPCIALLY after I added a 'proper' (from my LFS) shiny pure BLACK background.

Hope this helps (you can see the visible transformation of my tank in the members tank photos section),

Andy.

i use them on a couple of my tanks too.

lookin at the bulbs id say they give off a violet coloured light but as under said they really bring out the colours nicely.

thats a single 4ft 38w tube on my 6ft tank. could do with 2 on a tank that size (but im poor) but the one still does the job fine!

 

[wodesorel]

I've been keeping up with your thread - your tank does look beautiful!

I'd post picture of mine so people could offer suggestions as well, but I can't get a good pic to come out using regular film. And the 'get wodesorel a digital' fund was used for Pixie when she got sick.

I actually don't use a background in either tank. I've got dark green-blue walls, and it looks great with the tanks just being up against that - makes it look like the tanks are a lighted section of a big pond.

*EDIT* Ooooh yeah! That's the colour I'm going for! Thanks!

 

[SamUK]

most LFS stock the arcadia tubes so they should be easy enough to find.

 

[Underwurlde]

I've been keeping up with your thread - your tank does look beautiful!

Cool, please add some comments.

Same clued up dude also suggested modding my tank to add another tube to go with my 'Arcadia Freshwater', this time an 'Arcadia Original'. This would hugely benefit my planted tank as I think I'd get a basic optimum level of lighing for my plants of 2W/Gal.

Definately on my 'To-Do' list.

Andy

PS

I'd post picture of mine so people could offer suggestions as well, but I can't get a good pic to come out using regular film. And the 'get wodesorel a digital' fund was used for Pixie when she got sick.

Use a scanner? (sorry only joking).