The Lighting On Your African Tank

[skiltrip]

What type of lighting does everyone use on their African Tanks? Please indicate brand/model, bulb type, number of bulbs, wattage, bulb temp (6500k, 6700k, 8000k, 50/50, actinic, etc.), Timing settings, and/or whatever info you can. Just curious what people are using, and to share ideas and experiences with different setups.

I use a Coralife 24" Freshwater Aqualight (Power Compact Fluorescent) with dual 21" 6700k bulbs at 65watts each(130watt total). (Actually one bulb just blew, i have a 6500k replacement on the way). I have the primary light on for about 12 hours a day, with the secondary on in the middle for about 4-5 hours to simulate mid-day.

 

[Nick Sw]

Hagen 30", 30W, Aqua-Glo -Front, Power-Glo Rear. I`d like more blue in the light but for now it`s ok.

 

[nukeonekitty]

I don't have anything special for lighting, but it is my understanding that cichlids don't need any special lighting... is that correct?

 

[Ferris]

I sun-glo tube and 1 marine white tube - gives a really nice natural effect.

 

[denis coghlan]

I use nothing special in terms of lighting. The tank is runs on two 30w T8's. The front bulb is an Interpet Daylight Plus and the rear is the standard Aqua-glo that came with the tank originally.

The light period that I have set on the tank is two sets of five hours periods with a 2 hour break in the middle of the day. The reason for the break is that I was having a massive problem with algae growth and this siesta in the middle of the day has reduced the algae growth to nearly nothing. By the time the light turns off in the afternoon there is enough natural light in the room for the fish to remain active.

 

[skiltrip]

I was having a massive problem with algae growth

i'm using 130watts and i can't get any algae to grow! i'd like a little bit so they have something to graze on, but i can't get any to grow.

 

[denis coghlan]

i'm using 130watts and i can't get any algae to grow! i'd like a little bit so they have something to graze on, but i can't get any to grow.

The algae I had growing was the bad type of algae. It was that blue/green stuff that coated everything and made tank cleaning and gravel vacing necessary every three days. It was a major pain in the ass.

 

[Druchii]

I sun-glo tube and 1 marine white tube - gives a really nice natural effect.

I used to have 1 marine whire and one marine blue - but gave a little too washed out colours - blues were awesome.... depends on your colours of fish thou....

I have now switched to a aqau glo and marine blue combo - at its great.... think the bulbs are 42W and both have reflectors on.

HTH

 

[skiltrip]

I don't have anything special for lighting, but it is my understanding that cichlids don't need any special lighting... is that correct?

Yes, true that the fishes may not care as much as the aquarist. The question is more along the lines of what do you use in terms of how it looks to you. Like what kind of lighting people use that really brings out the fishes and the aquascape.

My Coralife fixture I feel is a little too White sometimes. It illuminates the tank wonderfully, but it tends to wash out the fishes slightly. (not a lot, but noticible especially if they are near the surface.) My old regular 20watt All-Glass strip looks nice and mellow and brings out the blues in the baby blue cobalts, but is rather dim on the aquascape. and i've had problems with brown algae in the past from not enough light, so i don't want that happening again.

I'd like to experiment with lower wattage bulbs, or mixing with a 50/50 or something, but I don't have a load to spend on bulbs just to try them out.

 

[mr.dark-saint]

I like my LED rig (six sections of 20" length with LED spaced one inch apart) gives the water the shimmering effect like metal halides without the heat snd the electric bill . It gives good coverage to the bottom 125 gallon with 24" top to bottom. It doesn't yellow out as it goes deeper and the Congo Tetras really kicks out with the iridescence .

 

[ridewake210]

ah goodness

75g

assorted african tank

i use 2 40W 48" fixtures. with just 2 40W white bulbs. not sur eof the acual name of the bulb. its by eclipse though

works great for me

 

[adambrum]

mr.dark-saint do you have any pics of your tank or led rig im planning on doing the same on my tank.

Oh i use 1 sun glow 38w.

Tip for getting ,algae put your rocks in a bucket fill with water and leave in the sunny part of your garden.

 

[justmatt]

1x 30" 25w tube.. lights up me tank well enough

 

[mr.dark-saint]

mr.dark-saint do you have any pics of your tank or led rig im planning on doing the same on my tank.

I'll have to take one (after I make my tank presentable ).