What Kind Of Fluorescent Light Bulb Should I Get?

[Dr. Bogger]

Ok, i was looking at petsmart.com, and i see they have many different kinds of flourescent bulbs, but I have no idea what one to get.

I Don't have any Live Plants - The only thing i have in my tank is fish and 2 snails - 7 swordtails, 2 black skirt tetras, 6 danios, and a rainbow fish.

My current bulb that came with my tank gives the water a yellowish tint, and i cant stand it.
My tank is a 30 Gallon - 12" tall, 36" long, and 18" width.
I want a bulb that will make the water look clear, and bright - not a yellowish color

Here is a link of the different bulbs at petsmart, please tell me what one I should get.

http/www.petsmart.com/global/search/sear...966833&Ne=2

Please look through that, and tell me what one i should get.



Also, what wattage bulb should I get? i have no idea what my current one is, but its not very bright.

 

[kribensis12]

get the life-glow

 

[Dr. Bogger]

get the life-glow

And what characteristics does that kind of bulb have?

You know what would be nice, if someone could write out what the differences of each one of those bulbs are.
Could anyone here do this for me, and for everyone else?

 

[Teelie]

Fosters and Smith is a good place to look at the various types of lightbulbs and what the differences are. Just click "More Information" to see what the various bulbs emit and in what intensity of the spectrum. Most of the time you won't see a real noticiable difference in the light emitted but they do have certain effects depending on the wavelength they are most calibrated to.

 

[kribensis12]

They are brighter and they make your fish look more colorful. I have a sun-glow( want a new one) but my frirnd has a life-glo and his tank looks stunning compared to mine!

 

[Captain Retardo]

Life-Glo bulbs bring out green and red colors, and they give out a warm glow.

 

[Dr. Bogger]

Ok, then Life-Glo it is!

 

[Captain Retardo]

If i can get enough time, Ill take a picture of my tank, and post it on here, so you can see what a life-glo looks like.

 

[Dr. Bogger]

If i can get enough time, Ill take a picture of my tank, and post it on here, so you can see what a life-glo looks like.

Thank You!

That would be Awsome if you could do that for me!

 

[Captain Retardo]

Alright, Dr. Bogger, I just took about 4-5 pictures of the tank, I have to go right now, but I will post the pictures in about 2 hours or so.

 

[Dr. Bogger]

Alright, Dr. Bogger, I just took about 4-5 pictures of the tank, I have to go right now, but I will post the pictures in about 2 hours or so.

Okay, Thanks!


P.S. What do you think about my new sig?

 

[Captain Retardo]

Nice sig, a couple years ago, for some reason i made a t-shirt at school with the first picture.

Alright, i have 4 picture that i took now (running a life-glo2) and the last picture is an old one from last summer using the bulb that came with my tank.

Sorry that I posted these a little later than I said I would. (Uploading pics takes so long with dial-up)

These first two were taken with the flourescent light setting on my camera, these pictures look a little less green than what the tank looks like:

These next two picture were taken with the sunlight setting on my camera, these pictures look a little too much green than the tank really looks like.

This picture is from summer of last year, running a bulb that came with the tank, that couldn't grow plants at all. Interesting to see the changes that i have made so far, I will make even more changes soon.

Sorry that my tank looks like a slight mess, i just arranged the plants in a way that would grow the fastest, and my sand is a bit dirty. this summer when i get enough money i will take out the fake tree stump and put a slate terrace in, get some more plants, get a hood that will hold two bulbs, and i will put in a Hagen Life-Glo 2 and a ZooMed TropicSun bulbs.

 

[Dr. Bogger]

Thanks for the pics.

Wow, what a difference with the lighting - My tank looks even worse than urs did last summer

This bulb, it came with the tank when i bought it used, and the tank is quite old, probabley over 10 years old easily. it came with a metal stand, which looks like crap. But the light in my tank is just plain annoying to look it

 

[Captain Retardo]

Are you planning on growing plants?

 

[Dr. Bogger]

Are you planning on growing plants?

No, i the kind of person that prefers fake plants, because its easier, and less trouble.