Aquarium lighting

[peterp63]

I know zilch about the different types of aquarium lighting that is available.  I currently have a 4 ft and 3 ft Oceanic light set that uses the compact flourescent bulbs.  What is the best brand/type/spectrum? to use on a 2 ft or 2.5 ft african cichlid aquarium... no plants.

I also have some of the normal Oceanic fixtures that use the T4 or T8 bulbs (can't remember which).  What brand/type/spectrum are better for the same type of setup as above?  I'm looking for economical, but I'm willing to spend some money on my 300 gallon room divider.  I plan on setting up my 210 gallon soon, as well.

One more thing, I keep seeing these lunar lights available... are they worth it?  

Thanks.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Aquarium lighting

Put whatever bulbs that look good to you and make your fish look good.

[peterp63]

Re: Aquarium lighting

Thanks for all of the replies, Ek.  I was hoping that you experienced fishkeepers could give me a heads up so I don't have to go through a trial and error.... what do YOU recommend??  What are you using currently?

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Aquarium lighting

Well you don't even know what you have so it makes it hard to help.

I say go with 3 150w halides.

[Zulaab]

Re: Aquarium lighting

Peter -- here is what I am going to recommend.

How deep is your water standing in the 300 ?

For Malawi / Tanganyika fish I would use a std 10k or 12k light together with a actinic 03 light bulb.  Sometimes this combination is listed as a 50/50.
Things to know.  NO plants !!!!  the Actinic will KILL your PLANTS so if you plants you need to a complete different route.
Hagen makes light bulbs, and I have found the "power glo" (non-actinic) or "Marine-glo" (actinic)  with a combination of "Sun glo" (10K) works well.  If you are putting this on your 300g your tank is most likely do deep you are going to want to get a fixture that handle 4 Fluorescent in each fixture.  Then you will get enough light to the bottom.

If you keep Frontosa fish please do not leave moon lights on your tank.  Fronts are naturally deep sea fish and because of this don't like lights at night... Malawi fish are for the most part upper lake fish, therefore like the moon lights.. they do sleep at night but like the lights so the can wake up and move in case someone/something comes after them.  

Here are some examples of the fixtures I would look at if I was you.
Coralife Deluxe Series Aqualight Double Linear Strip Fixture and Lamps
Comes with two 65W 10,000K and two 65W True Actinic 03 Blue straight pin base compact fluorescent lamps

A less expensive way to go is with something like the
Coralife S/W T-5 Aqualight Double Strip Light-48"  (with this setup you are going to want to double up to get enough light to the bottom of your 300 I believe)

Or you can go with like a AGA triple light fixture which will hold T-8's and be the least expensive route to go.

-- I would go with the middle setup, and then if need to be double up later if its not enough light reaching the bottom..   Choose the Saltwater setup since your only going to keep Africans in there.   If you decide later on to keep South Americans then you will need to change the light bulbs to "fresh water" setup since your South Americans will not be to happy with the sharper blue actinic lights

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Aquarium lighting

I hate the fake look of actinics/blue 10k over my cichlid tanks.... much more prefer 8000k-9325k or a mix of 6500k-10,000k

[peterp63]

Re: Aquarium lighting

Do the actinic bulbs bring out certain colors in fish... like say the blues in Frontosa?  

I'm debating now between th 6700K/10,000K dual, actinic/10,000K dual, and just 10,000K.

[Zulaab]

Re: Aquarium lighting

Actinic lights will bring out the blue in fish which most saltwater blue is the color you want to bring out.
Unlike EK I like the actinic lights over my Malawi fish.  I have not done it to any of my Tanganyika fish, but there is a chance I might in a few months find out.

[bethesdaboy]

Re: Aquarium lighting

URI makes an actinic white bulb that I really like.

[Delock]

Re: Aquarium lighting

go with an coralife aqualife pro 72" 3 x 150 watts fixture

[peterp63]

Re: Aquarium lighting

Delock, those run about a grand... might try something a bit less expensive - Unless you can get me a deal!   :wink:

[Delock]

Re: Aquarium lighting

well I just sold mine

[Zulaab]

Re: Aquarium lighting

If you are looking for a really inexpensive way for lighting, Xtreme Fish and Pets and Fish Ranch in Rosenberg sells Odyssea lighting.  
A 72in T6 Fluorescent Light Fixture will prolly run you less than $150.  A 72" Compact Fluorescent Light Fixture will prolly run you less than 275.

They are sold online.  You can check www.aquatraders.com for lighting too.
They will sell cheaper there, but be aware that there is shipping cost.. so you may want to call Xtreme and Fish Ranch first to make sure that the cost savings will not be lost in shipping.

[Delock]

Re: Aquarium lighting

before warn  the metal halide fixture is crap

[Zulaab]

Re: Aquarium lighting

I would not buy anything but their T5/6 and Compact Flo from Odyssea -- like Delock says, all I have ever heard about their Metal Halide lighting fixtures are they have  to many problems.  I own personally their 48" T6 fixture, and happy with it.  It has not failed and I have never had to do anything special to it.
I have a normal sun bulb (white) and a actinic 03 light (blue) installed in it, and it shines over my Malawi tank.

I am about to get a 110x-high installed here in the next few months after my Mom takes my 75 down to her place (I am getting out of keep Malawi fish completely and doing only Tanganyika fish) and with the 110 I am going to most likely install either install a T5 lighting or Power Compact Lights.   I dont see the need to have the extra light going down with Metal Halide.

Again I am sure that I will catch flack with that comment but this is how I see it :)