Priscacara Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 G'day, I'm after a it of advice and opinions on lighting for my frontosa tank. The tank is 6 x 2 x 2, 1cm thick glass with thinner covers on top. At the moment I have a 4 foot twin tube aquaone that sits on top pf the cover glass, the idea was to have some shaded area to the side of the tank so I didnt get a 6 foot light setup. My problem is that the lighting doesnt seem to be bright enough for the tank even in the centre where the most light is. I recently replaced the 2 fluoros, 1 is a t5 (i think) blue tube and the other is a t8 white light tube. The blue does bring out a bit of extra color in the fish but of course its not really adding brightness to the tank. I have no backing on the tank and it sits about 10cm away from a beige colored wall so pretty much no reflection back into the tank , not sure if this could be improved with maybe a pale blue backing? Money is a problem (as with most of us!) and my power bill has shot through the roof with current increases so I'm looking at ideas to save a bit of my costs on my tanks overall. From what I have read LED lightning may be the way to go but I dont really know a lot about it. Is it available readily here in Au and if so would it be worth the outlay to get a setup for the tank? Will it improve the tank viewing over what I currently have? Any advice be it links to purchase or recomendations are appreciated on any lighting not just LED. Cheers, Les. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Priscacara Posted January 22, 2010 Author Share Posted January 22, 2010 A few people have looked at my post, here is a phone pic of the tank that shows the lighting. Not good quality but dont have my camera here atm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gombe Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 I'd put a black background up and see how it affects your lighting issue. Are they mustax in your tank? If so how do you find keeping them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dobbin4 Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 You need the back and a side if its againist a wall covered. Even a backdrop from the pet shop will help. Foam?You most likley need x 2 fluor's at 2 ft deep.Photo shows that you have dark area's. Not the best. I would try 2 x 2 fluoro's But cearfull you dont have to many watts, Then you fish may hide. Better to have duller but light allover the tank as the 4fter is not doing. Can you get a 5/6 fter for the back and use the 4fter at front? Bunning or light shops stock them at good price. Hope helps Are they A rainbows i can see? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Priscacara Posted January 24, 2010 Author Share Posted January 24, 2010 Tx for the replies, much appreciated! The idea of the 4 foot light was to have shadows at the sides of the tanks but still have the centre well lit. I'm trying to figure out how to economically run my tanks so extra lighting at this stage isnt viable but something to think of for the future. The tank was initially set up for my burrundi frontosas, I have 6 of them I got at about 3.5/4cm size, the biggest is now 14/15cm so they are doing quite well. Initially 6 fish at 4cm in the large tank looked silly but I started adding tankmates along the way. I dont know the proper names for a lot of them off the top of my head :-) I have 6 blue dolphins around 8cm, 8 lemon cichlids around the same size to about 10cm, 3 Julidichromis, 2 male and 2 female adult bristlenose, a large whiptail about 18cm, 1 whiptail around 8cm, 1 adult hoplochromis catfish, 4 upsidedown catfish, 2 orange spot plecs now about 14cm and I just spotted a juevenile bristlenose thats somehow managed to survive from 1 of the spawns. The dark hazy fish to the left of the pic is an adult male lionhead I had in a 4 foot mbuna tank, he is almost as large as the biggest frontosa! Its quite a mix of fish, especially the cats but all seem to be getting along nicely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citypainter Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Have you considered a 4 ft T5 light? I have 1 with 4 pencil thin globes. It should light the middle and leave the ends shadowy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dobbin4 Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 I was thinking lemons but looked to deep in the body. They have good colour and fin's, must be a good size for them.If you dont have the money use a normal globe in a socket down one end or a small light you can get from hardware that has only a 30cm tube in it would help. You know the ones you use for working on the car. Cheap way out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Priscacara Posted January 24, 2010 Author Share Posted January 24, 2010 Tx again for the replies! The 2 tubes have been replaced in the past 2 weeks, 1 is a t5 blue, the other a t8 white, previously it only had the 2 tubes supplied with the fixture so no idea what they were. I'll be checking out the prices at Bunnings this weekend and backdrops at the LFS. Last time they didnt have anything big enough but were geting stock in so see how it goes. Cheers, Les. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foti Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 if you are happy with the light that you have (power cost's) i would say try moving the light from the back to the front it might sound dumb but its were you want to see if you have not tryed it already give it a go i have a 6 with a 6 light but if i dont want to light it up bright i have a 1 at the front on the far right side gives it the touth i want? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 I you are worried about costs then don't buy LED's. Running costs would be cheaper but a good unit would cost you and arm and a leg. From what I have read on a few marine forums the light output is alot better the the "older" style lighting. There are some really cheap units around, but none of them have meet aussie standards and I wouldnt be using them I would cover the back of the tank first. This will stop light escaping down the back of the tank. If you have to just put some coloured cardboard down there, or if you can reach paint it blue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Priscacara Posted January 25, 2010 Author Share Posted January 25, 2010 Tx for the ideas, never thought to move it to the front.......too easy to look at harder options most times :-). I'll give that a try and will be getting some background the next few days. Had a feeling the led's would be expensive. Cheers, Les. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CThompson Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 I thought the lighting was okay Maybe what you need to adjust is expectations . If you want it brighter, add a second light of what ever, and only have the second light on when you are at home, that way cut costs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Priscacara Posted January 27, 2010 Author Share Posted January 27, 2010 Tx CT, I've seen some other peoples tanks since posting and I do think my expectations may have been a bit high as well :-). I appreciate the input from everyone, thanks for all the tips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foti Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 Tx CT, I've seen some other peoples tanks since posting and I do think my expectations may have been a bit high as well :-). I appreciate the input from everyone, thanks for all the tips. im glad it worked out for you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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