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wooz29 · Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 1:34 pm Post subject: Lighting for cichlids

What types of lights do you keep with your cichlids? I need to get one for my 125. I think I would like to get one with daylight & actinic together?

mbovinet · Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 4:36 pm Post subject:

I use Aqua-Glo lights on my cichlid tanks

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ABangtson · Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:37 pm Post subject:

I use Power-Glo and Coralife 50/50 in combination. Seems to bring out the colors the best. I currently have Power-Glo only in my single bulb tanks, but I think I am going to switch to the 50/50 in those also.

DragonGT83 · Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:31 pm Post subject: Re: Lighting for cichlids

wooz29 wrote:

What types of lights do you keep with your cichlids? I need to get one for my 125. I think I would like to get one with daylight & actinic together?

i've used these two together and didn't have any complaints. my tanks also see alot of daylight too so the algae grows on the rocks faster and my veggie grazers love it.

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ABangtson · Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:43 pm Post subject: Re: Lighting for cichlids

DragonGT83 wrote:

wooz29 wrote:

What types of lights do you keep with your cichlids? I need to get one for my 125. I think I would like to get one with daylight & actinic together?

i've used these two together and didn't have any complaints. my tanks also see alot of daylight too so the algae grows on the rocks faster and my veggie grazers love it.

I tried those two together and it made my tank far too blue formy liking.

DragonGT83 · Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:49 pm Post subject: Re: Lighting for cichlids

ABangtson wrote:

DragonGT83 wrote:

wooz29 wrote:

What types of lights do you keep with your cichlids? I need to get one for my 125. I think I would like to get one with daylight & actinic together?

i've used these two together and didn't have any complaints. my tanks also see alot of daylight too so the algae grows on the rocks faster and my veggie grazers love it.

I tried those two together and it made my tank far too blue formy liking.

ya, i think if you had a triple strip light it'll do alot of good for the fish with the one actinic and 2 daylight. its not on the top of my head right now but i know the actinic light helps the africans with something. when i remember i'll post it.

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AnneRiceBowl · Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 10:38 pm Post subject:

When I was researching lighting, I came across something that said thst the actnic bulbs encourage algae growth.

killingt1m3 · Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 11:49 pm Post subject:

Algal growth is going to happen regardless. I'd rock it with a full spectrum and 10k personally. Do a coralife T-5. They're pretty sweet, can take a punishment and the lighting is just sooo much nicer than a standard florouscent balast.

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wooz29 · Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:54 am Post subject:

T-5's are pretty expensive arent they?

ABangtson · Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:40 am Post subject:

wooz29 wrote:

T-5's are pretty expensive arent they?

Yes.

clunkster · Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 12:06 pm Post subject:

T-5 lighting is more expensive but it is also a much better light than the T-8 as the T-5 has almost twice the light output, is also smaller so you can fit more into the hood/canopy and so takes up less space. personaly i think in a few years T-5s will be the normal choice of lighting

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wooz29 · Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 12:11 pm Post subject:

Do t-5's produce alot of heat? I have the glass top for the tank and was just wondering.

clunkster · Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 1:03 pm Post subject:

to be honest i am not 100% sure that they do or dont produce any more heat than T-8s i think they are the same but i could be wrong

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i dont keep fish i keep water that fish can live in what do you do ?

ABangtson · Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 5:52 pm Post subject:

They do not produce much more heat than standards. Clunkster is right. If you have the $ then a combo t-5/halide light is the best looking by far. Problem is they can go for 1500.00 for a 6' set-up. The halides in those lamps do produce quite a bit of heat, but the lights are designed to sit about 6" above the glass tops.

wooz29 · Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 6:20 pm Post subject:

Wow, that's too much dinero for me. Plus if I was going to spend that kind of money it would be of better use on a sw tank.