ledzeppman

My question is regarding which light is best for bringing out colors in freshwater fish?

I have a 45 gallon aquarium and got a Dual Compact Flourescent 96watt light set up, right now it has a 10,000k and an Actinic Blue (both of which are heavy on the blue spectrum) that came with the fixture. I plan on going with atleast one 6700k for the plants but am wondering what other light to go with that may help bring the colors back out in my German Rams and Angels. Which light spectrum will help? Maybe the green and red of the 6700k will do the trick? Open to any suggestions

Fla_Larry

if your looking to bring out the colors on your fish, go with a subdued ( darker) substrate, that is one of the larger reasons many use black or dark gray.
As to what color light will give you the better view of those colors, expect to be in the 5000k to 7000k color range, but more importantly will be the bulbs CRI, rated on a scale of 000 to 100 ( cant say i have ever seen one below 60 though ) many in the 80 ranges, best are in the 90's.

Plants will do well with a sufficient level of light in the 6700k color range, maybe trade in the actinic to someone with a marine tank ( marine plants grow overall best in the blue range hence actinic ).
Give your fish a comfortable environment, reduce the stress, their colors will come out, stressed fish on the other hand.....

ledzeppman

I have a black substrate right now but havent been able to find a cri rating on lights ive checked out. any suggestions on manufactures of compact flourescents that have a 100 cri rating? or high cri rating...

Fla_Larry

HD sells some in the 80+ range for like 6.00 - 7.00 bucks, start getting higher, the bucks start climbing rapidly.

ledzeppman

$6 to $7 for 36" CF? please tell me where. everything im seeing for 36" 96w CF is atleast $25 and im still unable to find cri ratings. maybe a better question would be does anyone know the cri of Coralife 6700k 36" 96w CF?

Wyphy

Sometimes the manufacturer will have a spec sheet on their site, and DFS also has spec sheets/instructions for some items, but not for these lamps.
Try sending them a mail or calling them and ask.

You may also call your LFS and see if they carry these lamps and go look over the box and see if it's listed.

Fla_Larry

ahh nope, 6.00 - 7.00 for NO T12's,8's & 5's

http://genet.gelighting.com/LightPro...ANNEL=Consumer

this will get you to the GE site, look up bulbs via several differant params.

http://goodmart.com/products/bulb_co...4_pin_base.htm
anther site listing with prices.

ledzeppman

thanks for all the suggestions. got on both those websites u linked larry and was unable to find a bulb meeting my criteria. got on coralifes website only to find no cri ratings was able to locate a phone number though and gave them a call. apparently coralife has not tested any of their bulbs for cri ratings even though their website leads u to believe they are rated very high. i will keep at it! thanks again for the suggestion

Fla_Larry

no prob. i know i have a few more just gotta dig for them

cerianthus

Google JBJ lighting. if you have total out put of 192W, use one 6700K PC bulb plants and another one which is 50/50 (half 10K day and the other half act, maybe this is what you have). It is actinic light (black/pschedelic light) which will bring out the neon, metallic sheen/colors of fish, especially against black/dark substrate and background. Usually 6700K light is dimmer and yellowish colors. This can be enhanced by 10K day which gives more crisp/white perception (6700K MH vs 10K MH or 10K MH vs 20K MH, seems higher the K more crisp/whiter look).

If only have one 96W bulb, then what you have is 50/50. Email JBJ, maybe they can give you professional idea( 50/50 which is 6700K Day and Act, maybe, but doubtful as far as I know).

I am somewhat thrown off by "Dual". All 96W pc bulb that Ive known are all twin tube.

One more thing, from my experiences actinic lighting when on w/o day light seemed to freak out some fish (some fish died of heart attack), so be careful