Robbo w Posted May 2, 2004 Report Share Posted May 2, 2004 Gidday, I have a 200 litre tank, which is my first tank and has been set up for about 6 months now. I have a flourescent light which is 1200mm long. It is just an ordinary tube i.e. not a special aquarium one. I want to get a proper tube but am not sure about which are best. The blue ones look cool, but are they only for saltwater? Also Should it be on all day long? At the moment I just turn it on for an hour or 2 in the evenings. Some of my plants are looking a bit scraggly (brown arond the edges) could this be from not enough light? any suggestions would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted May 2, 2004 Report Share Posted May 2, 2004 Plants need light for 10 - 12 hours a day. My tank is a similar size and I have 2 double fluoros on it but don't use the special tubes, just bright white or daylight ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris.L Posted May 2, 2004 Report Share Posted May 2, 2004 Gro-Lux are good bulbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo w Posted May 2, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2004 Thanks. That will save me $60 or so on a new tube then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris.L Posted May 2, 2004 Report Share Posted May 2, 2004 I picked a Gro-Lux (4ft bulb) for $24 (new). Just go into your local Hydroponics shop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo w Posted May 2, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2004 Thanks Chris, that is alot cheaper than any of the bulbs I have seen in any of the pet stores. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joze Posted May 3, 2004 Report Share Posted May 3, 2004 buyings bulbs from pet shops...............guaranteed to suck your wallet, buy them from the same place they do...your local electrical supplier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted May 3, 2004 Report Share Posted May 3, 2004 10 - 12 hours definately. a couple at night wont do your plants any good at all - not to mention the fish. fish need light too as it gets them in a "routine" - make sure lights come on at the same time in the morning and off at the same time at night. you can get a cheap digital timer ($30) from mitre 10 or most hardware places. browny/yellow leaves can also be a lack of pottasium in your water makeup. a 200 litre tank - in general a single fluoro will not be enough - more specifically, whats the depth? sounds like its more likely that you'll need a double. in regards to bulbs, I agree with everyone else for a freshwater, gro-lux are excellent. they will eventually lose their intensity so change them yearly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo w Posted May 3, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2004 It's about 400mm deep. Is there a simple way to check the potassium levels in the water? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris.L Posted May 3, 2004 Report Share Posted May 3, 2004 Forgot to mention - Gro-Lux bulbs will make your plants grow, because it contains vitamins that the sun has. Chris- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted May 3, 2004 Report Share Posted May 3, 2004 uhhh...No, gro lux lights don't contain any vitamins. The spectrum is just tuned so they put out more light in the frequencies that plants use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MGilchrist Posted May 3, 2004 Report Share Posted May 3, 2004 For a good price go direct to an electrical wholesaler like Ideal or Mastertrade, they will probably have to order in what you want, but last 4ft tube i brought (gro tube) was just over $20, this was with discount, ask for it or if you have a sparky friend get him to buy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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