tinytawnykitten Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 At the moment my tank has one light fitting with a flourescent tube mounted in the wooden hood. The bulb says 'Osram L30w/840 cool white lumilux' on it. Of course I haven't a clue what that all means, but I want the tank lighting to look better than it does which is a bit blah... I want it to look vivid like this... What should I do? Do I take my single light fitting out and buy a new double one with a blue marine and a cool white? I really have NO clue about this sort of stuff but I would love to know what to advertise for as WTB in the Trade and Exchange section! Or should I just buy something at HFF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simian Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 The tube you have is only 4000 kelvin colour temperature (the 40 on the end of the 840) you want some with a higher # for a more brilliant blue/white, 65 (6500K) is good for plants, but you can go much higher. Basically the higher teh colour temp the more blue in the light. There are loads of threads on here about lighting, look in the technical section Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 You would be after fluorescent tubes. The higher the K rating the bluer the light gets(to a certain extent) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytawnykitten Posted June 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 Would something like this be suitable? http://www.petplanet.co.nz/shopping/pgm ... d=137&=SID If I got say the 3ft double light and then replaced one of the bulbs with a blue marine bulb? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 Yup that would work. I don't think I'd bother with a blue light though, just go with the 6400K lights first. Then if you aren't happy you could maybe try the actinic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted June 4, 2008 Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 Whats the fish in the middle near the top? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron-Betta Posted June 4, 2008 Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 just a guess, but a hatchet of some discription? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tHEcONCH Posted June 4, 2008 Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 It looks like a Silver Hatchet - but it can't be enjoying the pH in that tank if it is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytawnykitten Posted June 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 Yeah it is a hatchet, he seems perfectly happy, but I keep meaning to move him into my community tank, I shall do it right now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted June 4, 2008 Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 Yeah it is a hatchet, he seems perfectly happy, but I keep meaning to move him into my community tank, I shall do it right now! Hatchets like a Ph of around 6 or below dont they? I thought it lloked like a hatchet, but just didnt think they would live in a African Cochlid tank! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytawnykitten Posted June 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 I have to admit I haven't even thought about the poor hatchet, I just left him in there when I switched to cichlids! He is in my community tank now since about 2 minutes ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted June 4, 2008 Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 Whats the pH in there? Most commercially bred fish are fairly tolerant of higher/lower pH, keeping it stable is more important. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheesejawa Posted June 4, 2008 Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 I wonder what a school of hatchets would look like in a African tank? I would be so concerned about the ph more about that it dosent have any friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tHEcONCH Posted June 4, 2008 Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 Hatchets are pretty much all wild caught as far as I'm aware - too hard to feed the fry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytawnykitten Posted June 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 I wonder what a school of hatchets would look like in a African tank? I would be so concerned about the ph more about that it dosent have any friends. oh i feel really bad and incompetant now!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted June 4, 2008 Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 Don't tinytawny, you are only learning, the main thing is, the hatchett is still alive and now happily in your community tank... And has anyone stopped to ask what tinytawnys ph is at in her african tank... there are rather a few people new to africans or ones that choose not to keep their africans in a high ph... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tHEcONCH Posted June 4, 2008 Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 I see calcium based rock in there... But yes, its all about learning. Now you know something new Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted June 4, 2008 Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 Yes I do to But I have had calcium based rocks sitting in a holding tank and the ph hasn't buffered one bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheesejawa Posted June 4, 2008 Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 You should see if you can get a school in there, it would look really awesome with all those colourful Africans. Sorry I didnt mean to be insulting with my comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted June 4, 2008 Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 And has anyone stopped to ask what tinytawnys ph is at in her african tank... I did!! IMHO as long as its not one extreme or another then most fish will adapt to a wide range of pH. I put a piece of wood in my first community tank and wondered why all my old fish were fine, but the new ones I bought usually died. I got the pH tested and it was off-the-chart yellow, probably somewhere around mid 5's!! I had tetras and cories thriving, as well as an electric yellow and a firemouth!.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted June 4, 2008 Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 Oh in that case, you are one out of a chocolate box DavidR :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytawnykitten Posted June 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 PH is about 7.2. Is that ok? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted June 4, 2008 Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 You could do with a bit more buffering for africans... they won't die at 7.2 but they do much better with a higher ph... 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytawnykitten Posted June 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 You could do with a bit more buffering for africans... they won't die at 7.2 but they do much better with a higher ph... 8) Yeah I thought it should be higher, it is full of limestone rock and coral. What else should I do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytawnykitten Posted June 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 You should see if you can get a school in there, it would look really awesome with all those colourful Africans. Sorry I didnt mean to be insulting with my comment. Oh no I am not at all insulted, just very aware of my shortcomings when it comes to fish! Yes still learning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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