Lighting in new tank

[jazzy_n_fancy]

Hi.. I have a couple dumb questions. Can you tell what type of lights I have? Also, I have it on a timer for 6 hours a day.. does the timing of the lights and me having other lights on in the house affect the fish's sleep cycle or anything? (I told you they were dumb) I've had a12g tank for about 2 years and am finally upgrading to a 36g bowfront. Right now I have fowlr but I'd like to be prepared for some coral too. Thanks!

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[Cancun]

Hi.. I have a couple dumb questions. Can you tell what type of lights I have? Also, I have it on a timer for 6 hours a day.. does the timing of the lights and me having other lights on in the house affect the fish's sleep cycle or anything? (I told you they were dumb) I've had a12g tank for about 2 years and am finally upgrading to a 36g bowfront. Right now I have fowlr but I'd like to be prepared for some coral too. Thanks!

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Hi there! Those look like regular florescent bulbs to me....too answer your other question....no the lights being on in your house when the tank lights go out doesn't affect the sleep cycle of the fish in my opinion. I have my tank in the living room....I have two EchoTech XR 15 Radions....set for 12 hours dawn to dusk... coming on at 10am and off at 10pm. All my fish but two start hitting the sand (I have mostly Wrasses)....and the other two go to their caves at different times when the lights start to dim. Once the tank is dark they are all sleeping regardless of the lights in the house. Hope this helps...and no questions are ever dumb! LOL! [emoji3]




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[on the spot]

...Can you tell what type of lights I have?..Right now I have fowlr but I'd like to be prepared for some coral too...

the markings on the bulb tell you what you have. T-8 is the bulb diameter. 17W is the power it consumes. 24" is the length, typically nominal instead of actual.

T-5 bulbs are quite popular as are LED fixtures. To do anything more than just see the corals in the tank you will need a lot more light. something on the order of 4 to 6 T-5HO (high output, fairly standard) bulbs, or it's equivalent in LED.

HTH

 

[billdogg]

As mentioned above - The light is a T8 normal output bulb. It is woefully inadequate for any corals, even the least light demanding.

There are more options for lighting out there than there are words I can write about them. Decide what your plans are for stocking and then we can give you viable options with prices anywhere from reasonably inexpensive to unreasonably exorbitant.

My personal preference is for LED's. They certainly have the most options out there as far as programability, and when you factor in the longevity of the LED's themselves, seem to me to be the most economical choice.

 

[jazzy_n_fancy]

Hi there! Those look like regular florescent bulbs to me....too answer your other question....no the lights being on in your house when the tank lights go out doesn't affect the sleep cycle of the fish in my opinion. I have my tank in the living room....I have two EchoTech XR 15 Radions....set for 12 hours dawn to dusk... coming on at 10am and off at 10pm. All my fish but two start hitting the sand (I have mostly Wrasses)....and the other two go to their caves at different times when the lights start to dim. Once the tank is dark they are all sleeping regardless of the lights in the house. Hope this helps...and no questions are ever dumb! LOL! [emoji3]




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Thanks for the response.. I worry about waking my fishies!

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[jazzy_n_fancy]

the markings on the bulb tell you what you have. T-8 is the bulb diameter. 17W is the power it consumes. 24" is the length, typically nominal instead of actual.

T-5 bulbs are quite popular as are LED fixtures. To do anything more than just see the corals in the tank you will need a lot more light. something on the order of 4 to 6 T-5HO (high output, fairly standard) bulbs, or it's equivalent in LED.

HTH

I've heard a lot about t-5's so I was hoping t-8 was better.. oh well. Would I be able to upgrade to multiple lights pretty easy?

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[on the spot]

Would I be able to upgrade to multiple lights pretty easy?

The bow front will likely cause trouble with your lighting options, at least as far as T5's are concerned. but in general terms, sure - there are a bunch of fixtures and DIY options.

Billdogg offers good advice - the collective "we" could give better opinion knowing what you want to keep with this tank.

if it's keep it fish only for a while what you have is just fine.

HTH

 

[jazzy_n_fancy]

As mentioned above - The light is a T8 normal output bulb. It is woefully inadequate for any corals, even the least light demanding.

There are more options for lighting out there than there are words I can write about them. Decide what your plans are for stocking and then we can give you viable options with prices anywhere from reasonably inexpensive to unreasonably exorbitant.

My personal preference is for LED's. They certainly have the most options out there as far as programability, and when you factor in the longevity of the LED's themselves, seem to me to be the most economical choice.

So currently I have a clown fish and three chromis.. what I'd like to do is get 1 or 2 more chromis and either a porcupine puffer (I've had one before and I loved him.. but that limits me in the future.. I may want a shrimp) or one other undecided fish. I would like to get a coral or two. I've never had coral so I'm looking into the different types now and looking to plan ahead. Most importantly, I do not want to over do it. Thanks for your insight!

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[billdogg]

PLEASE reconsider putting a porcupine puffer in such a small tank. They can get to 2+ feet in length. Stock only for the tank you have - not what you might upgrade to somewhere down the road.

 

[Pslreefer]

A porcy in a 36g is just a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[jazzy_n_fancy]

PLEASE reconsider putting a porcupine puffer in such a small tank. They can get to 2+ feet in length. Stock only for the tank you have - not what you might upgrade to somewhere down the road.

Sure.. I was afraid of that. I'm not planning on upgrading any time soon so I want to create a nice harmonious tank. There are more fish in the sea... lol

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[Jesterrace]

Yup, just a standard florescent bulb there which I wouldn't even use for FOWLR as it would promote nasty algae. If you are going that route a T5 bulb fixture is what you want. If you prefer an LED setup then you will want something in the neighborhood of an AI Prime HD or Hydra 26 HD. Also, puffers are not good reef dwellers, so if you plan on corals and inverts then there is a concern.

 

[on the spot]

Yup, just a standard florescent bulb there which I wouldn't even use for FOWLR as it would promote nasty algae...

Bal

der

dash.

Or a tale old wives tell.

nuisance algae is more than a function of lighting.
more or expensive lighting won't keep it from growing.