best light for JD and GT

[pcfriedrich]

I've posted this in the "setup and filtration" forum, too, but figure I'd get a quicker response here. It does pertain to SA/CA Cichlids, anyway:

I recently bought a new bulb for my SA/CA aquarium. Its a Coralife brand 100% actinic 03 blue, peaks at 420 nanometers (really don't know what any of that means, just reading from the label). I was hoping it would be the ideal light to bring out the colors in my JD and Gold Saum. Turns out to be WAY too blue.

Just wondering if anyone has any recomendations for the ideal light for such a tank. I noticed they also sell a 50/50 (blue/daylight), would that possibly be what I'm looking for? Or maybe something on the other end of the spectrum?

I've only ever run "daylight" bulbs, so any help would be appreciated.
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[cichlids4me]

I run 1-10,000k and 1-Actinic Blue on a couple of my tanks. I like the way it looks.
You could also try these
http://www.petsolutions.com/Coralife-Trichromatic-Bulbs+I96300963+C102422.aspx
http://www.petsolutions.com/Coralife-Color-Max-Bulbs+I96300503+C102422.aspx

If your LFS carries them

 

[jcardona1]

are you only running one bulb? if so actinic is WAAAAY too blue if you only have one bulb. i really like the Powerglo 18,000K made by Hagen. brings out all the colors in fish. heres my tank with one 18,0000k T5 Powerglo bulb

 

[pcfriedrich]

you need a special type of ballast for the T5s?

 

[jcardona1]

not sure on that, its just a Nova Extreme T5 fixture that I bought. im sure its a different ballast than whats used for T8 and T12 lights though

 

[dragonfish]

The 50/50 bulb isn't going to do that much for the fishes coloring. I have a dual bulb orbit and put in one actinic and one daylight, made everything a little blue and the algae seemed to grow faster.

 

[cichlids4me]

are you only running one bulb? if so actinic is WAAAAY too blue if you only have one bulb. i really like the Powerglo 18,000K made by Hagen. brings out all the colors in fish. heres my tank with one 18,0000k T5 Powerglo bulb

not to derail but I love your tank!!! all the decor in and around it is awesome

 

[jcardona1]

not to derail but I love your tank!!! all the decor in and around it is awesome

thx! search my recent threads for more pics

 

[greenterra]

The best I have found is 40W 18000K T-8 Power-Glo and I know have these on every tank.I tried lower rated sticks but I hate any tint of yellow.

 

[joey02]

I also run 4 18,000k T5 HO Powerglo bulbs(by hagen) on my tank, and its the best spectrum i have seen yet for a fresh water tank.

pcfriedrich, yes you do need special ballasts for them. but there worth it.