DIMMING THE LIGHTS

[FISH4LIFE]

I just use some regular paper on mine then u can add more if it isnt dark enough yet

 

[ercnan]

If they are old t8's with wire balasts splicing a dimmer switch in should work...it works the other way anyway, I made mine LOADS brighter by amping them up lol!

Nope !!!
Overdriving works, yes, but dimmers do not.
Shade the lamps, use floating plants, reduce the length thus reducing the wattage, reduce the quantity, buy higher color temp (ie. 6700K up to 1800K),
turn the fixture(s) upside down (indirect lighting), etc.

 

[richardhmc]

regular paper? like computer paper?

 

[Ianab]

Do you have space in the hood for a couple of standard light fittings that you can fit some cheap 10watt compact flouro lamps. Wire them to a seperate switch.
When you want twilight, turn off the main lamps and just run the little flouros, plenty of light to see the fish, without them needing to wear shades.

Cheers

Ian

 

[Bizzaro]

Dimmable Compact Fluorescent Check them out... i have two installed over my Bed inside my house.... they are nice. Im still seeing on how they can work for a fish tank. But im over that.

 

[rallow]

i used ducktape on the plexis below the lights

 

[FISH4LIFE]

regular paper? like computer paper?

ya that is what I use when company is over

 

[Liam]

regular paper? like computer paper?

Like cooking paper you use when you line the tray of a cake or something.

 

[thbrowns]

a piece of shade cloth between the light and the top of the tank. You can get all sorts of shade values, and colours at your hardware

 

[mother]

I use 18000k Power Glow and Aqua Glow (best for fish colors) bulbs with pieces of aluminum foil on the glass cover so only two 4"X3" openings allow light through. It kind of has a metal halide look to it. Two bright bluish-white shafts of light, spaced evenly across the tank, leaving areas that are very dark and shadowy. I also use a black background and black substrate (sprinkled with dark green) and large black river rocks. Other than plants and wood, the only noticeable colors present are on fish. When they want to hide in the shadows they can. When they move under the light the colors really pop. My tiger oscar looks like he's on fire. I have a 55, a 70, & a 100 gallon set up like this.