I have a 3 0r 4 inch abk, a 3 or 4 inch sengair bichir, a small blood red parrot cichlid and i need to know what kind of lighting i can get that wont spook them when i turn it on. i curently have an incandescent black light, but it is to dark for me to be able to see any thing in my 75 gal aquarium.
i have a lighting question
- Thread starter bowiefish
- Start date
My experience is that if your fish are accustomed to you or the people around the tank, it doesn't matter too much what light you have on.
Once they associate you with food, the won't get as scared of you approaching the tank.
Of course if you rush up to the tank and smack the glass/acrylic, they will be spooked every time.
I have 48" on most of my tanks and unless I approach the tank to turn on the light when they're asleep, they may seem a little frightened. Once the light's been on for 15 mins or so, they just act normal and greet me when I walk up to the tank.
Once they associate you with food, the won't get as scared of you approaching the tank.
Of course if you rush up to the tank and smack the glass/acrylic, they will be spooked every time.
I have 48" on most of my tanks and unless I approach the tank to turn on the light when they're asleep, they may seem a little frightened. Once the light's been on for 15 mins or so, they just act normal and greet me when I walk up to the tank.
I would use a 24" fixture with an 18" florescent bulb. Personally though, I have a abundance of those. As long as you don't have 1 watt per gallon, the fish will be fine. And you will be buying a pricey fixture to get more than 1 wpg.
Most nocturnal fish become accustomed to average light once they feel comfortable in their aquarium. My double trunk elephant nose needed a giant 24x24x12" anubias plant and large cave to call it's home before it became comfortable enough to swim around in the day.
If you give them hiding spots, they will eventually become diurnal rather than nocturnal.
Most nocturnal fish become accustomed to average light once they feel comfortable in their aquarium. My double trunk elephant nose needed a giant 24x24x12" anubias plant and large cave to call it's home before it became comfortable enough to swim around in the day.
If you give them hiding spots, they will eventually become diurnal rather than nocturnal.
Once they associate you with food you will be fine. I have a spotted catfish in my 55 that only coms out at night except for when i feed them in the morning before i go to work.
Do you have the strip aquarium light fixture? You said you were using a black light. If you do not want to buy a new fixture then just go to Lowe's and buy a cfl and replace the black light bulb. If you want a new fixture then check out ebay. For a 75 gallon you are going to want a 48" or two 24" fixtures. Normally the fixture will come with a standard bulb.
http://cgi.ebay.com/All-Glass-Aquar...170?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c3c0648a
http://cgi.ebay.com/All-Glass-Aquar...170?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c3c0648a
i had a turtle in the aquarium before the fish. i just put bought a blacklight bulb and replaced the bulb in the clip on light for reptiles. got rid of the turtle to get fish. I will try the hardware store for a florecent light. would have never thought of that