Lighting question

[Moloch]

I was talking to my sister-in-law (who gave me the 70gal tank I'm setting up) and she mentioned something to me about the light. She had spoken to the LFS about reoccurring algae blooms before she took the tank down. They asked her when was the last time she had replaced her bulb and she gave the, 'ummmm, replace the bulb?' answer. They told her that the bulb needs to be replaced every so often because they emit UV rays and after a given amount of time the UV dies out of the light, even its still giving off light like it always has.

Is this accurate? Its a regular 36" 39watt fluorescent bulb, its still giving plenty of (blueish tinted) light, but I'm worried that it might need to be replaced? The light is plenty of years old.

If it does need to be replaced, can I buy any 39watt 36" fluorescent bulb? Do I have other (better) options? What is all this business with T5 and T8 and whatever else? How much would it cost to get an LED setup? Is there an advantage to using LED's? Whats the cost?

Obviously...I'm clueless What do i NEED to do, and what sort of things might I start looking towards saving up for to improve? I don't really have any plans to plant the tank, at most I might try and attach some moss or java fern or something to my driftwood. But the tank is going to be stocked with Bichirs and Cichlids, so I think any grand aquascaping ideas would probably just get torn up by the cichlids (so I've been told).

Is there a good website or sticky to get the answers from? I haven't found one yet (obviously)

 

[geronimo69]

If you're not gonna have plants, the lights don't mean anything. They are simply for viewing pleasures. If you decide to plant the tank, you'll have to upgrade the lights...

 

[Moloch]

If you're not gonna have plants, the lights don't mean anything. They are simply for viewing pleasures. If you decide to plant the tank, you'll have to upgrade the lights...

Ok, so as long as its still lighting the tank to my liking I don't need to replace the bulb?

Whats the best/easiest way to add a moonlight/red (night) light?

Is it really OK with the fish if you light the tank with red at night? Maybe just a few spotlight red LED's?

 

[AceofSpades]

Ok, so as long as its still lighting the tank to my liking I don't need to replace the bulb?

Is it really OK with the fish if you light the tank with red at night? Maybe just a few spotlight red LED's?

If your not gonna add any plants any light will be fine. The guy from the Lfs sounds like he was trying to scam your sister. Its true a reptile bulb that emits UV rays will lose its ability after 6-12 months but uv is only needed for reptiles.

For lighting at night I would look at some saltwater moonlights those would work pretty good.

 

[Moloch]

Sweet, thanks. Problem with moonlighting is that I don't really want to replace the ballast and it only holds one bulb :\

But as long I know that red (and/or blue?) lights at lower intensity aren't going to bother my fish by having too much light too long during the day, I can work around it with LED's for spotlighting, which I think would be a cool effect anyways.