The best lighting for a tank that doesnt need light for photosynthesis is a bulb that shows off your fish and doesnt spook them. Most 'standard' bulbs fit this category.
Lights For My Oscar
- Thread starter Militis
- Start date
The best lighting for a tank that doesnt need light for photosynthesis is a bulb that shows off your fish and doesnt spook them. Most 'standard' bulbs fi this category.
SA cichlids and most fish in general don't like bright light. Those that collect fish in the amazon report that the water they collect from is almost never clear enough to take any kind of pictures. We always hear about the tea colored water which they have, but the water can also be very green, or cloudy with silt etc, so there is usually very little light.
That being said, it seems cichlids to get used to bright light to some degree. Currently, I'm using way less light than I have in the past. I use a 2 foot light on a 4 foot tank. It does leave darker areas on the sides, but the fish seem to appreciate it!
Another big factor in lighting levels is algae. I find that if I use bright light on non-planted tank, that I get a lot more algae on the glass and rocks. It's also usually the kind that is tought to get off! Also, with bright light and no plants, I would tend to get the brown algae which is not really algae, but diatoms.
When I see the fish swim from a darker area and into the light, it looks more dramatic.
windsurfer
That being said, it seems cichlids to get used to bright light to some degree. Currently, I'm using way less light than I have in the past. I use a 2 foot light on a 4 foot tank. It does leave darker areas on the sides, but the fish seem to appreciate it!
Another big factor in lighting levels is algae. I find that if I use bright light on non-planted tank, that I get a lot more algae on the glass and rocks. It's also usually the kind that is tought to get off! Also, with bright light and no plants, I would tend to get the brown algae which is not really algae, but diatoms.
When I see the fish swim from a darker area and into the light, it looks more dramatic.
windsurfer
