Lighting Advice - Aquarium Advice

rjcatlin · 08-21-2007, 05:50 AM

I have a 20 gallon with a 20 W electronic ballast fluorescent fixture and a 60 gallon with two 17 W regular ballast fluorescent fixture. I have read that anywhere between 1 and 5 W/gallon are sufficient. I have no live plants in either tank. The inhabitants of each tank are:

20 gallon: 1 cory catfish, 2 chinese algae eaters, and 2 fantail goldfish

60 gallon: 1 pleco, 1 clown loach, 1 betta, 2 parrot cichlids, 2 angelfish, and 3 bala sharks

Any suggestions?

**Devilishturtles** · 08-21-2007, 10:57 AM

In my opinion, you'll be fine with what you have. Lighting isn't as important when you have fish only. I'd put in whatever normal flourescent bulb you can.

src · 08-22-2007, 01:20 AM

If you add more light to your tank, you are just begging for an algae infestation. On an unplanted tank, use as little light as you can get by with - i.e. just enough so that you can see your fish in their full color.

rjcatlin · 08-22-2007, 09:45 AM

Thanks for the input guys. I'll probably just change out the bulbs to 10000 K ones. That's a pretty good all around bulb, right?

smn723 · 08-22-2007, 11:00 AM

10000 k is still close to the daylight spectrum but adds a nice blue hue that you don't get with the 6700. I really like the looks of it and that would be fine for a fish only tank.

08-21-2007, 05:50 AM	#1
rjcatlin Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lincolnton, NC Posts: 22	Lighting Advice I have a 20 gallon with a 20 W electronic ballast fluorescent fixture and a 60 gallon with two 17 W regular ballast fluorescent fixture. I have read that anywhere between 1 and 5 W/gallon are sufficient. I have no live plants in either tank. The inhabitants of each tank are: 20 gallon: 1 cory catfish, 2 chinese algae eaters, and 2 fantail goldfish 60 gallon: 1 pleco, 1 clown loach, 1 betta, 2 parrot cichlids, 2 angelfish, and 3 bala sharks Any suggestions? __________________ rjcatlin

08-22-2007, 09:45 AM	#4
rjcatlin Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lincolnton, NC Posts: 22	Thanks for the input guys. I'll probably just change out the bulbs to 10000 K ones. That's a pretty good all around bulb, right? __________________ rjcatlin

08-22-2007, 11:00 AM	#5
smn723 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 260	10000 k is still close to the daylight spectrum but adds a nice blue hue that you don't get with the 6700. I really like the looks of it and that would be fine for a fish only tank. __________________ . Shawn

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08-22-2007, 01:20 AM	#3
src Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Richmond, Virginia Posts: 476	If you add more light to your tank, you are just begging for an algae infestation. On an unplanted tank, use as little light as you can get by with - i.e. just enough so that you can see your fish in their full color.