Lighting question for 5 gallon tank - Aquarium Advice

tkos · 07-11-2003, 11:32 AM

This is my first post here on this forum. I have 3 tanks right now (plus another that I basically care for at my parents). My 5 gallon tank is planted and I keep 1 betta in it with a few snails. He is very happy. The hood is a standard incandescnet hood but i have switched one of the bulbs for a screw in compact flourescent that I bought at WalMart. It seems to be great at keeping the plants growing and gives a nice color to the tank. However, it was dark on the other side so I put the incandescent bulb in to balance out the light. This makes a nasty yellow color and since I don't want another flourescent in their (too much wattage for such a small tank) I was wondering if anyone uses those colored incandescent bulbs and which colors seem to give a nice hue to a tank?

Thanks

ConanTheLibraia · 07-12-2003, 01:20 AM

I'm not sure about indecesant, but bulbs have different spectrums, 10,000k is pretty bright, 6,700 is more of a natural sunny color and I guess a lower spectrum light would produce a nasty yellow color. Look into this when your getting a new light. Most freshwater tanks are around 6,700k I belive, and that should look fine.

justDIY · 07-12-2003, 01:31 AM

look at a different store ... some of those compact flourescents are only 5 to 7 watts, a pair of 7 watt bulbs wouldn't be too much for a 5 gal

tkos · 07-12-2003, 09:37 AM

This compact flourescent is 13 watts so that is 2.6 watts per gallon. Some of that light is wasted of course because it is directed to one end of the tank. But without CO2 and because I am only growing Water Sprite I don't really need more useable plant light as this will end up going to algea growth instead. But it is a bit lower on the Kelvin side so the light is a bit yellower. That is why I thought adding a "blue" light for instance would change the overall appearance. I don't really have the budget to go out and change the whole setup for a 5 gallon Betta tank.

MicroFish · 07-13-2003, 03:48 PM

I have two 2g aquariums with Bettas in them. I also switched out the incan light for the flourescent... it looks MUCH nicer and it has the added benefit of not heating the tank nearly as much.

tkos · 07-13-2003, 04:02 PM

They make a big difference. Have you added live plants to your tank? You could easily put some Java Ferns in there and the Bettas love real plants to hide in a sleep on.

07-11-2003, 11:32 AM	#1
tkos Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 1,423	Lighting question for 5 gallon tank This is my first post here on this forum. I have 3 tanks right now (plus another that I basically care for at my parents). My 5 gallon tank is planted and I keep 1 betta in it with a few snails. He is very happy. The hood is a standard incandescnet hood but i have switched one of the bulbs for a screw in compact flourescent that I bought at WalMart. It seems to be great at keeping the plants growing and gives a nice color to the tank. However, it was dark on the other side so I put the incandescent bulb in to balance out the light. This makes a nasty yellow color and since I don't want another flourescent in their (too much wattage for such a small tank) I was wondering if anyone uses those colored incandescent bulbs and which colors seem to give a nice hue to a tank? Thanks

07-12-2003, 01:20 AM	#2
ConanTheLibraia Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: D.C. Posts: 539 Images: 3	I'm not sure about indecesant, but bulbs have different spectrums, 10,000k is pretty bright, 6,700 is more of a natural sunny color and I guess a lower spectrum light would produce a nasty yellow color. Look into this when your getting a new light. Most freshwater tanks are around 6,700k I belive, and that should look fine. __________________ My fish will kick your fishes butt

07-13-2003, 03:48 PM	#5
MicroFish Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Gainesville, FL (USA) Posts: 78 Images: 7	I have two 2g aquariums with Bettas in them. I also switched out the incan light for the flourescent... it looks MUCH nicer and it has the added benefit of not heating the tank nearly as much. __________________ Check out our fish & snakes at this link: http://www.rendezvuonline.com/fish

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07-12-2003, 01:31 AM	#3
justDIY Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Earth Posts: 1,191 Images: 12	look at a different store ... some of those compact flourescents are only 5 to 7 watts, a pair of 7 watt bulbs wouldn't be too much for a 5 gal

07-12-2003, 09:37 AM	#4
tkos Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 1,423	This compact flourescent is 13 watts so that is 2.6 watts per gallon. Some of that light is wasted of course because it is directed to one end of the tank. But without CO2 and because I am only growing Water Sprite I don't really need more useable plant light as this will end up going to algea growth instead. But it is a bit lower on the Kelvin side so the light is a bit yellower. That is why I thought adding a "blue" light for instance would change the overall appearance. I don't really have the budget to go out and change the whole setup for a 5 gallon Betta tank.

07-13-2003, 04:02 PM	#6
tkos Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 1,423	They make a big difference. Have you added live plants to your tank? You could easily put some Java Ferns in there and the Bettas love real plants to hide in a sleep on.