FO lighting - Aquarium Advice

koolaidman3 · 09-06-2007, 11:38 PM

Hey im new here. I am in the process of cycling a sw tank and doing alot of reasearch. I do have some ordinary overhead compacts but is there a dissadvantage in not properly lighting an FO tank?

pinkie · 09-07-2007, 12:01 AM

The only benefit to upgrading the lighting for a FO tank is that the colors stand out in the fish more. There is no health need for the fish to have higher power lighting.

**melosu58** · 09-07-2007, 09:23 AM

I agree. Just plain flourecent lighting will be OK for a FO tank. As Pinkie said better lighting will accent your fishes colors.

**roka64** · 09-07-2007, 10:30 AM

About the only other thing I can think of is hitch hiker corals might be effected....But I do agree with pinkie and Mike.

MACATUA · 09-07-2007, 11:05 AM

If you do FOWLR then you won't get as much coraline growth, but no harm to the fish. But check out Ebay, you can find some REALLY cheap power compact fixtures that give you a much prettier light for the fish. I paid $49 bucks apiece for two 36" PC fixtures to light my FOWLR and it looks great.

koolaidman3 · 09-07-2007, 06:43 PM

thanks that was the answer i was looking for phew. That brings me to my next question though. I understand it is the norm to light lr but would it still be beneficial enough without lighting? I understand there would be a considerable amount of dieoff due to the photosynthetic algea. Therefore without lighting would it be just as efficient to add base rock just for aquascaping and some bacteria surface and just let it grow (with a little lr perhaps) some of the bacteria as the filter does? I do not care too much about it being colorful, or hitchhikers.

MACATUA · 09-07-2007, 06:52 PM

THe bacteria will not be affected by lighting. The only ill -effect would be the lack of coraline, and that is only if you want coraline. The LR would function the same as if you had reef lighting either way!

MACATUA · 09-07-2007, 06:53 PM

So if you used base rock and seeded it, it would eventually become "live"

koolaidman3 · 09-07-2007, 09:06 PM

thats awesome, thanks. last question though: does coraline have beneficial aspects aside from asthetic appearance and competing with other algaes?

MACATUA · 09-07-2007, 09:33 PM

not really

09-06-2007, 11:38 PM	#1
koolaidman3 Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 8	FO lighting Hey im new here. I am in the process of cycling a sw tank and doing alot of reasearch. I do have some ordinary overhead compacts but is there a dissadvantage in not properly lighting an FO tank?

09-07-2007, 11:05 AM	#5
MACATUA Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: WOODSTOCK, GA Posts: 868 Images: 5	If you do FOWLR then you won't get as much coraline growth, but no harm to the fish. But check out Ebay, you can find some REALLY cheap power compact fixtures that give you a much prettier light for the fish. I paid $49 bucks apiece for two 36" PC fixtures to light my FOWLR and it looks great. __________________ Woo Hoo, PAYDAY! Time to pay the [acronym="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym] rent (even before I pay mine ) Join the Alabama Regional Forum!

09-07-2007, 06:52 PM	#7
MACATUA Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: WOODSTOCK, GA Posts: 868 Images: 5	THe bacteria will not be affected by lighting. The only ill -effect would be the lack of coraline, and that is only if you want coraline. The LR would function the same as if you had reef lighting either way! __________________ Woo Hoo, PAYDAY! Time to pay the [acronym="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym] rent (even before I pay mine ) Join the Alabama Regional Forum!

09-07-2007, 06:53 PM	#8
MACATUA Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: WOODSTOCK, GA Posts: 868 Images: 5	So if you used base rock and seeded it, it would eventually become "live" __________________ Woo Hoo, PAYDAY! Time to pay the [acronym="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym] rent (even before I pay mine ) Join the Alabama Regional Forum!

09-07-2007, 09:33 PM	#10
MACATUA Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: WOODSTOCK, GA Posts: 868 Images: 5	not really __________________ Woo Hoo, PAYDAY! Time to pay the [acronym="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym] rent (even before I pay mine ) Join the Alabama Regional Forum!

09-07-2007, 12:01 AM	#2
pinkie Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 149 Images: 7	The only benefit to upgrading the lighting for a FO tank is that the colors stand out in the fish more. There is no health need for the fish to have higher power lighting.

09-07-2007, 06:43 PM	#6
koolaidman3 Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 8	thanks that was the answer i was looking for phew. That brings me to my next question though. I understand it is the norm to light lr but would it still be beneficial enough without lighting? I understand there would be a considerable amount of dieoff due to the photosynthetic algea. Therefore without lighting would it be just as efficient to add base rock just for aquascaping and some bacteria surface and just let it grow (with a little lr perhaps) some of the bacteria as the filter does? I do not care too much about it being colorful, or hitchhikers.

09-07-2007, 09:06 PM	#9
koolaidman3 Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 8	thats awesome, thanks. last question though: does coraline have beneficial aspects aside from asthetic appearance and competing with other algaes?

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