"bright" idea...

[pondmom]

Hello all,

I need some advice on what type of lighting to use to bring the natural color out in my koi.
The lighting that came with the tank is dull and makes the reds look orange on these fish.
What would you suggest to enhance the colors?
What the difference between GE Aqua Rays & Aqua Glo bulbs?
Your help is greatly appreciated & needed
Thanks kindly!!

[targaboy78]

Hi pondmom,

I am not familiar with the GE Aqua Rays, so I can't help you there.

Hagen's AQUA-GLO and POWER-GLO are both 18,000K tubes.

My AQUA-GLO seems fine in my 15g Quarantine tank (which is 12" high) but didn't seem to "cut it" in my 35g Swim-Thru (which is 24" high). I switched to the POWER-GLO in my 35g and it made a huge difference.

Same color but brighter.

I hope this helps.

[pondmom]

Now now many bulbs does your strip-light hold (per strip)?
For my 120gal tank, I have 2 strip-lights but only "1" bulb/strip
Doesn't seem like enuf

I might need more lighting huh...
Thanks

[targaboy78]

Hi pondmom,

Are your lighting requirements based on the needs of your plants or just to bring the natural color out in your koi ?

If it is just to bring out the colors, then it really just boils down to personal preference. 2 single strips should do fine.


If it is for your plants, then it depends of their requirements.
This site http://jpsweb.net/plants.html recommends;
Low Light Plants: 1.5 to 2 watts/gallon of water
Moderate Light Plants: 2 to 3 watts/gallon of water
Bright Light Plants: 3 watts/gallon of water

Or in the case of your 120gallon tank;
Low Light Plants: 180 to 240 watts
Moderate Light Plants: 240 to 360 watts
Bright Light Plants: 360 watts

I hope this helps.

[loganj]

What size bulbs do you have? 4 foot? 6 foot? ??? I'm thinking, and this is just an opinion, that a bulb in the 5000k range might bring out the colors in the fish best as this is close to sunlight. Home Depot has bulbs called Sunlight rated @5000k and Daylight rated @ 6500k. The GE aquarium bulbs don't have a very good CRI. I think there are better bulbs available. 5000k is a yellowish light while the higher color temps tend to have more blue light.
Logan J

[pondmom]

My set-up came with 2 single bulb strip lights that are each 30" long. And the bulbs are 24". They have no writing on them so I can't tell you what brand or the wattage.
But yes, all I basically want is to enhance the color or the fish.
Talked with hubby and the shop light is out.
I'd love live plants but last time I tried this, the koi ate them all!!

I have a shop-light on the basement pond and the colors are GREAT!!

It's so different viewing a koi from an aquarium, and fascinating too
Thanks again for your imput!!

[pondmom]

Update...

I purchased the Aqua Glo's and what a difference!!!
The color that they bring out in the fish is absolutely magnificiant
Thanks for the reccommendations!!!
I'm a happy fishaholic now