freshwater aquarium, 10,000K metal halide?

SlowcarIX

anyone here uses a 10,000K lamp for freshwater tank? Is it too white/blue?

Pablo

Unless you are keeping something specific (and hard to keep) in freshwater, you don't need to go crazy with lighting. You will save quite a few bucks if you go with a decent full spectrum flourescent blub and hood (on both electric and bulb cost). If you really like that light set up (which I wish I had), go salt.

RuSsMaN

Full spectrum flourescents here in all 3 tanks. I'm wanting to do some 'blue' in my cichlid tank though.

tonyb

Fish belong outdoors.....do like I did....build a pond,then you don't have to worry about all that crap.:p

SlowcarIX

Keiko wrote: »

I wouldn't recommend metal halide for a freshwater aquarium Abner. Those are better suited for saltwater reef systems with live rock, corals and invertebrates, such as anemones. It's an intense white light and gets really hot. You'll need fans for cooling them and also a chiller to keep the water temp down so you don't cook the livestock.

i have been running MH since i started the tank...the last 2 bulbs were 6500K, want to try a new color range bulb

its a 120gal open top tank and it looses ~3gals water everyweek

there is only 1 species...started with i think was 8 and they multiply like rabbits...its up to 100+++ now

SlowcarIX

Pablo wrote: »

Unless you are keeping something specific (and hard to keep) in freshwater, you don't need to go crazy with lighting. You will save quite a few bucks if you go with a decent full spectrum flourescent blub and hood (on both electric and bulb cost). If you really like that light set up (which I wish I had), go salt.

i started out in the deep end with reef...did well. then moved to freshwater plant...with congo tetras, cardinal tetras and amano shrimps...

got lazy when i moved to austin, started a 1 type fish tank

SlowcarIX

RuSsMaN wrote: »

Full spectrum flourescents here in all 3 tanks. I'm wanting to do some 'blue' in my cichlid tank though.

VHO tubes?

blue like actinic 420nm light?

what cichlids do you have?

SlowcarIX

tonyb wrote: »

Fish belong outdoors.....do like I did....build a pond,then you don't have to worry about all that crap.:p

lol

what do you have in there?

SlowcarIX

Keiko wrote: »

Well, if that's working for ya cool. I assumed metal halide would be to hot for fw. I got a 90gal. mini reef in my dining room. It's become the aquarium of death, where only the strong survive. I haven't been giving it the attention that it needs lately.

its hot and its bright. i like the shimmering effect from the light going thru surface ripples.

i havent changed water in the tank for 4 months, just topping a few gallons a week...the rapid algae growth uses all the nutrients like nitrates/phosphates and i just harvest them everyweek. :eek:

Willow

tonyb wrote: »

Fish belong outdoors.....do like I did....build a pond,then you don't have to worry about all that crap.:p

right until November when I can have frozen fish sticks

kitkat

The truth is you do not need MH, reef req a MH because it reproduce natural Sun light, but what you would want would be a 14,000k mh, best of both worlds

SlowcarIX

i had the ballast and reflector from when i had a planted tank. so rather than get a new setup, i just used what i had...

14000K might be a bit too blue...

i got a 10000K ushio bulb coming from dr forster /smith

BIZILL

if you do this, before and after pics would be appreciated.

RuSsMaN

SlowcarIX wrote: »

VHO tubes?

blue like actinic 420nm light?

what cichlids do you have?

I don't know, you tell me what I can add easily. My main tank is a little 55gal, and I need to find a local deal on something bigger. Right now, an assortment of Africans: Cynotilapia, Labidochromis, Melanochromis, Nimbochromis, Paralabidochromis, etc. Also have a big pictus cat in there, along with a pair of bala sharks and a goofy tinfoil barb. Oh, and a handful of giant danios that keep the top of the tank moving.

I really have been wanting to do a South American tank, but I've grown so fond of the African temperment and personalities. Aggressive, but not overly so.

Bad pics, just snapped a couple.

Cheers,
Russ

dorokusai

My FW tank is like watching an epsiode of Survivor.

SlowcarIX

BIZILL wrote: »

if you do this, before and after pics would be appreciated.

bulb should be here today - will take pics.

the 2 pics above is taken under 6500K MH

my guess is the higher kelvin light will have less reds/yellows...:)

SlowcarIX

RuSsMaN wrote: »

I don't know, you tell me what I can add easily. My main tank is a little 55gal, and I need to find a local deal on something bigger. Right now, an assortment of Africans: Cynotilapia, Labidochromis, Melanochromis, Nimbochromis, Paralabidochromis, etc. Also have a big pictus cat in there, along with a pair of bala sharks and a goofy tinfoil barb. Oh, and a handful of giant danios that keep the top of the tank moving.

I really have been wanting to do a South American tank, but I've grown so fond of the African temperment and personalities. Aggressive, but not overly so.

Bad pics, just snapped a couple.

Cheers,
Russ

you should be able to get a drop in actinic blue tube...since the actinics emit light centered at 420nm, you will need another full spectrum tube for the longer spectrum light (red/yellows)



very nice mix of species living in harmony

they always rearranging the gravel?

SlowcarIX

dorokusai wrote: »

My FW tank is like watching an epsiode of Survivor.

lets see some pics

vlam

Would love to see pic of the 10K light. I too use four 6500K CF but thinking of replacing 2 with 10K.

i havent changed water in the tank for 4 months, just topping a few gallons a week...the rapid algae growth uses all the nutrients like nitrates/phosphates and i just harvest them everyweek.

Wow.. I wish I could say that for the past 4 days. I have to change at least 30% of my water every other day.

doggie750

You should try SALTWATER.....Reef set up to step it up a notch.....
YOU wont regret it.....

CaligulaPolk

doggie750 wrote: »

You should try SALTWATER.....Reef set up to step it up a notch.....
YOU wont regret it.....

You will need at least 2,500 dollars to "START" reef tank...

Live rocks are not cheap and need to be 2x heavier than size of the tank. (Eg: 55 gallon tank, 110 lbs live rock, fiji is the best looking rock)

Then there are lighting, filters,..... sums up way too much $$ but worth it at the end

66chevyIISS

CaligulaPolk wrote: »

You will need at least 2,500 dollars to "START"

sums up way too much $$ but worth it at the end

yeah until something dies and wipes out the entire tank and you have to start all over again haha.

I've been close to doing saltwater many times, but haven't pulled the trigger yet. My tank would be very easy to convert, but I don't think I can give it the attention to detail it will require.

CaligulaPolk

66chevyIISS wrote: »

yeah until something dies and wipes out the entire tank and you have to start all over again haha.

I've been close to doing saltwater many times, but haven't pulled the trigger yet. My tank would be very easy to convert, but I don't think I can give it the attention to detail it will require.

wont killing anything in water if you do slow process, not put too many fish at once. Saltwater is about patience !

SlowcarIX

CaligulaPolk wrote: »

You will need at least 2,500 dollars to "START" reef tank...

Live rocks are not cheap and need to be 2x heavier than size of the tank. (Eg: 55 gallon tank, 110 lbs live rock, fiji is the best looking rock)

Then there are lighting, filters,..... sums up way too much $$ but worth it at the end

you can go other alternatives besides live rocks like a phenum system - that does the same job of denitrification. or the berlin method...big **** protein skimmer to remove any material before they get a chance to breakdown...

SlowcarIX

66chevyIISS wrote: »

yeah until something dies and wipes out the entire tank and you have to start all over again haha.

I've been close to doing saltwater many times, but haven't pulled the trigger yet. My tank would be very easy to convert, but I don't think I can give it the attention to detail it will require.

an efficient protein skimmer is a must for salt...increases the buffer zone for mistakes

i like the powered tunze ones

SlowcarIX

top is the used coralife 6500K bulb
bttom is the new ushio 10000K bulb

CaligulaPolk

CPR skimmer worked great for my old setup! I still have it in storage wanting go back into SW hobby. Wife says not now, later when we are finished with everything needed be done. I think i will go larger next time. 4 x 125 gallon tanks (1 on each wall), its my dream room with spa tub in it.

two old navy diver suit standing by the door with white / navy blue stripes wall creamic tiles all over.

BIZILL

HEY RUSSMAN, you outta try pool filter sand as a substrate vs the pebble. cichlids love to dig, which will collapse stacked rock if you don't set it up right, but it's a joy to watch them. they grab a mouthful and swim around releasing it and when it drops to the bottom it's looks like it's snowing. makes me also think of a snowglobe.

SlowcarIX

the 10,000K lamp makes the tank looks cold...sterile..on well, will change back to 6500K in 12 months time.

SlowcarIX

BIZILL wrote: »

HEY RUSSMAN, you outta try pool filter sand as a substrate vs the pebble. cichlids love to dig, which will collapse stacked rock if you don't set it up right, but it's a joy to watch them. they grab a mouthful and swim around releasing it and when it drops to the bottom it's looks like it's snowing. makes me also think of a snowglobe.

looks like the frontosa will make a meal out of the zebra

vlam

BIZILL,

That's a nice 155gal bow front you got there. I also agree with using pool filter sand, much cheaper than gravel.