Adventures in aquarium lights

C

Caljar

Registered Member
Apr 18, 2006
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I have a 38 gal freshwater tank with some basic fish but also some plants and some bamboo shrimp. I know I need more watts for the plants to be healthy but I want to do right by the shrimp too. I can buy a Coralife freshwater 96 watt light hood, a 96 watt 50/50, or the hood with 96w 10,000k and 96w Actinic. I dont think that the freshwater one will give my shrimp the spectrum they need but i dont know if the 50/50 will be good for everybody either (and i think 192 watts might be overkill for freshwater :) ).

Sorry for the essay, but if anybody has a solution, please help.
 
The coralife freshwater is made for planted tanks. It's comes with the correct bulbs for good plant growth. Bamboo shrimp are filter feeders. The lighting will have no effect on them.
 
Good plant growth depends on the plants you're growing.

If you're wanting to grow any of the reds and swords or grasses/Low ground cover, then you'll want lots of light.

you can get a 2 x 55W setup and have ~2.5 WPG which should be good for most plants. As far as the bulbs, It seems that the 55 Watt Straight Pin GE 9325K bulbs seem to really work good for plants and don't cast the dingy yellow.

Depending on the size of your rank, there are several options available though...
a 2 x 65W is another option. Check eBay for deals! and you may find something for under $130

http://ahsupply.com/ is another option if you want to try a DIY retrofit.

Lots of options. Just make sure of your tank measurements. if you don't want to modify existing light fixtures, you may want to go with glass top & a new CF Fixture! you'll have more options if you go that route but can be cost prohibitive.
 
Thanks for all the advice. I think ill go with a coralife freshwater or maybe a retrofit if im feeling ambitious. but my next question is: what's the difference between my bamboo shrimp (and ghost shrimp and amano shrimp) and the saltwater inverts like purple lobsters and coral banded shrimp or something else that need special light?
 
Saltwater invert's such as corals need special lighting to live, because they contain zooxanthellae algaes that use photosynthesis to create "food" that the coral needs to survive.

I think your getting the whole invert thing confused. Corals and clams (inverts) need the special light to survive, lobsters and shrimp (also inverts) do not.

If you want to know the difference between shrimp check out this site.
http://www.petshrimp.com/
 
tai95 said:
Saltwater invert's such as corals need special lighting to live, because they contain zooxanthellae algaes that use photosynthesis to create "food" that the coral needs to survive.

I think your getting the whole invert thing confused. Corals and clams (inverts) need the special light to survive, lobsters and shrimp (also inverts) do not.

If you want to know the difference between shrimp check out this site.
http://www.petshrimp.com/
Click to expand...


Well put. :clap:
 
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