Aquarium light bulbs?

So-Lo

So-Lo

Joined
Jun 12, 2006
Messages
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We have been running Sun-Glo bulbs, and our new Oscars do not like the 4200k color temperature. They lay on the bottom, but when you turn the light off they spring back to life swimming and even eating.

So I am going to pick up some new bulbs today, a little research says "cichlids do not like bright lighting, and a 10,000k low intensity bulb is best." Now for my question...

I'm running 4200k now, and it's too bright for them so wouldn't 10,000k be brighter? Or does it not work that way? :confused:
 
I can't speak to the technical side of the lighting, but if your oscars are very new to their tank it may be that any light at all is going to drive them down until they adjust to their new environment. They can be funny like that. I've had the same thing happen with a number of Oscars. I would give it a week or even two weeks just turning on the light for an hour or so at a time and see if they don't adjust before buying new lights. Good luck.
 
The K number is not the brightness of the light. It is the color of the light. A 4200K bulb is somewhat orange. A 10,000K bulb will have a much more blue light.

Not being an aquarium keeper, I can not say how changing the color of the light will affect your fish.

For reference, a typical household incandescent bulb is about 3000K. Direct sunlight is about 5500K. Moonlight is about 4100K.

But this is just the color of the light, not the brightness.
 
I'm running 4200k now, and it's too bright for them so wouldn't 10,000k be brighter?
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The temperature equivalent is a measure of the color of the light, not the brightness. Choose a lower wattage bulb for lower brightness.
 
10-4 :cool:

I have the wrong color, not the wrong wattage. So off the Petsmart we go looking for warmer more blueish 10,000K bulb.


Thanks SO much guys, and girl :D
 
In a curious twist of terminology, a bulb with a higher K number, a higher color temperature, will actually be described as a "cooler" light.
 
Gollnick said:
In a curious twist of terminology, a bulb with a higher K number, a higher color temperature, will actually be described as a "cooler" light.
Click to expand...

Shows how much I know :D

I'll post some pix of our little guys when we can get them swimming with the lights on. I'v always heard that Oscars will tell you what they like and what they don't like.

Crazy, the second I turn on the light they sink and lay on there side, with in 3 seconds of turning the lights off they snap back to life, swimming around looking for food and looking/playing with you through the glass.

Thanks again!
 
Color temperature of aquarium lights is very important. I run planted tanks that need different colors of light to grow well and keep the fish happy. In a non-planted tank a brighter temperature light shows the colors better but, the fish may avoid the light because it is so unnatural to them. Also, remember that a lot of fish hide in the shadows to avoid predator fish.
 
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