I've got a 175l tank, fairly heavily planted and accompanied by some Blue Tetra and some Rams. The plants are looking great, the fish are healthy, though still getting the CO2 balance right. However, one aspect of the tank bugs me. Lights off, the Tetra have lovely blue stripes, the Rams have great yellow and blue coloured bodies. However, lights come on and it all goes a bit wrong. The lights just lose the beautiful colours, the Tetra look a more bland greyish purple and the Rams very plain, bar one which seems to have very strong colours. I've had the Tetra 3 weeks and the Rams 2 weeks, I'm aware the fish can get stronger colours as they settle in due to being farmed.
So, down to business. The lighting I have is a Hagen Glo luminaire with twin T5's 54w. After reading up on here, I went for one 840 and one 880 to give the plants the red and blue spectrum. As I say, the plants look very healthy and growing well. I should also point out that I have bog wood that is still giving the water a yellowish tinge (I forget the technical term right now). Have I got something wrong, my mate has a simliar set up, same lighting and his cardinals, rams angels look great under the lighting.
I'm also wondering what other options I have in respect the lights on/off. Currently run by a timer, the lights just flick on and off and the Tetra tend to dart about when the lights go out. Any ideas how I can make this a more gentle process for them?
So, down to business. The lighting I have is a Hagen Glo luminaire with twin T5's 54w. After reading up on here, I went for one 840 and one 880 to give the plants the red and blue spectrum. As I say, the plants look very healthy and growing well. I should also point out that I have bog wood that is still giving the water a yellowish tinge (I forget the technical term right now). Have I got something wrong, my mate has a simliar set up, same lighting and his cardinals, rams angels look great under the lighting.
I'm also wondering what other options I have in respect the lights on/off. Currently run by a timer, the lights just flick on and off and the Tetra tend to dart about when the lights go out. Any ideas how I can make this a more gentle process for them?