These two tanks, both 20 gallon tall, just have 20W fluorescent bulbs (6700K range) in an aquarium type reflector hood just placed on top of the glass. This is fine for low-light requiring plants, such as the Ficus, Pellionia, moss, etc. that you see. But if you will notice, the bromeliads are simply plain green, although they are Neoregelia hybrids and should be highly colorful with red and orange with variegations. While they survive, they will neither color up or bloom. So if you want colorful bromes, orchids or other light requiring plants, you need something stronger.

Here's a photo of something I've been trying out lately on some of my larger tanks. This one is a Sunpaq duo that has 2 double fluorescent bulbs. One in the 6700K range, which is the most efficient spectrum for plants, and a penetrating 10,000K actinic that gives out more lumens and will penetrate deeply into aquarium water, etc., although plants don't utilize much of this spectrum, so it's rather a waste of energy. I don't like the blue cast it gives to the tanks, so have been replacing these with another duo 6700K for more "full spectrum white light." One of the nice things about these packages is they come with the attachable legs for elevating the light somewhat and a some models have a fan for dispersing heat. One of the problems with the aquarium reflector strips is the tendency to heat up the tanks more than desirable. There is also an LED "moonlight" feature, which I should think would be nice for tanks with nocturnal amphibians.

This is a 30" long 65W setup, with claims of putting out 3X's more light than ordinary fluorescents. I also have two 36" 96W duo strips over a 180 gallon paludarium. These are adequate for growing flowering tropicals such as orchids, coloring up bromeliads and keeping other growth compact. In low light, vines will scraggle around and reach for light rather than shingle and overlap.

The light in the photo is over a newly set up 55 long with cuttings just starting, so it barely appears planted at this point. The corny background is an aquarium poster I just propped between the glass and light cords that dangle down the back temporarily, until I think of something else to do to hide them. I didn't want to build a full background inside this particular tank because I'm thinking of doing something like building a shallow shadow box with something that seems to extend the dimensions to put outside the glass, but haven't got it figured out yet.



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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

Dendrobates: auratus blue, auratus Ancon Hill, tinctorius azureus, leucomelas. Phyllobates: vittatus, terribilis, lugubris. Epipedobates: anthonyi tricolor pasaje. Ranitomeya fantastica, imitator, reticulata. Adelphobates castaneoticus, galactonotus. Oophagia pumilio Bastimentos. (updated systematic nomenclature)

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