Red Lights.....

[Flgatorguy]

Does anyone know if they make 4foot red lights? or even 2foot?.....want to put in some red lights on my tank so i can stop turning on the normal lights during the night so my photo period will start being the same a bit more.......another question do plants benifit from red lighting?.....if they do would it be a good idea to have the red lights come on when the normals lights go out so i can veiw my fish at all times of the day?....thanks
Chris:hehe:

[GulfCoastAquarian]

Plants benefit most from red and blue lighting. Fish have a hard time seeing in the red spectrum, so you could put a small red incandescent bulb on your tank and not wake the fish up at all, while being able to view the tank. I'm not sure what you're aiming to do, though.

Why not just alter your photoperiod to be on while you're able to view them? If you're home in the evening and night, have them turn on at 5pm and go off at 4am. As long as there isn't direct sunlight lighting the tank all day, you should be fine.

As for your question, I don't think they make specifically red fluorescent tubes. My Gro Lux tubes are definitely reddish, but wouldn't suffice as a night light since they are still wide spectrum bulbs.

[Flgatorguy]

Well i would adjust the period but my mother likes to look at them also.....and if i dont make her happy i still live under her roof...and if i dont keep her happy ill be missing a 55g tannk when i get home.....would it do harm to the plants if i had normal lighting during the day the red the rest of the night until the norm lights came back on?....or is that to long of light for the plants?

[Buck]

During the daytime the normal house lighting should let ya view them bro...unless you boarded up the windows... even on weekends when Im home my tank lights dont go on till 3:00PM unless Im working on it or see something odd...
During week , my lights go on at 3 in the afternoon when I get home from work

Science is what you make of it :hehe:

[Flgatorguy]

well where i have the tank is i'd say the darkest part of our house during the day you can see in yes, but you cant really "see in".....even with the lights on.....

[jus1moretank]

They make red plastic sleeves that you can slide over a florecent bulb.

[Flgatorguy]

pet stores sell them or hardwares stores?....that seems to be a cheaper way to do things.....

[jus1moretank]

You could check a hardware store. I saw them at a Grainger Supply

[ridns]

I saw some plans for a circuit you can install in your hood for nite viewing of your fishes activities. I believe it was a posting on the Krib. It consisted of a series of red "l.e.d.s" that go around the circumference of your hood. They consume very little electricity and you can see well without bothering the fish. The red light doesn't hurt thier eyes, in fact I don't believe they can even see it. :hehe: