Do I need lights?

Hi,
I'm starting into fishkeeping with a secondhand Juwel Vision 180.
I was given it a few months ago and am now finally getting around to setting it up and starting cycling.
When it arrived the lights etc worked.
Now though, presumably because its been sitting, the lighting unit is not working.

I checked the fuse and then brought it over to petworld and got the guys to try it with two new bulbs to eliminate that possibility. No joy.

So, now I figure I have three options:
(1) buy a new Juwel unit .. or
(2) do the surgery to fit a new ballast.. or
(3) replace with a LED unit of some sort.

The thing is, I'm not sure if I actually need to replace it with a proper Juwel one to ensure the health of any fish I get.
The LED units are lower power consumption, but also seem to have a lower light output.

So, I've been reading my books and looking around on the web, but can't really figure out whether I need full-on fluorescent lights or can get away with a cheaper LED unit.

I don't have any plants as of yet.. and with the 3D foam background and the ornaments that came with the tank I really don't have any room for them...
Are lights only really important for plant growth? Or would low lighting affect the fish as well?

I'm struggling with lashing out the €150 for a Juwel unit when the LED ones are around £25 on Amazon.
www.amazon.co.uk/Interpet-Waterproof-Whi...im_sbs_petsupplies_5

(Of course if I get rid of the Juwel unit I'd be looking at a gaping hole in the lid too.. I'd appreciate hearing some advice on what to get to make a cover piece also.)

Thanks
Vida

Hi,
You are right in what you say really the lights are of no or little use to the fish and if you don't intend to grow plants the only reason you need lights is for the viewing of your tank.
Jim

Fish do benefit from lights because some fish can look gloomy without a proper light spectrum but lighting isnot esessential for keeping fish although it does bring out their colours better in some cases.

Ok grand,
So I can continue on and get the cycling going and figure out the lights later?

Great,
Thanks
Vida

vidapura wrote:

Ok grand,
So I can continue on and get the cycling going and figure out the lights later?

Great,
Thanks
Vida

For sure Vida. Lights have nothing to do with the cycling process..

I've seen some good posts here on fixing these units and I know there are one or two forum members with good experience on this very issue that seems to plague jewel tanks...

Hiya,
Ahh yeah.. I have had a read through the fixing writeup in the articles section.
Its very good and looks easy enough.
But I dunno will I bother ... The LED ones are starting to look like a good alternative.
I just have to figure out where to get something to fill the gap that the Juwel unit will leave behind..

Vida

Just as a follow up, I bought one of these:

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005VDUSB2/ref=pe_21...1005151_3p_M3T1_dp_1

and have to say I'm really happy with it.

I took off the two t8 tubes and just suckered this to the side in place of the forward one.. and its giving plenty of light by my standards...AND its only using 1.8 watts !!

I'll post a photo when I can figure out how to take one without the flash .. heh...

I'm looking now at the idea of replacing the tubes with LED tubes.
But can't find any that are the right length.. 742mm is a very odd size.
The advantage would be that those led tubes don't need a ballast.. so I could rip out the ballast.. do a little rewiring and have two LED tubes in there instead...

I reckon I'll just have to go for 2ft long ones and move the fittings while I'm removing the ballast...

Anyway.. thats a project for down the line if I get to a point where I think I want more light...
So far the fish are happy so...

Vida