KonaBoy

Well, I got a 20 Gallon for my birthday, and this is my first hood with a single tube fluorescent light (17 watts) in it. I'm not home right now, and I was trying to research bulbs for it (the one that's in it isn't to good), and when I asked the length of it, they said 17", however, when I'm looking online, I don't see a 17" bulb avalible, it jumps from 15 to 18. Would a 18" fit? Or am I crazy? Also, what would you suggest for a good bulb? I've been looking at the Hagen Aqua-Glo. Is this an okay bulb? I'm just going for low light plants, and it seems like this bulb brings out the fish colours and encourages plant growth (according to the ad). What bulb would you suggest? Or, if that won't work, will two of these fit? http://www.petsandponds.com/securest...6873834.2.html Thanks,

Cory

Barbrella

IF you have the standard 20 gal hood, the light is 18" (counting the pins!) and you can only put one in.

At less than one watt per gallon, it certainly won't "encourage plant growth", although you'll be able to keep Java fern and moss alive and it will make your fishs' colours show nicely.

Here's the one I used before I upgraded my lighting. It looked quite nice.


http://www.bigalsonline.ca/BigAlsCA/...escentlamp18t8

KonaBoy

Okay, well it must be 18" then, because they just measured the bulb, so the pins probably bring it up to 18". Here are the plants I was thinking of:
Hornwart
Java Moss
Lace Java Fern
Cryptocoryne walkeri

Barbrella

Forget the Hornwort and crypts. Even though that species of crypt is considered low light, it needs over 1 watt per gallon. Crypts are very touchy unless conditions are right, and prone to "melting".

The Java moss and ferns will survive and even grow. What I did with mine was to attach them to the top of the driftwood I had in there, to get them closer to the light. It helped somewhat. You could do the same with a small Anubias, but it wont' grow much.

I have Java fern "Windelov", which is the same one you mention. It did okay.