eepruls

I currently have a 10 gallon tank with fluorescent lighting and am thinking of upgrading to a 20 gallon (I'm not going any bigger at the moment because I like it on my kitchen counter where I see it). I've been looking around and there are various kits with tank and hood. Most come with incandescent lighting but I did find one that came with a fluorescent tube which is rare (usually fluorescents aren't included until 29 gallon kits).

Buying the kit seems like a better deal than buying the tank alone (which my LFS has a huge stack of 10 and 20 gallon tanks) and then having to find a hood (which seem to be ridiculously expensive at the LFS). I actually have a very hard time finding a hood that's a reasonable price. Shipping from the U.S. usually adds another $25 if I buy online. The entire kit just makes sense, even if you don't use everything else that comes with it.

Anyways, I was wondering what a better solution is - two compact fluorescent bulbs in the incandescent fixture or the fluorescent tube like I currently use in my 10 gallon. Is the former just a way to not use incandescents? Is a fluorescent tube still the better choice? I don't plan to have plants but who knows, I may get them again in the future. Are the CFLs for aquarium hoods special ones that are more expensive or hard to find? I would appreciate your thoughts!

prairielilly

Hi eepruls,

I've actually experienced all of these situations . I have a 10g with a fluorescent, a 5g that came incandescent that I bought a special aquarium-safe fluorescent for, and a 20g with a fluorescent tube.

First: there are 20g kits that come with fluorescent hoods. The ones I've seen are sold at Petcetera, Big Al's and Petsmart (Elite Waterhome and Marineland respectively - Petcetera apparently has a decent sale on atm...). Petsmart doesn't sell Marineland kits that I know of but they do sell the hoods. Many manufacturers it seems make their 'standard' tanks a smidge differently sized than other manufacturer's, so when you need a new hood you are forced to once again buy their brand so it will fit. At least that's what I dealt with when I recently replaced the fluorescent hood on my Marineland 20g (with an identical one).

Next: I prefer fluorescent overall by far. No comparison. The incandescent light is yellowish and like candlelight, whereas the fluorescent light is white and like sunshine, it looks very natural. I had panda cories in a tank with multicoloured tan gravel and incandescent light, and I could sometimes barely see them. In fluorescent light everything stands out and looks good.

The 'standard' wattage that comes with stock fluorescent light strips in 20g kits is 15W. That's what I have, that's what the recent replacement I bought is and (I've found) that's what the majority come with. In a 20g tank that gives you 0.75 watts per gallon - currently I am redoing my 20g and thought of doing live plants, but have been advised to upgrade the lighting to 1.5 - 2 watts per gallon (0.75 will work, just not well, and limits the plants you can grow and your likelihood of success).

When I got good and sick of the incandescent lighting in my 5g, I went to Petsmart and paid $16 for an aquarium-safe CFL. It's 10W and works brilliantly - I love it! but I don't love the price. I've seen other posts here where members have advised to use ordinary CFL's; I guess that's a personal decision, I feel safer knowing this one was made to use in a wet environment (although it does say right on the bulb - underneath the Marineland logo - to protect from getting wet...) The fixture has a rubber ring around the bulb socket but is then open above the water, so who knows --?

When I compared the price of an incandescent hood + 2 aquarium-safe CFL's to a fluorescent hood, they worked out approximately the same (at least in Calgary prices). I also found that a complete hood with fluorescent fixture was about $10 more than a glass top + separate fluorescent strip light. I've been advised recently to check out Home Depot and similar, but I've installed home fluorescents in my kitchen and know they advise to not install around water due to shock hazard, so I personally wouldn't.

Hope that helped some. Good luck!

Edit: thought I'd also mention that there are aquarium-safe CFL's at Big Al's cheaper than Petsmart. I couldn't find them in stock at the store so I ordered it online (free shipping if you spend more than $35). When it came, it was PINK. Yeah, it got returned.

eepruls

Wow prairielilly! Thanks for typing all of that. It was really helpful. I think I will stick with fluorescent as you suggested. BigAl's online didn't really have any tank kits. Here in Winnipeg we don't have any Petsmart stores (Regina and Saskatoon are the farthest east it appears). I actually bought my fluorescent All-Glass hood from petsmart.com last year! That was back when our dollar was better than theirs and I got a good deal. Now, not so much. I wish we had one here. It actually took only two business days from ordering online to it arriving at my door. That was crazy fast. That one was the hood and then the light strip sits on top of the glass window. You can get hoods with the light strip attached? Maybe I misunderstood but that seems like a pain if you have to replace the light strip.

Here in Winnipeg we have Petland where hoods are ridiculously priced. I mean, a simple hood is over a $100. I don't understand why someone would buy one of those empty tanks they have in giant stacks and then you're forced to get a hood. It's better to get a kit. That's why I bought the hood online last year. There aren't that many Pet stores here.

I actually visited a PetCetera on the other side of the city on the weekend. I had noticed online that they were having an inventory clearance where everything was 20-70% off so I took a drive down there. They had crazy high prices and all the fish stuff was 20% off. Even with the 20% it was still more than other places. They did have aquarium kits and empty tanks that were 25% off. The 20 gallon kit I was looking at (that I can't remember the brand name of) came with a fluorescent hood, along with a filter, heater, etc.

I like my AquaClear filter but an extra one is nice to have. It was regular $139 so 25% off would be about $104. They also had just the 20 gallon tank that would work out to be $30 but buying a hood online from Petsmart and including shipping and converting to Canadian would work out to about $65. So for basically the same price I wouldn't have the bonus filter, heater, etc. This is the only place that I saw a 20 gallon kit with a fluorescent light. Petland and Wal-Mart have kits for about $90 but they're incandescent (CFLs).

prairielilly

No problem (: I was looking into buying something or other from Petsmart.com a short while ago, I remember that with the shipping and then converted to Canadian dollars it worked out to be the same, and you're right Big Al's only sells the kits at their stores. Petcetera I've never really shopped at bc of their prices ($4 for one air stone?) but I did buy and Aquaclear 20 filter there for about $25...I've heard they're going out of business/rebranding the store something to that effect, maybe it will bring their prices back down to reality. Maybe a local LFS (mom&pop type store) would have a good deal for you? Winnipeg's a decent sized city. Here in Calgary I haven't even been to all the lfs's yet (city's too darn big, takes me an hour to drive from one side to the other). I used to live in Regina and always went to A-1 Aquarium, don't know if you have that? that was before Petsmart/Petland made it out to Regina.

The hood with fluorescent I was referring to is a solid plastic with a glass guard over which a removable light strip fits. On my original hood the ballast started to hum really loud about a month ago (I bought the whole thing in late October 2008) and I found out the ballasts are hard to come by and require hard-wiring...it was a lot easier to replace the light, but of course I couldn't find just the light. Then later I found the light but it cost about $10 less than the full hood + light.

It sounds like due to lack of close suppliers it may be your best bet to put fluorescent bulbs in an incandescent hood? that way you know the hood fits the tank and you'll get higher wattage besides (bonus if you ever do go with live plants).

eepruls

We do have many little pet stores in Winnipeg. I was referring more to the larger places like Petcetera, Petland, Petsmart, etc. The times I've stopped in to a corner store, I didn't notice any good deals on aquariums. They have more small products and live fish than large items like stands, tanks, hoods, and kits.

In my 10 gallon, I had a light strip with a faulty ballast and the thing made so much noise it drove me crazy. I thought I would just replace the light strip and discovered that they are ridiculously priced. That's why I bought an entire new hood and fluorescent light strip for my 10 gallon. It was an amazing price ($19.99) and it still works great to this day (although the light from the bulb is a little 'purple' but that can be changed).

I stopped in at Petland today and they had a 20 gallon Waterhome Econo kit with Eclipse filter on special for $99 (regular $169). The only thing is that the light fixture came with two CFLs. That is the first time I've seen that. Usually they come with incandescents but this one actually said, "Light fixture with two compact fluorescent bulbs". I checked and the bulbs are about $15 each to replace. There are tons of fluorescent bulbs though in varying prices. The kit at Petcetera was the same price but came with a fluorescent tube. I think I'm going to go down there tomorrow and check it out again because I didn't really look at it that closely.

prairielilly

I have an Elite Waterhome 10g, and while I do love it, it's a 'European' design meaning it's frameless - just glass siliconed together. So all the weight rests on the glass rather than a black plastic frame (only became an issue when I was looking for a stand for it). Not sure if all of them are like that or not, I know the hood on mine is quite different than the smaller and larger versions. I also found that the first HOB I tried with it vibrated against the tank in part due to the lack of a frame, and the noise from that drove me nuts. It currently has an Aquatech on it that may or may not get replaced with an Aquaclear.

I'd love to find 'tons of fluorescent bulbs'...the only lfs I've found so far that carries aquarium-specific CFL's is Petsmart, and they are usually sold out or just have one (going there today maybe, hoping to buy one for my new 5g!) The prices do seem really high there in Winnipeg, that's unfortunate. At Petsmart my 10g kit with filter, net, fish food etc and fluorescent hood was $70 (a deal compared to buying all separate) but I got a bare 5g plus incandescent hood at Wally last week for $34 - the 10g plus incandescant hood +filter + other stuff was $35! can you believe it! but I had no where to go with it (um, I'm starting to run out of places to put tanks...)

Hopefully you can find one you really like!

eepruls

That's really good info to know about the European design not having a frame. I did notice there was no frame on the Waterhome 20 gallon kit (there was a box open). I would never have considered all that. I actually like the black frame. I find it finishes it off. I'm definitely going to drive down to Petcetera tomorrow and take another look at that 20 gallon. It seems like a really good deal since buying a tank and fluorescent hood is nearly the same price.

Have you ever bought anything from http://www.mops.ca? I came across it and it seems like prices are decent. It's Canadian and shipping by Canada Post is $6.95 (<$100). They have a section of hoods at http://www.mops.ca/cgi-bin/SoftCart....e5e+1239230400. But it would still be about $55 for a fluorescent hood. They sell a lot of stuff though so I thought I would mention it and get your opinion!

mondicat

I've purchased things from MOPS before and received great service. I'd recommend them.

prairielilly

The European style looks really cool IMO - but for my particular tank I certainly hope the hood never breaks as I have no idea where I'd ever find another one that would work (there's no 'lip' for the hood to sit on). It fits over the tank like a hat. Pics here for interest's sake (and other pics in the link in my sig, of my 20g and the incandescent light in the 5g - see post 16 - if you want to compare).

The second hood on the link you included (the 24" Perfect-a-Lite) is the one I bought recently to replace the one that came with my tank. Decent quality stuff.

MOPS - nope, hadn't heard of that one before. My poor bank account - must not make spending on my favourite hobby any easier than it already is... (thanks for the tip)

mondicat: good to know

eepruls

Haha! That ornament (grey tree root thing) you have in your 10 gallon is the same one I have in mine! I bought it online (with my All Glass hood) last year from Petsmart.com. I was just going to get the hood but getting the ornament as well lowered the shipping. I actually wrote a comment and added some pictures in a review of it on their website but it looks like they don't have it anymore.

I'm assuming you got it there too, but at the actual store? That was so funny. My betta loved swimming inside the hole at the top. He would go in there and then peak out if someone came in the room. It was like his home. Most of the paint has come off of mine though since I was always rubbing off the slippery green algae that would cover it with a toothbrush. How did you deal with it? It was that stuff that you can't just wipe off. Your tanks look really nice by the way!

If I was to get the 24" Perfect-A-Lite hood from Mops.ca it would come to $65. So, you add a tank for $30 and it just makes sense to get a kit if you can find one that is fluorescent, like I did at Petcetera. Even if the filter and heater that comes with it is crappy, it's still good to have in an emergency. I'm going to keep that mops.ca place in the back of my mind though in case I need something in the future. It seems like they have a good selection. They should spruce up their website a bit because it almost looks like someone's personal page.

prairielilly

Tree root thingy is currently on its side and there's 3 silk plants in there, and the tank holds four cherry barbs and one panda cory and they're always going in and out of it! I really like it actually (yes it did come from the store, they had four sizes and this was the smallest). I like it much better on its side now. The tank's not old enough yet for green algae, it's just now getting diatoms which I just rub off with my finger. I'm not too worried about algae (I used to be, but whenever I remove it it just comes right back so what's the point) but I really hope the paint doesn't start coming off.

My marineland hood was $55. At the time the store (Petsmart) also had a striplight alone for a 10g tank, too short for mine, but no light for a 20g. Later I found one at a different LFS for $45 (they also sold the same hood for $55). I don't like the prices for sure, but since those were the prices at two lfs's I figure well, that's what it costs. I have found that whenever I've tried to save a buck I end up buying the more expensive thing later anyway, but that's likely bc I am never satisfied until I have that one thing of high quality that works really, really well...

I've always been of the opinion that if I find something I like, that's of really good quality and works well, I'll shell out for it. And after a week or so I've usually forgotten what I've paid for it anyway. I'm all for budgeting, but 'saving a buck' made me deal with crappy filters for six months before I shelled out for a canister (that's another long story entirely).

tom28

hey prairielilly i was wondering what have you done for your 20gal that you want to get to 2wats/gal? im in the same situation myself and really dont know what to do...i dont really want to by a new hood..i have a standard one that came with the set up with a standard 15w florecent bulb. i got some amazon sword from giving some fry but they are dying i have another light on the side making it around 1.4wats/gal but thats not doing to much and not a solution to the problem. id love to know what youve got planed.
thanks,

tom

...and look its all canadian posts....ya canada

prairielilly

I did silk plants. I started a thread in the plants forum about amount of light etc and found that there were really three alternatives: try plants, which due to low wattage would likely die (and I'd have to redo it all anyways); replace the entire lighting setup; or do fake. I would have had to buy a new fixture (not just another bulb) as it's not so good to put a high-wattage bulb in a low-wattage fixture; I did some shopping around and found I could do it all - for around $80-150 minimum - nope, just spent $55 on a new hood and there was nothing wrong with it! I was re-doing my tank after a disease situation and had had silk plants in there before, I ended up bleaching and reusing most of those and adding a few new ones. You can make it lush with silk plants! In my area anyways one real plant costs around $7; one silk plant costs around...$7. I really like how it turned out, hoping to add fish this weekend and see if they like it too

eepruls

Yay Canada! LOL. That's kind of cool.

prairielilly, do you use silk plants only or do you also use the plastic ones too? I suppose the silk ones look much more realistic but aren't they harder to clean? I'm going to be getting a few more soon and wasn't sure if plastic or silk was the way to go.

Well, hockey playoffs start tonight so I'm off to watch HNIC. Now, THAT'S Canadian!

prairielilly

I set up my tank mid-October last year, lots of plastic plants. I had to redo it around New Years', I took the opportunity to change out plastic for silk. Now I'm redoing it again (!!) and re-using the same silk plants. To me they look 'realistic enough' - meaning no one's going to think they're real (if they're looking close) but they look real enough for me. I like them better than the plastic ones as those ones are stiff and prickly (eg the fake cabomba) so they look good but they don't sway in the current like real plants would (silks do) and to me the colours look funny. With the silk ones they are flexible so they are more lifelike for the fish (when I had an oto he certainly seemed to like them) and they're also really easy to push out of the way when gravel vaccing. So I have a big box of perfectly fine plastic plants that I used for about two months, but I like the way my tank looks a lot better now. It's all about what I think of course, the fish don't care a bit

To clean them (say to get off diatoms) I just rub the leaf in between my fingers. If it's super bad I take it out and do the same under the tap but make sure to rinse in dechlorinated water. I put them through a bleach dip recently and they look the same

I'm a fan of sterilizing a tank with ammonia after a disease issue, this was recommended to me by an experienced member here and has worked well for me multiple times now. High levels of ammonia (10 PPM for at least 3 days) have an effect on any type of plants. I don't know what it would do to real ones but I'm sure it wouldn't be good. Plastic tends to get a bit 'slippy' at those levels, as in you feel something gummy under your fingers when you touch it, and clear plastic will turn white if I overdo it (found that out). Silk ones don't seem to be affected. In this most recent round I had two plants snap a stem, but that could be due to many things.

HNIC - enjoy I may be the only non-sports fan in Canada

jorabi

BEWARE!!!! The Waterhome Econo 20 from Hagen is actually a 15 gallon tank, I bought it thinking it was 20 gallons and I find it totally misleading since Econo 10 is 10 gallons, Econo 5 is 5 gallons, and Econo 20 is only 15.6 U.S. gallons. This is before decorations, gravel and fish!!