Mystic54

What is the difference? And which is better?
I want to purchase a strip light to sit ontop of the glass top I have for my 5.5 gallon tank. I have anubias nana and java fern in there right now.

Red1313

If you have live plants then fluorescent is the way to go. Fluorescent lights give off the full light spectrum which plants need to survive. Incandesents just give of a limited spectrum and lots of heat.

Neji

I agree with Red1313

Incandescent light bulbs aren't very good for the aquarium. They give off SO much heat, and not as much light. Fluorescent light bulbs are much better for the plants and the entire tank My plants always died when I first had Incandescent light bulbs. Although when I bought my 29 gallon tank, I could have full spectrum Fluorescent light bulbs So I put in some new plants, and they flourished well Just a little bit of fertilizer twice a week, and they were just thriving

Although my 10 gallon tank didn't survive well until I put in fluorescent lights that were fit for a 10 gallon tank So then I didn't have to worry about my plants dieing and me having to transfer them into my larger tank

I hope you have a fluorescent light bulb in for your 5.5 gallon tank!

Good luck!

Neji

Mystic54

Thank you both! I kinda figured I was going to be getting the fluorescent but it would have been nice to get the incandescent since they are about $20 cheaper than the fluorescent lol...darn.
I just recieved my java fern in the mail today so I will have to go to Petco to see if they have the strip light in stock. Hopefully they will!

Neji

Yehp

Just remember, fluorescent = good, incandescent = bad for plants