trinket

I'm setting up a 10 gallon tank and want to put some live plants in.

The tank set up I bought came with incandescent bulbs which I understand are uselss and create temperature fluctuations. I want to switch out the bulbs for fluorescent.

The hood has a sticker that says there is a 25 watt limit-will this create problems? For 10 gallons that seems like okay watts for a low tech set up..but I want lo tech, so will I have a hard time finding replacement bulbs that total to less than 25?

I want to check the hardware store for CFLs, the energy saving sort..is it likely I'll find something that works there? I've read a bit about the K ratings, how important is that?

Recommendations on what sort to look for are helpful!

(I have some spiral type CFLs that are 13 watts, but they're not tube shaped..they fit fine, would these work? Is 1 watt over the hood's limit okay? Would 26 watts, which would be 2.6 WPG be way too much for a low-tech tank?)

Nutter

You should be able to use the energy saver bulbs you have with no problem. The worst that will happen is that you have a shorter bulb life. 2.6wpg is probably slightly too much for a low tech set up but it should work out fine if you are willing to dose with Seachem Excel (carbon source) & some form of fertilizer occasionally.

The kelvin rating is reasonably important but not as important as spectrum. Kelvin ratings let you know what colour light the bulb emits so that you can pick ones that will give you the visual effect you are after. Kelvin ratings that will be good for plant growth & give a good visual effect are usually 6,500-10,000k. Spectrum lets you know exactly how much of what wavelength the light puts out to make up the colour the bulb/tube emits. I always use combinations of different bulbs so that I get a visual effect that pleases me but also so that I get lights that are good for plant growth. Lights that are strong in the red & blue parts of the spectrum are very good for plant growth because plants generally reflect light from the green part of the spectrum. Heres a link that can help you understand lighting a bit better: http://www.fishlore.com/aquarium_light.htm

This link will lead you to a bunch of articles on lighting that you may find usefull: http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/g...al_pagesid=308

navyscuba

I have on my 10 gal planted CFL'S bright light. If you go this way make sure you use the smaller kind. I think mine are Nvision Brite White 14W. My plants grow super fast and the tank is squeakee clean.

trinket

Thanks for the replies.

Elodea

I jhust upgraded my tank from incandescents to fluorescents...is there by any chance your tank is a Top Fin 10 kit?

trinket

Indeed it is!
(best deal I could find locally)

I think what I'm going to do for now is use one of the CFLs I have and one of the incandescents (I've been keeping an eye on temp and it doesn't seem bad with one) for 1.3 WPG until I can find better lights.

aquarist48

Good morning,
I've moved your thread to the Freshwater/Lighting section of the forum to help you to get more responses.
Thanks!
Ken