My girls just set up a 10 gallon betta aquarium, I want it planted to help with keeping the water clean. Moss balls, anachris, low-moderate light options generally. I'd gotten this Hood from Amazon (Marineland LED Light Hood) and I don't see it providing anywhere near enough light. What are my options to get more light to the plants I want to place in there?
I have that same light for my QT tank. It's terrible for plants. Can you return the hood and get a glass lid? That'll open up your lighting options. If not, I'd get a dome fixture (like the reptile dome lights) and put a plant-friendly bulb (5000 - 10000 K) in there and place that over the clear plastic of the hood.
Could I replace it? Possibly - the reason I got it, however, was because the Marineland Hood had an area to cut out for a filter. Glass lid wouldn't work. Are there better options that have a 6"x3-4" opening for a filter?
Glass lids can work, as they have a plastic back that can be cut to fit your filter. Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/All-Glass-Aquarium-AAG29024-24-Inch/dp/B0002AS7ZS
Thanks, that might just do it. I've never set up a small tank like this, I've only worked with a 125 gallon before... What do you think of this light for it?
Oh my, that's quite a lot of light for a 10 gallon. I'd suggest the 20" glass top with something like the Finnex Stingray or similar (I love LED). Something in the 30-40 PAR range
I agree. Unless you're injecting CO2 and dosing ferts properly, you'll have an algae problem with that light.
