10 Gallon Lighting

[beez]

does anyone know if there is any kind of vho lighting for a 10 gallon tank. i have looked extensivly but every light that is 18" for a 10 g tank is 15 watts. im trying to create my 1st planted tank. everyone keeps saying 2 wpg which i cant seem to figure out how to do in my small tank with a single strip light. any suggestions? is there a better bulb out there??

thanks,
beez

 

[france]

I use the 20" Satellite Compact Florescent Fixture for my 10 gal.

 

[Themuleous]

You're not going to get a T8 tube of 18" that is more than 15w as they come in standard sizes, if you want more light either add a second tube or swap the whole system to T5's.

Sam

 

[voo]

What size is your tank? is it 1 foot or 2?
Take a look at this and this guy's shop, he has 1ft and 2ft T5 lighting:

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

 

[Themuleous]

Just checked out that lighting rig Voo it says i takes 3 x 14w T5 tubes but I have yet to come across T5 tubes that are that small?

Most start at 22" and are 24w

Sam

 

[voo]

I was looking at getting those for my tank, hope they are T5
Also found these:

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...me=STRK:MEWA:IT
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1
(110W on a 2ft tank, 10 g?? 11Wpg???)
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...me=STRK:MEWA:IT
(48W - 4.8wpg)

Can anyone confirm that these are proper T5 lights?
Also is a Blue Actinic bulb of any use in a planted tank?

 

[Themuleous]

I have been keeping an eye on these for my 2' nano, if it were me I would get the last one you posted. 24w T5 bulbs are easy to find and are 22" long so no probs there. I currently have just over 6WPG over the nano.

The middle one is ridiculous, unless you're keeping stupid corals or something I cant see any 2' tank needing 110w!

The first one just seems a waste of money, why get 28w lighting when for an extra 10quid you can have 48w! I have emailed the seller about this set up to find out what the difference is and why you only get 14w bulbs but he never replied.

If you do get one I'd be interested to know how you get on with it, replacing my existing lighting is my next big purchase. Oh and dont forget you'll need to change the supplied bulbs for plant specific ones which you can get from Aquaessentials or Aquatics online. You could ask him not to include bulbs and try for a discount? Worth a go I would say!

Sam

 

[voo]

Someone posted this link to lighting in the US:
http/www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageA...EWPROD&ProdID=9

is there anywhere in the UK that is that cheap?

I've asked the guy if he'd sell without the bulbs

 

[Themuleous]

Not that I know of, if you find somewhere let everyone else know!

Sam

 

[beez]

thanks for the advise everyone. i think ill just end up putting a glass canopy and going a satelite or some thing close to that. heres another ? the tank has only javamoss and java ferns in it now. do i need more than 1.5 wpg for low light plants such as these.

 

[Themuleous]

No both java moss and java fern will grow in low light, it just wont be fast or particularly lush that's all.