Confused About Lighting

[tunerhead24]

Yesterday I purchased 2 amazon swords and 2 anubias nana plants for my 20 gallon tank. I also decided to chancge the light bulb so the plants could get better lighting, me not knowing anything about lighting asked the clerk for a bulb that was mad for plants. He gave me a 15w sun-glo 4200k T8 lamb bulb, but to me the light seem dimmer than the flaurecent 18w lamp bulb I used to have. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[waterdrop]

Either bulb would probably be fine for a 20g tank. The important part will be what you do next with fertilization and carbon. I'd begin reading the pinned articles in the planted section if you're interested.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Colin_T]

15 or 18watt globes are pretty dull and probably a bit small for a 20g tank. A couple of globes would make it brighter.
Plants do best when grown under lights with a temperature or Kelvin (K) rating between 4,000K and 10,000K. Generally 6,000K is a nice compromise with globes around the 10,000K having a brighter white looking light, and those around 4,000K having a duller red coloured light.
Anything between 4,000 & 10,000K should be fine and I like the 10,000K but others prefer the lower Kelvin ratings.

 

[Marshall..]

I just grow anubias nana solely,you attach it to bog wood making cleaning easier and it actually thrives in shade so I only have the lights coming on for a short period,this also helps to beat the dreaded algae!

 

[tunerhead24]

Thanks for the info guys!