How the heck am I supposed to do this?

[pnyklr3]

Ok. So I've realized that the plants I purchased (dwarf sag and Dwarf hairgrass, along the with amazon swords I bought about a week ago) seem to need more light than I already have. What is the easiest way to remedy this? I have a standard run-of-the-mill hood (two actually; 24" each for my 55 gallon) that has 34 total watts. Not enough for these plants right? They need, for the most part, moderate lighting.

This seems to me to be a bit subjective. Is there a "rule" for moderate lighting. When I went to a chain pet store, I could only find bulbs (I can't remember exactly what they were: Flora-something, and a few others all slated to improve your plants and fish colors) that were 20 watts each; only putting my tank @ 40 watts and still not enough for these plants, right? The person there told me that her plants do just fine with her standard run-of-the-mill lighting. I not only want my plants around for a while, I want them to be healthy and grow!

So, what are my options? Not not too technically saavy, so I think I'd need a bulb that would fit into my current hood instead to re-wiring or adding anymore ballasts (that's what they are called right?). Is there another place I should/could look for the appropriate bulbs? ALso, can my current hood maintain a bulb with higher wattage?

 

[Da_Oz]

You need new hoods or more lights. There is 24 inch 60watt light bulbs but your hood can't run them. Easy thing is to get all glass hood and more light strips. Even shop lights at 4 feet and get plant lights of 40w each times 4 and then you 160w of light not pretty to look at, but works great

 

[pnyklr3]

Ok, next question: Is is easier/cheeper to buy an all-glass hood or to make one? Also, could I find the materials for lighting at a hardware store? Is there a rule of thumb about low, moderate, or high level lights (like 1 watt/gallon=low; 2 watts/gallon=moderate; 3 watts/gallon=high)?

It seems as if I might be in over my head, but the answers to these would get me on the road to a planted tank (which has so many benefits that I don't want to find a plastic carpet of grasses).

One more thing. I have an external filter and need different openings (or feeding and such) in the hood. Does this mean that most people make theirs?

Thanks for the help so far!

Edit: Is there a way to tell what a ballast (?) will or will not run? Mine only says:120V, 60HZ, 0.32AMP it says nothing about wattage but gives a list of lamps to use. Does this mean that these are the only lamps I could use in it, and that they are all 17 watts or less?

 

[maestro]

OK

Standard flourescent lighting (t8) runs at 10 watt per foot length of bulb so a 24 inch bulb would be 20 watts, you can get different makes and colours saying there great for plants but at the end of the day they are only, each starter unit id designed to run at a strict wattage so you cant put a 40 watt bulb into a 20 watt ballast

You can also get T5 lighting which per foot of bulb offers more watts, but you need a t5 starter unit, you can get double starter units that run 2 bulbs

Another choice which would be great for you is T5 compact bulbs, these offer the best watts per foot ofbulb out of the 3, for example i have 3 16 inch bulbs that give out 36 watts each in my 20 gallon tank, again you need special starter units to fit these.

I look into the cheapest way to do it but witha planted tank your investment is really in the lights so theres no do it for next to nothing

 

[Silly me]

IF you have some DIY skills you could setup the lights in the current canopy.. You should have a look at the hardware store for some 6400K fullspectrum CF, these are those engery saver lights that fits into normal incadesent fittings, mostly sold at 2700K (warm white) and 4000K (cool white ) as long as you dont buy some under 5000K you should be fine, also you get them upto 20W each and you could easy add 6-8 into your canopy, but some DIY thinking might be needed and you dont need any balast/starter unit.

I bought those lights at a LHS and cost a fraction of the cost of aquarium lights. I bought 24 ( a box ) for the same prise as 2 20W hagen sunglows..

 

[Streetracer]

120 V * .32 A = 38.4 watts so a 40 watt bulb will work.

 

[enchanted]

The cheap option
DIY Canopy (not necessary but looks better)
Home Depot Shop Light Fixtures (2x40W 4' bulbs) x2 $7.99 Each on average
Phillips Daylight Max Bulbs (6500k) $6.99 for a 2 pack on average

The expensive option
www.ahsupply.com

2 - 55W retrofit kits for your current canopy.

or

DIY Hood and 4x55W Kits

The first option is inexpensive and gets you 160W. I have used it and Konrad05 uses it.

The second option is more expensive but gets you to Power Compact which is what many people seem to recommend.