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Converting to CFL

964 Views 5 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  PlantedRich, 
A
I am converting the hood that came with my aquarium to cfl lighting. My question is can I just have 1 bulb for my 20 gallon tank? It's 24 inches high and 16 inches deep. I want to grow low to medium light plants without co2.
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GeToChKn
Iwould got 2-3. I have 3x13w over my 20gal with no co2 and everything is growing great.
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Seattle_Aquarist
Hi abraham3660,

Are you talking about using the 'screw in' type CFL bulbs or the Power Compact type retrofit kits?
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A
Seattle_Aquarist said:
Hi abraham3660,

Are you talking about using the 'screw in' type CFL bulbs or the Power Compact type retrofit kits?
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I am talking about the screw in type. I am asking, because i already have a socket that was laying around my house, and was just wondering if i had to go buy another socket.
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Seattle_Aquarist
Hi abraham3660,

In order to have reasonably even light across the entire 24" length of the tank I would use two (2) bulbs.
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PlantedRich
2
If you have a wooden hood or other ways to attach them, I like the temporary construction bulb holders. Strung along a cheap extention cord they are the ultimate easy DIY and about as cheap as possible. The bulbs cost more than the holders! They just clip on the cord so you can move them to any point along the cord you like. At one point, I had four on a 20 gallon.

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