[Blackeyes]

As the titles says I'm wanting to gut and retrofit the light I recieved with my 20gal High tank. the light is about 22". I am on a very tight budget as it is and what im looking for in terms of wattage is 35-45wtts. I did some searching on here bought diy retrofit lighting that would work for me and i found none. So I ask you please help me out, this will be my first diy project. As for the way of cost $30-$40.

 

[yoink]

Have you looked at ahsupply? 36 or 55 watt Bright Kits I think the 36w would do the trick.

 

[bgssamson]

If you are ordering from ah supply get the 55 watts instead of the 36w as the kit is the same price (IMHO). The only difference is the 55w bulb is $2 more that's it you will not regret it. The 20g high is deep you will end-up upgrading soon & IMO that's a waste of money. This kit is very easy to do & you will see the BIG difference as far as the plant growth (with correct water params of course).

Post in the swap & shop that you are looking! maybe someone in the forum have one lying around collecting dust.

Just my 2cents!

-Brian

 

[Rex Grigg]

If you are ordering from ah supply get the 55 watts instead of the 36w as the kit is the same price (IMHO). The only difference is the 55w bulb is $2 more that's it you will not regret it. The 20g high is deep you will end-up upgrading soon & IMO that's a waste of money. This kit is very easy to do & you will see the BIG difference as far as the plant growth (with correct water params of course).

Post in the swap & shop that you are looking! maybe someone in the forum have one lying around collecting dust.

Just my 2cents!

-Brian

I'm going to have to get out my stupid stick and start going after this damn misconception that a 20H needs more light because it's a tall tank. Damn it all to hell. Look at the specs. The 20H is 16.75" deep. That's actually just about average for the range of tanks one normally finds. A 29 gallon is 2' taller but I NEVER see people recommending more light because of the height of the tank. A 55 gallon tanks is 4" taller but I never see people talking about how tall/deep they are in regards to lighting.

A 36 watt AH supply kit over a 20H makes a great low to mid light tank and allows you to grow a large number of plants. A 55 watt kit over a 20H almost requires pressurized CO2 and constant work. I have a 20H with a 55 over it and it's my most problematic tank. I have 110 watts of AH supply over a 29 gallon, 220 watts of AH Supply over a 55 gallon, 26 watts of AH supply over a 5.5 gallon and 55 watts over a 20H. All but the 5.5 have pressurized CO2. That 20H kicks my butt. Forget to fertilize it for a couple of days and it heads for the dark side. I can almost ignore the 55 for a couple of weeks with no problems. Not the 20H.

So PLEASE think before you type and don't make me get out the stupid stick.

 

[bgssamson]

Rex,

This is just my opinion! no need to bring out your stupid stick. I have only been running it for about year with this light (maybe not long enought) but so far everything is doing great with just few fuzz algae w/c is normal for me.

Again im very sorry about this damn misconception.

-Brian

 

[Rex Grigg]

No problem. It's just something that seems to have popped up on several forums in the past couple of weeks. One person even figured that due to the depth of the 20H that you would lose 40% of the light.

 

[Josea]

What do you reccomend over a 55? I have 2 22 inch lights that hold 18 inch florescent bulbs. Would you get the 36 or 55? Is this the only way to get more light without buying a whole new setup? There aren't any bulbs you can buy to put in light as is to grow plants? Thanks, Jo

 

[epicfish]

No, no way to put in bulbs as-is.

Depending on what you want, 2x55w would give you mid to high lighting, and 2x36w would give you low lighting. You can get 2x36w plus 2x55w if you want to grow pretty much any variety of plant you want.

edit: With higher lighting, you'll need to inject CO2.

 

[rspiegel]

I have a Ah supply 36W x 2 that I will be letting go of when my 55gl is done. Contct me if you still in the marcket in a week or so.

 

[crisps]

I upgraded my 20H from a crappy 15W to a 36W bright from AH supply.

It was pretty easy to do (acheived with a fruit knife and a screwdriver) and seems great.

For me the decision between 36 and 55 was the need for CO2. for now I don't have CO2. If I got 55 I would have needed it for definate.

BTW, the ballast you get for the 36W is rated at 55W anyway. I am not sure if the kits are identical. Maybe only the bulbs differ.

Also when you build it make sure that the distance between the bulb holders is not greater than the length of the bulb. That was my mistake. This happened because I tried to se the existing nothes for the screws in the original hood.