[MarieB]

so yesterday I went to the LFS and got a start-up aquarium (10 gallons) in a box ... everything looks good, except for the lights! I can't even figure out what wattage or anything they are. This is the information I have:

the box says it has an "incandescent" hood and on the box for the lightbulbs it says SLi - Lighting 15T10/CL-120V does anyone know what that means?

 

[Wasserpest]

That means it comes with bulbs that are great as heaters, but not so good for growing plants. The good news is that you can replace them fairly easily with compact fluorescent bulbs. Your LFS might have them, Walmart used to sell them very cheap in their Pet section, 10W U-shaped daylight CF bulbs.

 

[MarieB]

thank you!

 

[smp]

so yesterday I went to the LFS and got a start-up aquarium (10 gallons) in a box ... everything looks good, except for the lights! I can't even figure out what wattage or anything they are. This is the information I have:

the box says it has an "incandescent" hood and on the box for the lightbulbs it says SLi - Lighting 15T10/CL-120V does anyone know what that means?

Bulb is a cheap 15 watt clear tubular incandescent (normally HOT) light bulb.

+1 for replacing it with a compact fluorescent.

 

[lauraleellbp]

You'll also probably need to run CO2 on the tank if you replace then with CF bulbs.

 

[MarieB]

will DIY CO2 work with those types of lights?

 

[lauraleellbp]

Yes, DIY should be fine.

Check out some tanks in the Journals and Low Tech forums, you'll find lots of 10gals set up this way. :smile: