[fishkeeper01]

Hi i have a standard 10g tank that i plan on adding java fern and anubias nana to, i hav a t5 lighting system that is only 8w, will that work or do i need a stronger light?

 

[TheKribKeeper]

Should work I have a single 15w t8 bulb over my 10 gallon I put mylar inside the plastic reflector with double stick tape I do this on all my T8 plastic reflectors for some extra light which your T5 already has being more efficient and all. I have anubias nana, cryptocoryne wendtii green and 1 little stem of alternanthera reineckii which is surprisingly growing which I thought it wouldn't. So your t5 should be fine I leave my light on for 8 hours and no problems yet.

 

[fishkeeper01]

do you know of any stronger lighting systems because the hood that i have can hold only a 12in bulb(strip).

 

[Hoppy]

Is that a standard 20 inch long 10 gallon tank?

 

[fishkeeper01]

yes

 

[Hoppy]

Any T5 light long enough to evenly light the whole tank is going to be too much light to easily manage for that size tank. T8 lights are very good on 10 gallon tanks.

 

[fishkeeper01]

im sorry i dont really understand?

 

[Sotty]

t5s put out a lot of light. Much more light per watt than t8s or t12s which is why the old watt per gallon rule does not work for them.

A single t5 in a tank as shallow as a ten gallon is going to give you fairly high light which will likely lead to algae problems without CO2 and ferts.

Since you say you already have the light, I say give it a go. I would start by elevating the light above the tank a ways. I am not sure how much to be honest.

If you run into algae issues its likely from too much light, move the light up further, add floaters, put window screen over top of tank, employ other light lowering techniques until you find the sweet spot. Or get a t8 fixture which are really very good for low/medium light ten gallon tanks.

Good luck.

 

[fishkeeper01]

When im not sure how to raise since the light already has a fixture and a hood,
like this one(but not the exact thing of course).

http://pet.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pPETS-3760164r200.jpg