[th08tu]

Hello everybody,
Currently I have a 20 gallon tank lit with 1 T8 18" 15 watt life-glo and a compact 15 watt U shaped screw in bulb I put in a desk light and shine it into the aquarium. I am interested in replacing/building my own hood to improve the lighting because I don't think I will be able to grow anything with these lights, but I don't really know where to start. I have been reading the forums but it all seems a little confusing. I was wondering if anybody could point me in the right direction with maybe the hood they use for their 20 gallon, or a link to a DIY hood that would work. Thanks very much everybody!

 

[pKaz]

You could certainly grow low-light plants with those lights, or you could go with something like this over a glass top.

http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18360/si1379084/cl0/coralifefwt5aqualightdoublestriplight24

 

[th08tu]

Thanks for the reply, I have a few more questions though.

1. Could you grow plants under the bulbs that are supposed to be used for reptiles, not the fluorescent bulbs which seem to be aquarium bulbs in differnent packaging but the halogen bulbs? They seem to produce much more wattage than any I can find made for aquariums without getting into long flourescent bulbs.
2. For my current setup, would it benefit from a DIY CO2 setup? I tried one already and after 3 days one morning I found all of my fish at the top of the tank and their gills going crazy, so I took out the co2 and put in a bubbler temporarily to increace the Oxygen. I am not sure if it is because the plants aren't fully established so they would not use the extra CO2 or if their is not enough light for them to use it and therefore I am oversaturating the water. Thanks for the help!

 

[Wasserpest]

Halogen light might have a higher wattage, but that means mostly that a lot of energy is turned into heat rather than light. Fluorescent lamps are usually the way to go.

It's not so much the plants that determine the CO2 level by using it, it is the rate of diffusion, and loss due to surface agitation etc. So if you add a lot of CO2 to your tank, and there is not much surface movement, it can overdose the tank and kill the fish, no matter if there are few or lots of plants.

You need to figure out what CO2 level is good for your tank. With 15W over a 20gal tank CO2 will not make a huge difference.

 

[th08tu]

ok that makes sense, too bad I thought I had a cheap way of getting the tank to 3wpg no prob, guess not lol.

 

[th08tu]

so does anybody know a cheap way to get high level light on a 20 gallon? (i.e. under $100?)

 

[bobulot]

I am interested in this as well. Does anyone recommend the coralife 65w for a 20g?

 

[Hoppy]

http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/product_info.php?cPath=71_136&products_id=1410
One of those, with the legs would give you as much light as needed to grow any plants you want to grow. Good CO2 would be essential for this to be anything but an algae machine. Of course, you wouldn't want to use an actinic bulb in it, but you could get them to substitute a planted tank bulb.

 

[Church]

You could buy two of these fixtures. That would still bring you under $100.

 

[pKaz]

Both Hoppy and Church made excellent suggestions, and as stated previously you will need CO2 with that much light. You could also try this: http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/244414/product.web

and it's on sale.

 

[Church]

^ I think that would require CO2 just as easily as 2 of the normal output ones would. It's high output, so it's too powerful. If the OP is not considering CO2, I recommend only ONE of the fixtures I linked to above. Then he can add another one down the line after upgrading to CO2.

 

[th08tu]

thanks for all the suggestions everybody! I will definatley look at them and pick one this weekend!

 

[bobulot]

So with high light you need co2? What would a good wattage be for a 20g high without using co2?

 

[Church]

^ Just using ONE of the coralife fixtures I linked to above would be perfect for that. It's 28 watts of normal output T5 light, which is very efficient. Watts per gallon doesn't apply so much anymore when talking about T5 light, and it applies even LESS when talking about high output T5's.

 

[pKaz]

^ I think that would require CO2 just as easily as 2 of the normal output ones would. It's high output, so it's too powerful. If the OP is not considering CO2, I recommend only ONE of the fixtures I linked to above. Then he can add another one down the line after upgrading to CO2.

Agreed. I never said or implied that it wouldn't? I guess I didn't make that clear enough though. High output lighting requires co2. The question was for high light over a 20g and I was merely making another suggestion to consider in addition to the two that were already given.

 

[pKaz]

^ Just using ONE of the coralife fixtures I linked to above would be perfect for that. It's 28 watts of normal output T5 light, which is very efficient. Watts per gallon doesn't apply so much anymore when talking about T5 light, and it applies even LESS when talking about high output T5's.

I second that, I currently have one of the coralife normal output fixtures on a 20g (high) with no co2 and it is the perfect light.

 

[bobulot]

so 28 watts in sufficient for most plants in a 20g tall?

 

[Church]

Yes, your average low to medium light plants would do just fine.

 

[CuLan]

The 24" Nova Extreme SLR T-5 Fixtures from DrFS is only $68 for 48W.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+13822+16770&pcatid=16770

Does anyone have any comment on this? Is it good for a 20G High? Can it seat on a glass top or does it need mounting legs? Thanks.

 

[lauraleellbp]

The 24" Nova Extreme SLR T-5 Fixtures from DrFS is only $68 for 48W.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+13822+16770&pcatid=16770

Does anyone have any comment on this? Is it good for a 20G High? Can it seat on a glass top or does it need mounting legs? Thanks.

You'll need pressurized CO2 and a great fert regimen to keep up with that light level, it's extremely high.