Lighting Combatibility

[DarkDH]

Hello!

After just looking at my hood, I realized that my lighting was only a 17 watt for a 20 gallon aquarium. I was originally going to settle for a 20 watt as a small upgrade until I saw this: http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=1147

It's a 75 watt tube. Is this compatible with the existing connectors that are present in my tank hood?

Thank you

~Nathan

[archer772]

Your hood has a NO (normal output) ballast and those lights are VHO and require a VHO ballast

[DarkDH]

Your hood has a NO (normal output) ballast and those lights are VHO and require a VHO ballast
Oh. That sucks for me. Since I am the average teen, I don't really make enough to afford an expensive (In my world) ballast. Plus I am not good a retrofitting things, I might as well start saving for a new hood.

Here it is:http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=898

This will be suitable for a 20 gallon long, correct?

[livingword26]

Measure your tank to make sure, but I believe a 20 gallon long is 30" so you would need a 30" light. Unless its a 20 gallon tall.

http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/tipsandtables/l/bltanksize.htm

[DarkDH]

Oh crap... I measured the light, not the Tank. Yeah, its 30 inches

[livingword26]

Well the 30" model would put you well into the high light zone at 3.25 wpg. If you go with that you are definitely going to need co2 and ferts.

http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=899

[DarkDH]

Well, I am not really wanting the high light. Should I just stick to the 20 watt?

[livingword26]

I use this one, its 36 watts

http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18360/si1379085/cl0/coralifefwt5aqualightdoublestriplight30

[TwoTankAmin]

I have a twin tube std. fluor. over one of my 20Ls. Its only a pair of 24 inch 20w bulbs- but the tank is a jungle and gets pruned weekly.