65W vs. 55W CF

[FLNGroovy1]

I just setup a 29g tank about a month ago and wanted to try my hand at live plants. The 20W bulb that came with the tank was pretty useless...though my amazon sword and mondo grass wasn't dying, a couple other plants were turning white.

I just purchased an all-glass 55W CF strip light....big difference from the 20W obviously, but I was wondering if it would be worth it to get a 65W CF bulb? I know that it should fit my setup, but I've seen conflicting things about whether or not its really any brighter.

Should I get the 65W bulb or just stick w/ the 55W I have? Thanks!

[Beth]

I have a 55 watt cf on my 29 gal planted tank. I've been pretty happy with the growth of my plants. I do not inject CO2 but use Flourish Excel and Leaf Zone fertilizer. My substrate is small gravel with laterite mixed in.

The plants I have are

Jungle Vals
water wisteria
red ludwegia
java fern
sunset hygro
red hygro
various aponetogens
cabomba
amazon swords
dwarf hairgrass
red rotala

Obviously, some of my plants are doing better than others. But I've been pleased.

[hatton3]

I might be wrong, but from my understanding, the 55w and 65w are the same bulb. The ballast that you have just drives the bulb at 55w and a 65w ballast would drive the bulb at 65w. At least that is the story at hellolights.com with their bulbs.
cheers,

[GulfCstAquarian]

That's true. Depending on where you got your ballast (some JBJ fixtures come with load-sensing ballasts that will drive either a 55w or 65w to full output).
There is a noticeable difference between the two, though. But upgrading just the bulb won't do the trick.