Help on lighting upgrade

[ianjoe]

On my 29g I currently have a 24" 55w pc fixture along with a 15w NO strip. That gives me about 2.4wpg. The problem is that the light coverage is poor. The corners are dark, and plants are growing diagonally. 30" tanks a bugger to light.
The options I am debating are:
1. 30" CSL britelite 1x65 watt. This would give me about the same wattage but with better coverage.
2. 30" aqualight 2x65 watt, thats 130 watts total, for 4.4 wpg. Im leaning towards this. great coverage. Plus, with the mounts for this fixture I can acheive a nice clean open top look.
Am I just asking for trouble with this much light? I haven't had a speck of algae in my tank for a while.
thanks
ian

[OrionGirl]

I'd go with the second option. You may need to adjust the amount of plants and ferts to help prevent algae, but it should be too big a deal as long as you are prepared for it. I have a 55 with a 30 inch strip light on it, and know what you mean about the dark corners. If that tank had anything other than java ferns and crypts, it would be a bear. As is, it offers some good places for the nocturnal fish to hang out during the day without being totally hidden, and the plants are thriving.