Options For a 10 Gallon

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Liquidbullets

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Feb 3, 2006
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I currently have a 10 gallon tank. I'm looking to convert it to a planted tank but the current cover I have is giving me problems. It's a cover I got at Walmart, and uses two bulbs. These bulbs get pretty hot and after a while really raise my tempature. Also I'm not sure if this light is suitable for plants. I got the bulbs also at Walmart and they said something about being for plants. I'm only planning on planting Java Fern, Java Moss, Anubia, and Amazon swords all low tech plants.

My questions are what options do I have with covers? Is there another cover I can get that will hold a strip bulb that will supply my tank with 1.5-2 watts per gallon?

Is there a custom option. Such as putting an acrylic cover and placing another light source above?

I'm also planning on having a stock of 3 Corys, 1 Betta, 1 Platy, a shrimp or two and a small school of something that schools some sort of terta? Currently have a betta with 3 corys and a platy.

Any help would be appreciated. I want to get the light issue sorted out in order to stock the aquarium with low light, hardy plants. Any suggestions on plants would also be appreciated.
 
You probably have incandescent bulbs so you could get two screw in fluorescents and that should solve the light issue
 
Do the bulbs have a "splash-guard" over them or are they exposed directly to the water? I used to have a hood on my 10 gallon with bulbs exposed directly to the water and it heated up like crazy!
 
They have a splash guard type thing, but it stills heats the water enough that my heater doesn't turn on after a while of having my lights on.

Do they sell small flourescent bulbs? If so where? I haven't seen them in Petsmart, or maybe I've overlooked them. Would they be enough to supply 1-2 watts per gallon for a 10 gallon?
 
I've seen the screw-in flourescents at wal-mart, my LFS and online at Drs. Foster and Smith.
 
I switched to the flourescent bulbs and no longer had the heating problem... and they work great for all my plants (anubias nana, anacharis, java fern, java moss, dwarf saggitaria, several crypts). I bought mine at my LFS.
 
Yes, those screw in compact flourescents are great. I switched to them. Cheapest are at Wal-Mart for less than $5 each. Considering how frequently the regular bulbs burn out, they are a bargain and the light is really nice for plants.
 
You can look for the screw in fluorescents in any hardware store.
 
Look for one that has a mini ballast. Probably 13-15 watts each will be fine for you in a moderate light setup. I have 14 watt bulbs in mine. A daylight corrected colour bulb will look nicer in the tank, much brighter.

Just look in the light bulb section of pretty much any store that sells light bulbs.
 
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