What am I doing wrong?

IMO you do not have enough light.

Why not retro-fit with PC lights.

I have to agree that with a 20 gallon tank your going to need more lighting. If you are a bit handy you can try something from ahsupply.com or try searching online for a replacement light. I've always found bigalsonline.com a good place to browse for stuff. The java fern and lutea might take with that low of lighting, but I can't think the anacharis would. If your wanting to stay low tech plant selection is key.

I agree with the others with regard to your lack of light for some of the plants.

I suggest going to Home Depot and picking up one of those two-sided bulb sockets that you find in ceiling fixtures. Pull the 15 watt fluorescent fixture that you're using and install the double bulb fixture into your hood along with two screw-in fluorescent bulbs (also available at HD) and you will have more than 1.5 wpg of CF lighting for less than $30.
If you do get the screw-ins at HD, look for or ask for the ones that are 'daylight' rated or 5500 - 6500K bulbs. They have two or three different types with different K ratings. The difference is that the ones that are 2300 - 4100K are very yellow and you probably won't like the look of that light. The plants won't care, but your eye will.
I think they have them rated at between 23 - 27 watts so look around.

Len

tmtpowers said:

Would a double strip light with two 15W bulbs be enough light for those plants?

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u could get away with that lighting but more would be better. even at 30w its only 1.5 wpg. u dont really need co2 untill u get to around 3 wpg. i know djlen suggested home depot, and they will have it, but walmart will be a little cheaper, actually alot cheaper. i wouldnt really recomend getting any bulbs from them, just the fixture and power supply. 6500k bulbs would work out best for growing out ur plants. u can order bulbs online and get a pretty descent price. dr. smith and foster have some on thier site. just make sure u get the right spectrum because if u dont the plants wont grow right and u will have quite a battle with algea. pc lights will give it a really nice look, they are just wayyyy more expensive than the diy method.

Go to Wal-Mart, get the brand Lights of America, 4-U type screw in CF bulbs, either 20 or 25 watts.

With those two, you'll have 40-50 watts...figure you lose 40% due to re-strike, and you should have 24-30 watts from those two plus your 15W = 40 to 45 watts over a 20 gallon....~2 WPG.

Instead of spending 30 bucks for 30 watts and having to do it yourself and it possibly looking like crap. I would suggest spending $50 for a 24" 65w Compact Fluorescent light from Coralife or something similar. 3+ watts per gallon and it looks nice.

tmtpowers said:

OK, being the woman of the house, I have to ask, can anyone show me some links/pictures of what it is I need to get and let me know how I install them? LOL I know the bulbs you are talking about and I know the celling fixtures that contain two bulb sockets, however, I have no clue how I'm suppose to take off the socket thats in the hood now nor how to install everything. Also clueless about the power supply part.

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I generally do everything 'on the cheap' becuase I don't care what the end results look like.. it's in my basement after all. Here was my solution:



Not pretty, but very effective. That's 92 Watts you're looking at and I have two fittings over my 40Gal. I ended up backing off and going with 3-lights per fixure becuase it was too much light. Each fixture cost about $30 each.

If you're looking for a "piece of furniture" however, this is not the direction you should go.