Recommend Lighting for 20G

[evster]

Hi I've been keeping fish for years now, but I am relatively new to planted tanks. Right now I have the standard 15W flourescent strip light on my 20G tank, but I'm looking to upgrade to something better. I want something in the 1.5-3 WPG range because I do not want to deal with adding CO2 and fertilizers just yet.

I was looking at the 24" Coralife Aqualight Single Compact Fluorescent Strip Light at http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=9871&N=2004+113345

I think this would be a great light but my concern is how does it fit on my current aquarium? I assume I would have to buy an all-glass hood (like this one http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3790&rel=1) in place of the plastic one I have now and just lay the light down on top of it. Has anyone done this? Does it work? I saw that you can buy the optional legs for this light too. Do you think those are necessary? Also, if there are any other lights out there in that price range that I should be considering please let me know.
Thanks!

[webcricket]

I just replaced the lights on my 20 gallon tanks with Coralife fixtures. I did buy the All-Glass Versa tops to replace my old hoods, they are nice. You can either lay the fixture on the glass canopy, or mount it over the canopy (or open water) using the legs.

65 watts of lighting on a 20 gallon is likely going to put you into needing CO2, either the injected kind or the DIY yeast bottles.

I got these fixtures: http://www.hellolights.com/241xcoraqpch.html

They are 36 watt compact fluorescent lights, which will be okay in a 20 for low light and some medium light plants without needing CO2 (aside from maybe some Flourish Excel). The 50/50 saltwater bulbs they come with need replacing for freshwater.

[evster]

OMG not sure what I was thinking there! I made that post late last night before bed and didn't realize that 65W would be over 3WPG in my tank! How embarrassing. Thanks for the heads up. I think the light fixture you linked me to would be the perfect setup for me. What bulb should I buy in replacement of the 50/50? I was thinking the hellolights 10,000K one, but I'm not sure what's best. I am probably going to pass on the legs if you think they are not necessary.

[Logy]

How long are your 20 gallon tanks? I soo want to go planted, but 2 18" florecent bulbs only brings me to 1.5wpg...which is still not great for plants. :sad:

[evster]

My 20G tank is the tall version, not the wide version. Its only 24" wide. Not sure exactly how tall it is though.

You'd be surprised what 1.5 WPG can do. My 10G tank has the standard 15W stock flourescent in it and I am growing some betta bulbs and some anacharis very well. I have a java fern in there that I'm still waiting to see some growth on, but it is definitely possible to grow at least some plants at 1.5 WPG.

[webcricket]

I got the Coralife 6700K bulbs, but the 10000K one would be fine too - it will give a much "whiter" light whereas the 6700K tends more toward green/yellow.

Bigalsonline.com carries that light fixture as well for about the same price, but I went with hellolights because they had the extra bulbs for cheaper and a day/night light timer I wanted.

Logy, you could grow several types of low-light plants in 1.5 wpg! Java ferns, mosses, anubias, crypts, all should do well in that light. Check plantgeek.com and look up their low-light plants, you'll find quite a variety.

[CaitxSith]

How long are your 20 gallon tanks? I soo want to go planted, but 2 18" florecent bulbs only brings me to 1.5wpg...which is still not great for plants. :sad:
go for low light plants!

java moss, java fern...

[Marinemom]

Anubias and crypts will also do well in that amount of lighting. Some vals is another choice to consider. It can be done. You just have to have the right selection of plants for that amount of light.

Marinemom

[BigAlFromCal]

We have a 20g long (30") that I put one of those Corallife 96w freshwater lights over. We also added a RedSea yeast-type Co2 system. It has been going gangbusters ever since! I'm actually going to take out the 24" light that's over it now and replace it with a 30" (cause it will FIT!) and put the 96w 24" over a 10 gallon that I'm setting up. Yeah, 9.6 wpg! Should grow everything....including algae.... But right now, aside from a small algae issue in the 20g, it's perfect.

[John N.]

For a 20 gallon Low/medium light tank:

1) Coralife 24 65 watt fixture

Supplementation of Seachem Excel will help in the CO2 department if you're not keen with DIY CO2. Also, the amount of light and algae issue can be controlled with shortening the photo period.

-John N.

[evster]

Well I wound up buying the 24" 36W fixture + extra bulb that webcricket recommended and it arrived today! I chose the 36W because I'm still learning about planted tanks and low light plants with no CO2 seems like it would be a better way to go for now. I'm very excited to get it set up but won't have time to play with it until the weekend.

I took it out of the box to check it out and it looks like I will have to unscrew one of the sides to open it up so I can replace the bulb. Is this correct? It did not come with any instructions for replacing the bulb.