Are any fluorescent bulbs from hardware or lighting stores fine for growing plants?

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Sep 25, 2006
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I'm doing the DIY lighting thing, so will any fluorescent bulbs work? If not, what type do I need?
 
The Home Depot I go to is where I got the lights I use for my tanks. They have "GROW" Flourescent lights that work great on my 20 gal. What size tank are you lighting?
 
Grow?

I am lighting a 20 gallon high.
 
The type you told me.

Like with 2 fluorescent bulbs and then the lamp sockets. Around 20 watt bulbs each. I am using individual bulbs, not a tube.
 
Sounds like a great plan! Well, like I said any flourescent bulb will work. 2 20 watt bulbs are good. Just be ready to battle algae. I have 2 WPG an lots of plants and I get mega loads of algae if my CO2 runs out or if I forget to dose ferts.
 
Ahh.

What's best way to get rid of algae?
 
CO2 helps the most. You also can dose flourish excel either alone or with CO2. Flourish excel is a source of carbon, but a DIY CO2 is cheaper. You just need to make sure your plants are getting enough nutrients to grow quickly and out-compete the algae.
 
Ahhh.

I'm not planning on getting co2. I do add fertilizer, but how often and how much should I put? So, any lights will work? Any K is fine?
 
If you go to Walmart, they have special bulbs. The GE ones are quite cheap. Get something in the 6500k range and, maybe, a plant lamp. Don't take only plant lamps, because then the fish look funny.

But consider one point: if you go for high light, this means you will have to add fertilizer and CO2. Otherwise, you'll have an algae farm in your tank ;).
 
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