10 gal lighting

[SBee]

I've got a great little 10 gallon set up, that I spent a lot of time preparing with slate terracing. The tank came with the standard fluorescent bulb that I'm assuming all the kits come with. Would there be a better bulb that I could use to grow plants?? so far the plants I have aren't doing so hot. The substrate is black sand, with a bit of black gravel in the deeper sections that holds on to the plant roots a bit better. I'd rather not part with it!!

I'm not interested in making a new hood and using 10 million bulbs with 10 gazillion watts though....I just need to know if there's a better bulb that I could be using instead...aka cheap and easy...

anyone???


thanks!

 

[beviking]

From what I've read, its the "full spectrum" bulb that closely resembles actual sunlight. These are better than the soft white (if that is the cheap and easy you're referring to) bulbs. However, I believe it's intensity (#watts/gallon) that is the most important. Try posting this question in Plants section. You may want to try a search on lighting first. I know this topic has been covered numerous times.
Oh, if you post the question, list what plants you have too.

 

[carpguy]

I have a 10g I recently set up (and have been neglecting ever since). As soon as I find a little extra time I'm going to get a 36w retrokit from AH Supply. This can be used to replace the innards of the standard flourescent you have now. Its not terribly expensive, its not terribly complicated, and it will give you plenty of light for plants (so much that you'll want to look into DIY CO2). The bulb will get hot, so you may want to lift the lamp up off the glass a little bit (an inch is fine). Someone, I think it was Superstein, reported cracking his glass top with the heat from the lamp. I haven't had this problem with the pair on my 30g, but its well vented and about an inch above the glass.

Of course if your just looking to replace the bulb, you want a bulb thats in the 5000k to 7000k area, and has a good CRI (90ish is nice). Bulbs make a difference. If you go this route try to concentrate on low light plants like crypts and java ferns.

 

[Slappy*McFish]

I took a look at your website, it appears that your plants just arent getting "enough" light....the bulbs you have are fine, but you really should aim for at "least" 1.5-2 watts per gallon(for low-med light plants), and make sure you replace the tubes every 6 months...also, plants arent going to do well without fertilizers, rooted plants need root fertilization, and stem plants need water column fertilization...especially if you have a small fish population and no source of nitrogen....and I agree that if you rather not go the route of lots of lights or CO2, etc, then you should really only consider low light plants as anubias, crypts, and mosses as previously mentioned.