I am looking to set up a 10g planted tank and am new to the fresh water plant thing. I am looking to have a small school of cardinal tetras and a single betta. I have searched and looked all over the place but cant find much info on what I can put onto of a standard 10g for lighting. Can some one show me a link to what I need were I can buy online. Also would it be easier to just go with a 12g eclipse tank? Is the lighting that comes with it substantial for most plants? Thanks
10gallon lightig confusion
- Thread starter 97t-bird
- Start date
I don`t know how to link.If the hood has regular scew ins you want a Cfl or compact flourescent bulb 2u.It should say something around 6400K on the bulb.One or two 11-13 watt bulb should keep plants alive along with a bottle of fertizer.
Any generic 10g hood that has screw in type bulbs will work ... You can pick one up at Walmart or should be able to order from most any big name online pet store.
I am setting up a 10g planted tank now (just waiting on my plants to be mailed to me) . I just bought a cheap tank from Walmart for like $25 that came with tank,hood and a small filter. I just went to the lightbulb section and got a pack of 6500k Daylight 10w screw in CFL bulbs for like $6 . I had to go with the 10w ones because the spiral of the bulb is alittle smaller and makes them fit in the hood better as some of the 13w ones seemed like they would be a real tight fit. But I believe with the two 10w ones giving me around 2wpg I will be fine growing most any low light plants I want too.
I am setting up a 10g planted tank now (just waiting on my plants to be mailed to me) . I just bought a cheap tank from Walmart for like $25 that came with tank,hood and a small filter. I just went to the lightbulb section and got a pack of 6500k Daylight 10w screw in CFL bulbs for like $6 . I had to go with the 10w ones because the spiral of the bulb is alittle smaller and makes them fit in the hood better as some of the 13w ones seemed like they would be a real tight fit. But I believe with the two 10w ones giving me around 2wpg I will be fine growing most any low light plants I want too.
This is almost true. Any screw in type hood should work, but make sure to read the wattage capacity of the hood. Over a 10g, you'll be interested in 40 to 55 watts. Make sure the wiring of the hood can handle that.
Check out www.rexgrigg.com. It has lots of great information, but definitely check out the section on lighting and minimum light threshold.
The 2U style bulbs have two u-shapes tubes and are much thinner than the curley type.Not as common but can be found.Dollar type stores usually have them.
The sticker in my hood says "Use lamps rated at 25w max" ....So I am assuming I could use two 25w bulbs if I could find any CFL type that would even come close to fitting.... All of the long U-shaped ones I have seen are in the wrong light spectrum for growing plants is why I went with the 10w 6500k daylight bulbs..... This will be my first attemt at a planted tank so I am just starting out simple
The sticker in my hood says "Use lamps rated at 25w max" ....So I am assuming I could use two 25w bulbs if I could find any CFL type that would even come close to fitting.... All of the long U-shaped ones I have seen are in the wrong light spectrum for growing plants is why I went with the 10w 6500k daylight bulbs..... This will be my first attemt at a planted tank so I am just starting out simple
Correct, if it'll fit, you can use any screw bulb up to 25w. 2 10w bulbs isn't a lot over a 10g tank. Stick to low light plants. You can run a low tech system. You won't need co2 or ferts, just the low light and some nice low light plants.
That is what I am going after now...low-light plants.
Ordered some from Mgamer so should have then by the end of the week.
mellowvision
Seafood Lover
I have 40w dual daylight over my 10gallon, it's way too much in my opinion. I wish I had a lower wattage. it's a current usa fixture