Is 40 watt ok in 20 watt hood?

[renie]

Hi, I want to up the lighting in my tank so I can get more plants. Can I just get a 40 watt and replace my 20 watt? Can't find anything in my kit to indicate that I cannot do this. I have a 20 gal Top Fin Aq kit. Thanks!!

 

[Seaman]

if its a flourescent light (long tube) even if you were to find a higher wattage bulb in the right length, the ballast is what gives it its power, and it would still only run at 20w.


If its an incandescent (screw in ) kind of bulb, then the eaisest thing is to go buy a 40-60w compact flourescent screw in bulb....just keep an eye on it because CF bulbs can get hot.

Fluorescent:

Compact fluorescent:

 

[Kasakato]

If its a 40w bulb and a 20w ballast, the light will be really dim or will not light at all.

 

[renie]

Thanks Seaman and Kasakato. I have a flourescent bulb. Is the ballast the hood? Sorry, don't know all these parts descriptions. Based on your info, what do I do to up the wattage? How or where do I get another hood? I am clueless.

 

[Kasakato]

Well I think there is a white insert in the black hood. Under this is the ballast. It is a metal box with wires comming out of it. If you want tp up the wattage then you will need to get another ballast, a new light, and the clips on the ends. I tried this with mine but ended up getting a new hood.

 

[Seaman]

probbably the eaisest, and cheapest thing to do would be to see if your LFS you got if from will exchange it for an incandescent hood (screw in type) then you can pick up a 20-40w compact fluorescent light for under 10 bucks, and that should do it!!

Other than that you can get a retro fit kit for your current hood, to fit compact fluorescent bulbs in there...but its a pain in the ***, and more expensive. FWIW Hope that helps!!