Lighting a 5 gallon

[blue2fyre]

Well I've been doing this first planted tank thing for a few months now and nothing has died yet so I'm planning on getting serious lol. Currently I have a low light set up in my 5 gallon with some java moss, java fern and a bit of money wort. The lighting set up is a clip desk lamp clipped to a shelf above the tank with a CF bulb in it at about 13 watts. This looks hideous lol. I loose so much lighting to the rest of the room I'm not even sure how much light my plants are actually getting. I looked into getting a hood for the 5 gallon but a fluorescent hood is $40! So I'm looking into other options. I can get a small fluorescent light strip at Menard's but it's only 8 watts.
I don't mind going DIY as long as it's not too complicated. Is it possible to convert an incandescent aquarium light into one that uses CF bulbs? The tank is also an odd size and only 14" long.

 

[Fish-Addict]

You might be able to get away with the really short lamps by Arcadia. I used this on my 8 gallon tall which had the foot print of a five gallon and it is really good.

Not sure how any watts though so they might be nt as good as what youre using now

 

[skiptomyzoo]

why don't you just build a canopy then, and fit a light you want in it. I guess theres a desk lamp thats 27 watts compact, that alot of people retrofit into it. Of course now that i am looking for the thread, i can't find it.

 

[blue2fyre]

Well it's a metal rimmed tank so I don't believe I would have the skill to make a canopy that would look right. I just found some CF bulbs that are made to fit in an incandescent hood so I think I will go that route. It only gives me 10watts but it seems to be the best i can find for now.

 

[fineexampl]

I just have a standard "60" cfl bulb in mine from Ikea. It's nice and bright with a clean white to blue tone to it. I'm going to swap it out for a higher wattage bulb later this week. I think a 75 should work for me. The output on them is pretty good considering the size of them. I have a 5.5gal so we're kind of in the same boat. So far, the plants i have in there have been doing pretty well and absolutely taking root.