Proper lighting for 20 gal goldfish tank

[NotGumbel]

I've been trying to piece info together based on other posts, but I'm going to admit my ignorance now and ask straightaways ... forgive me if I overlooked something obvious ...

I have a 20 gallon (high) tank that came with a 24" hood that reads 17W, and an 18" Eclipse Natural Daylight bulb. I'm not sure what wattage that bulb is, however.

Is this sufficient lighting for the bit of floating anacharis that I'm trying to cultivate? From what I'm reading, it seems not to be.

If not sufficient, do I have to buy a new lighting fixture, or are there simple (VERY simple for clumsy me!) means of making the current fixture more powerful? Or is it more cost- and time-effective to purchase a new fixture?

BTW I don't anticipate any plants other than the anacharis at any point.

Thanks in advance,
Bryant

 

[Galaxie]

Anacharis is fast growing and needs lots of light.
2-5+ watts per gallon. If you have 2x17w bulbs, a total of 34 watts isn't making that plant happy. The easiest route may be to upgrade your light hood to something that gives at least 40 watts, and up to 100.

I have a clump of hornwort as the only plant in my 55g with an oscar. Doesn't make sense to upgrade the whole lighting system for one plant, so I bought a clip-on light from Target and a 60 watt compact fluorescent bulb (60 watts for the power of 23). I set it to shine directly onto the hornwort, on a timer that runs from 11pm to 3am. The hornwort loves the direct light, but it doesn't look great (too bright), which is why the timer is set for overnight hours. Hornwort is thriving.....grows about 2 inches/week. It grows so fast, I don't even care that oscar pulls it up every few days.

 

[NotGumbel]

Anacharis is fast growing and needs lots of light.
2-5+ watts per gallon. If you have 2x17w bulbs, a total of 34 watts isn't making that plant happy. The easiest route may be to upgrade your light hood to something that gives at least 40 watts, and up to 100.

To clarify, there's a single bulb in use presently, so the plant really isn't going to be happy :sad: What would you suggest for upgrading - purchasing a new unit, or is there an easy way to make my current fixture up to snuff?

Thanks,
Bryant