what wattage?

[Lauren]

Doing my first cycle of the new 10g right now. I have everything except a bulb. So lets talk watts.

The tank will have fake plants, a beta and a hand full of tetras. I don't know if I want to go high-light, since I don't think I want to spend so much on a bulb. The light will be on for about 12 hours a day, so high-light and people sleeping issues won't be a problem.

What would be a good watt bulb for the new tank? Remember: I don't need the light for any plants.

 

[jt325i]

If you're not doing any plants the standard 15w will be fine on a 10g IMHO.

 

[yhbae]

What is the difference in temperature between the tank and your room temperature? (Or what would be the worst case scenario during winter?)

 

[Lauren]

We're in So Cal, so we don't have winter. The coldest it will ever get in the middle of the winter nights, is about 65 inside. Most of the time, the house is at 68-70 degrees. The tank is at 70 and holding.

 

[yhbae]

In that case, your heater requirement is very minimal... 25w should be more than sufficient... If you really want to be sure just in case you want to prepair for once-in-fifty years type of weather, you could get a 50w one...

You are lucky... I have to deal with up to 27F differential in temperature during the winter!

 

[aquariumfishguy]

I agree with the fact that lighting really isn't an issue with your tank, as long as it allows for some light so that you can feed your fish, and so you can see them too!

Also, the heater could be kicked up a knotch to say...around 77-78 degrees. Other than that, I'd say your pretty well set!

 

[yhbae]

LOL I must have been smoking pots when I was reading the original article... For some reason, I thought you were asking for heater requirement...

Must be the age...