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i was just wondering what the most economical (yet effective) options for my tank would be (ie: what can i buy at home depot? ) i have a 10G tank with an incandescent hood on my (currently) fish only tank.

would "screw in" compact flourescents be a good option? or, can i buy just a "normal" flrouescent light fixture and put a high output flourescent in there?

also, is more intense lighting even necessary if i'm not planning to keep corals/inverts? does it benefit the fish, live rock, or algae?

let me know what you think! thanks

Fish only tanks don't need anything approaching high light. You'd be fine with an average fluorescent strip light, or something even cheaper. Even if you want live rock later, it will still not require any extra lighting. Hitchhiking critters from the rock might, but the bacteria itself does not benefit.

For simplicity, I think a strip light would be the best option. Just buy the twenty inch light from any area pet store and you're done. These light fixtures won't be able to support a higher wattage bulb, so if you buy the strip light you won't get much use out of it if you go with more intense lighting later on. As for the incandescent bulbs, I've been warned against using them on fish tanks. The higher heat output and diminished power capabilities kind of make them unattractive to use.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

I don't see any reason you'd have to buy a new light strip and you'd need a new cover for the tank unless you buy a strip with a seperate glass cover and leave the tank open top. Probably not a good idea considering evaporation and the chances of something leaving such a short tank. It would be easier just to get screw in flourescents for the current hood but it would be probably be best to get at least daylight spectrum and most hardware stores only carry 20-25w screw ins in daylight. Most stores that sell fish or at least fish supplies have 10w full spectrum screw in flourescents for cheaper than I paid for the 25w bulbs that I got at the hardware store. Generally they are very easy to find. I'd just use those if you aren't keeping anything that requires light. If you want corals later and you stick with the incandescent hood you can always go get stronger bulbs and/or buy special spectrum bulbs from aquarium stores or the internet. If you go buy a strip and change your mind you can't upgrade it later without buying a new one.

sorry, maybe i wasn't entirely clear, but i do have 10lbs of live rock in the tank currently. so far, the only "critters" that i've seen that came with it is one little hermit crab.

i don't think i'm going to add any corals in such a small tank, but would macro algae, invertibrates (such as shrimp), etc... benefit from better light?

currently i have an incandescent hood on the tank (that i had kicking around in my pile of spare supplies) with two 25 watt bulbs. i kind of wanted to avoid buying a whole new flourescent hood if possible as they tend to be about $50 or so, not including the proper bulb (ie: those made for marine tanks). but, if this is really strongly recommended, i have no problem buying one. i was just hoping to find a thrifty and clever alternative! ; )

25w incandescents usually melt hoods eventually. I really suggest you get those bulbs out of there and put in some screw in flourescents. I've cooked a fair amount of fish and melted a 10g hood using incandescents. Incandescent lighting also doesn't provide much if any useful light and makes the tank look quite yellow. I'm sure you'd be much happier with screw in flourescents and you wouldn't have to pay for a new lighting setup. I don't know enough yet to say what needs light and what doesn't but I know if you aren't using at least daylight rated flourescents there probably isn't anything benefitting from it.

Macroalgae would prefer more light, but if you already have some growing in your tank then it's likely fine. If your light isn't strong enough for whatever algae may have come with the rock, then it is probably already dead. You'd have to get more by going out and actually purchasing the algae. Shrimp, crabs, and other such motile invertebrates won't need any extra lighting. The only things that would (off the top of my head) are anemones, some sponges, and many coral species.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

so, it would be in my best interest to buy some screw in flourescents then, i suppose... that i can do : ) any suggestions about them as far as what kind, wattage, etc... to get?

thanks for all your help!

Last edited by niggit at 12-Jan-2006 12:33

The wattage isn't important as long as you don't go over what your fixture is rated for. Since you have a ten gallon tank, I assume that the fixture is twenty inches and the bulbs are eighteen. The most common eighteen-inch bulbs are fifteen watts, and that would be just fine. The actual "type" or color temperature of the bulbs isn't really a big concern either. You could use anything from daylight to actinic, the main thing that you will need to consider is how you want the tank to look. Go with a color temp that is too high, and the tank will appear very blue. Purchase a bulb with a very low temperature, and things will look yellow.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

I would go compact fluorescent bulbs in there. Make sure to measure before you buy, lol took me 3 sets before I got the right ones. Then based on that buy the largest lumen output possible (use wattage if lumens is not listed) make sure to get it in the proper spectrum.



"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man" Simpsons

I assume that the fixture is twenty inches and the bulbs are eighteen. The most common eighteen-inch bulbs are fifteen watts, and that would be just fine.

If the hood has incandescents now we are talking about adding compact flourescents not long tube bulbs. That means the bulbs are anywhere from 10-25watts.

If your not doing anything that requires light then it doesn't seem to matter what wattage you put on. 25w is the easiest daylight bulb to find in hardware stores. Try to find at least daylight spectrum bulbs. I don't think you need any blue light or 10,000k spectrum for what's currently in the tank so you don't have to buy specialty bulbs. The daylights are around 6,500-6,700k usually. I think coralline algae will grow in that.

Good point about the compact fluorescent bulbs. I've never touched them before and don't plan to. The standard wattage and size I quoted wouldn't apply to the compacts here.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."