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Ok, the Walmart screw in Fluorescents cost me $4.50ish a piece and they are each 120v 10w 60hz0.18 amps and 6500 kelvin (daytime).

thanks, i'll let you know how it works out..

Gem_07,
For the 5 gallon tank I'd suggest you look for a Daylight flourescent screw in bulb, something along the lines of this:

You should be able to find them in most hardware/DIY stores.

For the oscar tank, look @java fern. Its a slow grower, but once it's been tied and allowed to root onto driftwood or rock they'll do fine in lower light.

^_^
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i have a five gallon, and i need to go buy anew bulb. i found with my last one the plants didnt seem to grow very well (two small water sprite that looklike little bushes, and another thats more of a floating plant that looks like lilly pads, cant remember name, sorry) but alge seems to be growing like you wouldnt belive! i was just wondering if anyone had any theories as to why, and what would be a better bulb if that was the problem...thanks!
one more thing, i have alarge tank with oscars, and i know they like less intense lighting, but i like live plans (i know they will probably get up rooted but what the hey) so are there any plants that dont need as much light, or would be ok in an oscar tank?
anything anyone hasto say would be great...

Sneaky Pete:

At 4.6 watts per gallon the hygro isn't having to "stretch" to the light. That may be why it's stocky instead of growing taller.

Joe,
I actually hadnt thought about that. Duh! I wanted to keep the higher light cuz I have some red plants in there that need high light. However the algae does grow great!
I do have hygro in there (giant) and in fact it hasnt grown at all since I got it. Its only about 5 inches tall and stocky, has roots, but no growth.
I have duckweed in that tank grows like crazy, every month I discard about 2 cups worth off the top.
I am finding though that more frequent (every 3 days) water changes are starting to eliminate the algae slowly, or at least it doesnt seem to be growing so fast.


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SneakyPete, as 10 gallons are shallow, I'd say you could cut the wattage in half, and still consider it high light. This might improve your algae situation. Also, add some fast growers, like water sprite or Hygrophila, to compete with the algae for light and nutrients.

I have compact screw in flourescents over my 10g, mine are each 23 watts. I have 4.6 watts per gallon in there. Algae grows fabulously!!


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Awesome!! Thats one less thing I have to worry about. Again, thanks for the help.

Yeh, I like them so far. This girl gave me a 10 gallon with an old hood with two incandescent crappy bulbs in it. I was thrilled when I seen walmart had the 10w screw in's that would work great in there. for a total of 20w for my puffer 10g tank... So I painted the old hood and now it's has more watts per gallon and looks better than the 17w's my walmart 10g came with...

Thats a good bulb aquanator101 . A few of those over a 10 gallon will give you good lighting for plants. Better would be if a higher wattage could be found.

Sorry to hear that fishnewbie, guess not all the stores are carrying them.

^_^
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If I remember right, Wal-Mart sells the little bulbs that are supposed to be good for plant growth. Not the long ones but the little 6 inch bulbs with one end (you can tell im electrically inclined). I'm planning on setting up a 10 gallon tank with begginer plants for my betta and a school of cories. The hood I have uses two of those little bulbs and I was hoping they will work halfway decent.

I checked at my Home Depot.... I ended up buying the wrong bulb for my 2g betta.... It looked just like the one you showed me though babel... Oh well, only $5. I guess they don't have them here.

Home Depot? I wasnt aware that they would sell bulbs that would work for tanks...hmmm. I'll have to stop by there when we go up. And I will try to remember (or write down) the requirements. Thank you!

If the light bulbs are from the pet/fish department (they come in a blue box) then they will be what you need for your tank...they usually run about 1.98 or so for a pack of two...Those are what I use when my 10 gallon lights blow, and haven't had a problem, and my plants are doing well...Heidi


Last edited by hmlaird at 14-Dec-2004 16:09

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

I just purchesed two of the 10w florescent bulbs from walmart but do not know what the kelvin rating is until I get home... I will post then if they say on the box, probably around 4:30 cst.

No confusion here. I'm just trying to help you get the right thing for the tank. No use getting soemthing that's not going to work if you have to drive an hour for it. Even worse would be to buy something thats going to be detrimental to the tank.

If you have a home depot closer to you look in their lighting department, that's where I get my bulbs.

^_^
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I have no idea, I just remember seeing them for sale in wal-mart. I live about an hour from the nearest one so I can't check. I was just wondering if anyone might use them or know about them. Sorry for confusing you .

What type of light bulb are they. Incandescent, or florescent, how many watts, what kelvin?

^_^
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So 2 small wal-mart lightbulbs will be adequate?