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I'd like to change over my 10 gallon incandescent hood over to screw in compact fluorescent bulbs. The only bulbs I can seem to find around here are the 10 watt 50/50 bulbs. Is there any benefit of the actinic side of the bulb for a freshwater aquarium? The only plant I have in that tank is some java fern attached to some wood but it would be nice to see a little more growth out of that. Would these bulbs be better than the 2 x 15 watt incandescents I have now?

I see that you're in Illinois (yay, I'm not the only one anymore! ), where abouts are you located? I'm in the NW suburbs of Chicago, and you can easily find screw in compact fluorescents at Walmart, Home Depot and Menards, as well as most home improvement stores. I actually just found a four pack of bulbs on sale for half price at Meijer ($10 for 4 bulbs instead of $5+ a piece).

I've got 2x23 watt bulbs over my 20 gallon and they work nicely. I was also able to find a nice compact bulb for my 5 gallon minibow at Walmart, though I paid more because of the small size of the bulb.

The hardest part of finding a good compact fluorescent bulb is the K value... you're looking for about 6700K or "daylight" bulb for best plant growth. Skip past "soft white" or types like that. The 50/50 bulbs are best for saltwater.

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

I'm in Peoria

I see the spirally compact fluorescents everywhere nowadays but I'm not sure they'll fit in my hood since its got a little plastic cover below the incandescent bulbs to keep the splash from getting to the bulb. I looked for the U shaped ones but all I could find is the 2 or 4 pinned kind and not the screw-ins. Guess I'll have to keep my eye out for something.

Just stop by walmart and go to their lighting section. You can find at least 20w bulbs that will fit 10g hoods and in their fish section they usually have little 10w compact fluorescent bulbs for tanks. Some Menards have a bit better selection with 15-25w daylight or sunlight bulbs. Most places selling fish supplies actually don't sell pc bulbs unless they do saltwater and then all the bulbs are 50/50 or 10,000k and above.

For bulbs over 15w you may have to loosen the screw holding the plastic pieces but otherwise in most standard 10g hoods you can fit up to 25w bulbs. I do it all the time.

Take one of the bulbs currently in your hood with you when you go... Match up the width of the bulb with the screw in CFs. You should find one that matches or would fit.

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

I have one of the bulbs from Wal-mart and one of the 50/50. Price wise the 50/50 is more expensive, but as for your original question i asked the same thing, the response was It turns the water blue.

Ok If you go to the Pet section they have them packaged as Mini Aquarium Flourescents and run you about 4.80 plus tax.

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