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Ok I have been looking for a good light for my 2.5 gallon tank for several months now. I have had absolutely no luck. The light I have on it is so dim you have to look hard to even realize that there is a Betta in it.

Everytime I find a light that is the right size, When I look closer at it some thing is always wrong. Today I found one that I thought would be perfect only to see it was a 45 watt halogen light.

Can anybody help me out with something that would work. The tank has Java moss, and Java Fern in it, they are the only plants.

I was so frustrated I bought a 5 gallon acrylic tank just to rip the light out of it. However after seeing it at home I am impressed with it and will use it on its on. So I still need a light for the 2.5er.

Thanks in advance

mts.gif" border="0"> I vote do you?
My Tanks at Photobucket

I'd just use a normal desk lamp. If you stick a CF bulb in there, it'll be nice and bright. I've found that trying to get a good hood for a tank that size is dicey because they're so easy to overheat.

go get a clip on lamp and put a compact folourescent bulb in there with at least 15 watts... but the farther away the light is from the surface the more the watts and Kelvins are needed to reach the ground cover plants in the tank... so buy a cheap clip o lamp at Ikea or any cheap home goods store and a daylight to match and it wont fail you!

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

Thanks guys maybe when I set the 2.5 gallon up again I will find one I had a 15 on it before and it was just WAY to much light. BGA was growing everywhere.

As of this moment I have taken the 2.5 gallon down, and turned it into a 5 gallon, that had the light I wanted on it. I got pics to, so either tonight or tomorrow I will post them.

mts.gif" border="0"> I vote do you?
My Tanks at Photobucket

I have a 2.5g betta tank with heaps of java moss, java fern, a bit of duckweed and a little elodea. I bought a clip lamp and a 21watt 6500k, energy saver bulb to light it

thanks for the ideas guys, they will come in handy the next time I set this one up. but for now I have taken it down and changed it to a 5 gallon that had the light I was looking for.



mts.gif" border="0"> I vote do you?
My Tanks at Photobucket

Hi Jim

I use one of THESE on my nano planted tank.

It comes with the right type of tube and is only about 10 inches long. (If I remember correctly your 2.5g is very similar in dimension to my nano). I have found that I am able to grow all sorts of plants in the tank with this light, including some of the more light hungry ones - I'm currently trying glosso and HC as ground covers.

Only issue I could see is that it does clip on to the side / end of the tank so you may need to customise your lid to accommodate it. (the way mine attaches is a bit more bulky than is shown in that image)

G_T






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