Best bulb for 20 gal?

I just found this newsgroup and perhaps this question has been asked many
times...
I did my research on plants and purposely chose plants that will do well
with less light, and they are doing fine at this time. My tank is only a 20
gallon tall, but would like to know the best/brightest fluorescent bulb you
can get for a 20 gal hood. I know color and brightness can make a
difference. I can only have the one bulb as I am unable at this time to
upgrade anything but the bulb. Thanks

On Sat, 20 Sep 2003 14:13:21 GMT, "Jayne Narvesen"
wrote:

I just found this newsgroup and perhaps this question has been asked many
times...
I did my research on plants and purposely chose plants that will do well
with less light, and they are doing fine at this time. My tank is only a 20
gallon tall, but would like to know the best/brightest fluorescent bulb you
can get for a 20 gal hood. I know color and brightness can make a
difference. I can only have the one bulb as I am unable at this time to
upgrade anything but the bulb. Thanks


Try this:

http://www.esuweb.com/new_site/ccc_53004

Good lamp.

"Bill Beam" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 20 Sep 2003 14:13:21 GMT, "Jayne Narvesen"
wrote:

I just found this newsgroup and perhaps this question has been asked many
times...
I did my research on plants and purposely chose plants that will do well
with less light, and they are doing fine at this time. My tank is only a
20
gallon tall, but would like to know the best/brightest fluorescent bulb
you
can get for a 20 gal hood. I know color and brightness can make a
difference. I can only have the one bulb as I am unable at this time to
upgrade anything but the bulb. Thanks


Try this:

http://www.esuweb.com/new_site/ccc_53004

Good lamp.

So are you talking about the 65 Watt Coralife 50/50 Fluorescent lamp or the
whole light strip- I was asking about the tube only- Thanks

I did my research on plants and purposely chose plants that will do
well
with less light, and they are doing fine at this time. My tank is only
a
20
gallon tall, but would like to know the best/brightest fluorescent bulb
you
can get for a 20 gal hood. I know color and brightness can make a
difference. I can only have the one bulb as I am unable at this time to
upgrade anything but the bulb. Thanks
Try this:
http://www.esuweb.com/new_site/ccc_53004
Good lamp.

So are you talking about the 65 Watt Coralife 50/50 Fluorescent lamp or
the
whole light strip- I was asking about the tube only- Thanks

Still wondering?---

take your bulb to a shop and buy one, just get the right size and experiment
with colors...

"Jayne Narvesen" wrote in message
...
I did my research on plants and purposely chose plants that will do
well
with less light, and they are doing fine at this time. My tank is
only
a
20
gallon tall, but would like to know the best/brightest fluorescent
bulb
you
can get for a 20 gal hood. I know color and brightness can make a
difference. I can only have the one bulb as I am unable at this time
to
upgrade anything but the bulb. Thanks
Try this:
http://www.esuweb.com/new_site/ccc_53004
Good lamp.

So are you talking about the 65 Watt Coralife 50/50 Fluorescent lamp or
the
whole light strip- I was asking about the tube only- Thanks

Still wondering?---

take your bulb to a shop and buy one, just get the right size and
experiment
with colors...

I did my research on plants and purposely chose plants that will
do
well with less light, and they are doing fine at this time. My tank is
only
a 20 gallon tall, but would like to know the best/brightest fluorescent
bulb you can get for a 20 gal hood. I know color and brightness can make a
difference. I can only have the one bulb as I am unable at this time to
upgrade anything but the bulb. Thanks
Try this:
http://www.esuweb.com/new_site/ccc_53004
Good lamp.

So are you talking about the 65 Watt Coralife 50/50 Fluorescent lamp
or
the
whole light strip- I was asking about the tube only- Thanks

so you have no recommendations for wattage on a fluorescent tube for
plants?

so you have no recommendations for wattage on a fluorescent tube for
plants?

you'll be limited on wattage to 18 or 20 watts, limited by a 18" bulb...
you'll be limited on spectrum from 5000k to 6800k maybe you'll find one that
is 10000k, but probably not...

Be that as it may, you'll probably like anything in the 5000k to 6000k
range, as the higher bulbs can be yellowish to green, and the lower are more
white to blue.... I tend to want to stay on the lower side, the brighter or
yellower I go, I have algae probs, and CO2 has to be adjusted.....

Also, if you are changing bulbs, you'll run the risk of getting some hair
algae if your light has already lost all it's potency, and you add in a
brand new bulb.... sometimes decreasing your amount of light per day can
subside that....

Sorry it took me so long to respond Jayne, but we were kind of in the
dark here in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. For your tank set up I
would suggest a Ocean Sun 10,000K deep reef bulb by Zoo Med. They are
not 50/50 or actinic(sp?) bulbs but do a very good job on my two
low/moderate light tanks. They are a little pricy, but fit in your
stock lid without having to do any modifications. Hope this helps.

Vicki