lighting/hood choices

[Yao]

I am planning on adding some basic low maintenance low light plants to my 20g long. I'm not sure which ones yet, but I am trying to figure out a lighting situation before I get them.
Here's my dilemma. I don't want to spend a lot of money. Only around $50 max. And I've come to wonder if that's possible... I think I want PC lights because they last longer, so I think I only need a 36watt, if that.

I couldn't find anything to help me in the DIY section or google - all the projects were overcomplicated or for some elaborate system with high lights or coral life.

I also looked on www.ahsupply.com for one of those kits. The only one that might fit my tank is the 2x36watt long option with the 35" reflector, which means any enclosure i make would be even bigger. That would hang off my 30" top. This kit is $62 - more than I want to pay for something I might screw up. But I would be willing if there wasn't a better option.
I also went to home depot today to see if it would be cheaper to buy parts, but the guy I talked to wasn't helpful and I just ended up confused and he kept pointing me to their other not for plants aquarium lighting.
I also haven't been able to find a decently priced hood unit, even on eBay!

Someone help me! What is the best option for me, to put together my own or by a premade one? I am looking for something very basic and simple for low light plants.

I have a glass hinged top right now. So anything to put on top or something to replace it would be fine. Let me know what I can do!

 

[Hoovercat]

You want this http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=32847;category_id=1853;pcid1=1843;pcid2= or something like it.

 

[greenmaji]

do you have a standard hood for your 20L?
if so you should have a NO light that can be overdrivin.. and no you dont have to 4X it for hight light coarl use.. you can 2X it and get 150% of the normal output of the bulb (at the same power useage roughly)..
the ballast is availible from HD for around $8 the ballasts specs are 2-F32T8..

 

[Lepomis]

I was in a similar situation. I had a 20 g long tank laying around. I didn't want to spend too much on it but wanted enough light for some plant growth. I think I spent a total of 24 dollars to build a canopy and add 48 watts of lighting. I had all the other wood laying around in the "scrap" pile in the shop. With wood, paint, and molding probably around 40 dollars.