Lighting question

[Jacca]

I am building a hood for my ten gallon tank. I have 2 23watt 6500k screw in cfl bulbs that are equivalent to 100 watt bulbs are 2 of these too much for a ten gallon tank?

 

[Craigthor]

Not if you have a good source of CO2 and a good fertilizer regime.

 

[Jacca]

I am gonna do DIY Co2 to start with and dose with flourish excel.

 

[Craigthor]

Just remember Flourish Excel is not a fertilizer but is only a carbon supplement.

 

[Jacca]

What is a good fertilizer?

 

[Craigthor]

I recommend dry fertilizers from aquariumfertilizer.com dry dosing is tons cheaper in the long run.

Craig

 

[aqua_chem]

Or flourish.

You shoulds be ok with excel and diy co2. Make sure you hood can handle the wattage though, as most stock hoods might be able to without serious fire risk.

 

[Jacca]

Or flourish.

You shoulds be ok with excel and diy co2. Make sure you hood can handle the wattage though, as most stock hoods might be able to without serious fire risk.

The hood is going to be diyed. I made sure the sockets that I got will handle the watts.

 

[aqua_chem]

Dont underestimate the heat either.

 

[jetajockey]

The 23watt CFLs really aren't that extreme, don't go by the 'equivalent' wattage. You'd probably benefit from co2 but I've used this setup on 10g's without any problem apart from serious algae blooms when too long of a photoperiod is kept. They do get really hot, though, but just put a few vent slots in the top of the hood and you should be fine.

 

[Jacca]

I plan on leaving the whole back open for venting

 

[Jacca]

Got the hood built and the tank set up. Gotta get some plants next weekend.