Lighting for 20g planted

[ChicagoReefer]

Hi all! I have been doing reefs the past few years, but I have just been givin a fw tank to fool around with. I need suggestions for lighting. I am leaning towards t5's right now. I do not want to be restricted when it comes to plant selection, so I will welcome coments.

 

[Peyton]

If you're talking about t5ho bulbs then I suggest a fixture with one bulb and a good reflector. Even then you may need to raise the fixture because you will be in the high-light category. So co2 and fert dosing will be needed. However you should be able to grow almost anything with that combo.

 

[aqua_chem]

Is this a 20g tall or long? Ultimately, your choice to get a CO2 setup will be what determines your plant choice limitation.

 

[chasetopher]

I have a 20 gallon High that that I put Amazon.com: Zoo Med AquaSun T5-HO Double Light Linear Fluorescent Hood, 24-Inch: Pet Supplies on. It is planted with probably 15 Med/High light plants. There was an increase in algae on the walls, so I added 2 Bristlenose Plecos and 3 Snails. There's no algae anymore, and the plants are all flourishing. I am not using CO2, and using excel twice a week.

The light is mounted with book shelf angles about a foot above the tank, with the mounting strings hanging about 4" down, leaving about 6" of space between the tank and the light, with a glass top.

There is a good amount of criticism for this light, as it's a poor quality light, not EL listed, and mathematically a dual T5HO is way too much light for 20 gallons. At first I started with using only 1 bulb on, but my high light plants weren't growing. I now have both bulbs on. If it was a high quality reflector, I would have algae city.

In my special case, everything is working perfectly, but there are many things that can go wrong. Maybe worth a try for the low cost.