Quote:
Originally Posted by Cajun87
I am in the process of getting all of the pieces together to do a low tech planted 30 gal tank. From what I've been reading here and there you need somewhere around a watt per gallon lighting in the ballpark of 6500k. It looks like i can do that with a couple of 24" NO fluorescent bulbs. I don't live all that close to any pet shops so it would be really convenient to hop over to the hardware store and grab a couple of regular old household 24" bulbs at or around the 6500k spectrum. Is it not recommended to use that type of bulb? What is different about the aquarium bulbs?
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Hello Caj...
If you're keeping low light, slow growing plants in a low tech tank, you can use florescent bulbs from the hardware store. I keep low tech tanks and use shop lights and two GE 6500K bulbs.
I set up a tank yesterday to grow out some floating plants. A shop light and two bulbs was $18.00. This was for a 55 gallon tank. You'll just need a smaller shop light and bulbs. Get a two light fixture. One bulb won't be enough.
You may need to rig the set up a bit, but the lights will be more than enough for the dark green aqauatic plants. These require low or subdued lighting.
You can add a little Seachem's Comprehensive liquid fertilizer if you don't have enough fish in the tank to provide a steady source of fertilizer and change the tank water often to maintain good mineral levels.
The plants should grow very well.
B