Lighting for a Planted 5.5 Gallon

[KevinAldrich]

Hello,

I have a 5.5 gallon tank that I intend to plant. My question is that I am having difficulty finding a good lighting system to fit a 16" wide tank.

Do you have any recommendations for a 16" wide lighting system that would be good for a planted tank? The tank is 16x10x8 (WxHxD).

I would like to go with a dual T5 flourescent system if there is such a thing available. I am willing to use something other than T5 though.

My local fish store has a single 8W T5 system, but I was looking for something more...What do those of you with planted 5.5G tanks use for lighting?

Any help you guys can give me would be much appreciated. I have just about exhausted myself searching through Google and aquarium supply sites. Just seems like there has to be something more available for a 5.5G than the single bulb T5 system my local store has.

 

[Purrbox]

I'm using a 2x 18 watt Coralife fixture. It's Compact Fluorescent and only 12" wide, but the legs can be used to just barely straddle the aquarium width. I ended up building a custom stand for the fixture using 1/2" PVC because I didn't like the legs. I'd say the aquarium acts like it somewhere between medium and medium high light with this fixture. It's definately a very difficult aquarium to find a good light.

 

[FishEggs]

if you are at all mechanically or diy inclined i'd say build one yourself. that way you can get exactly what you want. i'm working on one for a future planted shrimp 5.5 gal tank that will have two 26 watt compact fluorescents in it. should be able to grow a good carpeting plant.