Light without hood?

EimajElocin

My 20 gallon long is on my dresser, next to my lamp. I bought some low-light plants that are in my aquarium, and I just keep my little dresser light on for it.
Should I buy an aquarium light? My aquarium does not have a hood either, I dislike the look of hoods.
How else could I add a light to my aquarium without a hood? Would one of those "Clip on desk lamps" work? I could just easily clip it on the edge of my aquarium.

& What type of light bulb do I get?

I wouldnt mind a light like this : Redirect Notice : But I cant find one for under 100.

Mikaila31

A desk lamp would be fine as long as it is florescent. Halogen desk lamp would be worthless though.

beetlebz

I agree, the halogen or incandescent lamp would be awfully warm. Not that it wouldnt work mind you, but im not sure it will, either ;)

side note, I had a fish only aquarium on my desk, and I had my desk light to light it many years ago. I forgot about it, went on a fire call, and came back to find the rim of the tank melted!

check one of the aquarium supply websites? theres gotta be SOMEthing out there.

like this? Aquarium Hoods & Canopies: Marineland LED Aquarium Hood

EimajElocin

Awesome! In my price range, not too bulky, and looks nice. (: Thank you

beetlebz

no probs. I didnt think much of them until I saw them in petco the other day. Its pretty frickin handy really. The whole top is one, and the light is attached. If you are feeding, you just lift it up and throw the food in (i think its got a feeding opening in the front..) If you want to put new plants in or do a gravel vac, the whole thing just lifts open like a record player. I dig it :)

Geomancer

I always keep a hood on to reduce heat loss and also to keep the air hot and humid above the tank, makes it easier on my fish who go up for a gulp of air. If you go without a hood, make you don't get any jumpers =)

For a light, you can use anything in the appropriate spectrum, you want bulbs that are "Daylight" with a color temperature ~5500K to 8000K with ideal being around 6500K. If you go into a hardware/department store you can find CFLs (the spiral type you use in desk/table lamps and regular light fixtures) that are 6500K Daylight and they work well with plants.

MinaMinaMina

Please don't clip on a light to the side of your tank, or have it anywhere that it could get knocked into the tank!!!
Would you clip a light onto the side of your bathtub?!
Water and electricity don't mix!
If you have an open tank and use a light that is not specifically designed for aquarium use (i.e. not designed to be mounted to the tank or hung from above, I also strongly recommend installing a GFCI outlet. Water and electricity don't mix!

beetlebz

If I did, I could see really well in the bath! No more squinting in the dark.... this is brilliant!!

Brb I need to find my duct tape...

lol but seriously though, +1 on the GFI if you decide to stick to the desk lamp. you can get GFI (GFCI) plug in adapters for fairly cheap.

Tapil

The fire department at my house



Back on topic to the op

Both of my tanks have no hood, I took the lights from an older tank and turned them sideways, they sit on both edges of the tank (like a bridge). Maybe you can find a florescent light for a tank much bigger than yours and either lay it on the desk behind the tank, or above like i have mine

As the above mentioned before just be careful it doesn't fall in the tank which has a chance of giving your fish a shock

MinaMinaMina

Aquarium lights don't have a piece of glass or plastic/plexiglass between the water and bulbs. The means that condensation could collect near the electrical parts (especially over time) or splashing could occur and have the same effect as it falling in the water. I would not do lights like this, either!