Will this work?

redchigh

If you need a 'thinner' bulb (rather than rounder) you might try some of these:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Lights-of-...-1-ct/10448675

The standard ones didn't fit in one of my aquarium hoods so I bought 2 of these.
Work like a charm. Plants grow well. (My livebearer tank)

Calmwaters

Redchic thats what I had in there before it was 10 watts but I only can put in one light bulb do you still think that would be ok?

redchigh

Are they 10000k?

If they are... crap. Just eyeballing it they seem close to 6500k.
Try the normal CFLs, but if they don't fit, then use the ones from walmart or buy a specialty bulb online.
I might have better growth with a specialty bulb (since I have no idea what those particular bulbs are) but I'm pretty happy with it.

I built lamps for all my other tanks to use the normal CFLs.

To answer yourquestion, a 10W CFL will probably be enough for a 10 gallon.
If it isn't, it'll be cheaper in the long term to just get a new hood that takes a tube flourescent, or build one to use CFLs.

Calmwaters

Can't build a hood for this particular tank the filter is built into the hood its kind of like the eclipse tanks.

Amanda

Byron

Picking up on two issues from the last few posts:

1. A 10w CF bulb will be more than adequate. Remember, "watts" mean very little anyway, and with CF bulbs even less because these are designed to produce far more light (intensity) for less energy (watts is the energy measurement). A 13w is equal to a 40w or 60w normal incandescent (always forget which), so with a 10w CF you have a lot of light. It works fine, though if algae appears you would need to reduce the duration to re-create the balance. We discussed this in a couple of other threads recently.

2. The Rams and the otos (thinking three) would be fine in the 20g. Be careful on those rams...at 1 inch you will absolutely not be able to distinguish sex. Our profile mentions how to do this, but the fish has to be fairly mature. The options are to buy one, or two and hope. Males (and females for that matter) are "aggressive" with each other as most cichlids are, but usually not to the point of causing damage with Rams. But they need space to get out of each other's way, by which I mean, space so they cannot see each other in their own "territory". A 20g is small area for that, a 3-foot tank would be better. But that's if you get two; one in a 20g will be fine.

Byron.

Calmwaters

So just to make sure I understand. The light I had to begin with would have worked right? And as far as the rams I already have them and will be moveing them from the 10 into the 20 in a few minutes they are floating in bags as we speak. If I see that they begin to be over aggresive with each other I will move them into the 44 gallon. There are a few big plants in the tank they will be going into and I plan on adding more plants this week. I bought them Thursday because the lady at the LFS that seemed like she knew she was talking about said they would only get a little bigger than they are now. I had researched them several months ago and I remembered they would work with my water perms but could not remember how big they would get she said they would be fine in 10 gallons. One more question there will be 4 female bettas, the 2 rams, and 3 Otos is that ok in a 20 gallon? Thanks again Byron and everyone for all your help.
Amanda

Byron

If by originally you mean the Corallife, no. That is not a good plant light, too much blue. You want something close to daylight, full spectrum, whatever they may call it, around 6500K. Anything from 5000-7000K will be fine.

Good that you have a 40, that will work if the 20 doesn't. As I said, they do not cause damage (usually), but it is stressful for one of them to be constantly harassed, so having room for them to be themselves out of sight of each other is the idea. Separation with plants, bogwood or even rock works, so they have the "feel" of their own territory. They will occasionally push other fish out of their "space" too, again not with any injury; my Ram is a male, and he will not allow a couple of the corys to enter his "space" when he is feeding, the other corys he doesn't bother with; must be something about these. But it is just a slight "push" and they bounce right back, basically ignoring him unless he is persistent. I doubt the Rams will pay any attention to the bettas.

You did say these Rams were 1 inch? That store person does not know her Rams if she thinks this is as big as they get. Or else, they are different fish.

Byron.

Calmwaters

She must not know the rams, I think she is more of a salt water person. She said they would get maybe half an inch or so bigger and would be fine in a 10 gallon. There are pictures of them here if you would like to see them.
Bolivian Ram Cichlids and tank
I do not mean the Coralife I mean the one that was mentioned in another post that is sold at Walmart. It is what I had on the tank before I got the coralife.

Amanda

Byron

Yes, those are Bolivians [they look longer than one inch in the pics...anyway, they attain 3.5 inches (males, females around 2.5).

Sorry, don't recall the other light; if it is within the range 5000-7000K it should work. Did I say it wouldn't? Asking because I want to be sure I am on the right track here.

Calmwaters

I just feed them and tried to hold a tape measure up to the tank and you are right they are about an inch and a half from what I can tell. And no you had not told me the light that I had would not work I just thought that it would not. I will put it back on the tank and see how it goes. The tank also gets a good bit of indirect sunlight so I think it maybe ok. Thank you guys for all your help.

Kindest Regards,
Amanda