Lighting on my 10g tank

alexcolby

Right now I have a 10g hood with lights but its old, the kind with the screw in light bulbs. The light it gives off is the ugly yellowish one, not the pristine white light my 29g new hood gives off. I want the light to be more like the other one. Is there a bulb or something I can buy to replace the bulbs I have now? Or am I stuck with the regular light bulbs and there yellowish light. Its 15 watt bulbs. The tube kind, not the spherical kind.

TexasTanker

I am guessing you have an incandescent light strip? The next step up would be a 25W bulb. There are several varieties that will give you healthier looking lighting. Or you can get a fluorescent strip light. That could run you between 20 and 100 dollars depending on how fancy you want it to be. BUT for a 10 gallon there's not much call for anything much more than your basic T-8 strip. That should run around $30 new and you could probably find tons for cheaper if you hit up ebay and the like.

DKRST

If the splash guard is not too small, you can find micro compact fluorescent bulbs (I got mine at Lowes, but lots of places should have them). Mine are similar to

Shop SYLVANIA 2-Pack 60-Watt Equivalent Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb (ENERGY STAR) at Lowes.com

but the pair I purchased was 13 watt micro-mini CFL that had a higher kelvin of, I think(?) of around 5,000K.

Look around and try to find something in that Kelvin range. When I get home later, I'll try to find the exact model specs for you. These very compact CFLs fit into my 10 gallon hood, formerly with incandescent tube bulbs, very well and are only rated at 13 watts each. They have worked great for my plants the past three months.

My CFL bulbs cost under $12.

Byron

Yes, I second DKRST's suggestion. Compact Fluorescent bulbs are far less expensive than getting a new fixture, and they are great light for fish and plants. The "daylight" type with a Kelvin around 6500K are excellent. You have a 10g with a 2-bulb hood, so get two 10w CF daylight byulbs and you're set. I use GE brand on my 10g and 20g.

Byron.

DKRST

I checked, mine are "daylight" micro CFL bulbs but the package insert is long gone, sorry. I do believe they were 6500K actually. They were the highest Kelvin rating of any micro CFL in the store anyway!

alexcolby

thanks guys i am about to go check lowes asap. i really hope it works cause the yellow light is giving me headaches!