5.5 gallon lighting - El Natural

oceanzmicasa · 10-04-2009, 07:38 AM

Hey all!

Thank you so much for all the information in this forum. I've been growing a Walstad tank for the past 3 months and everything is going great. My only concern is the lighting. Here's my tank specs:

5.5 gallon (faces a southwest window)
Plants:
java moss
vallisneria corkscrew
ludwigia repens
rotala rotundifolia
moneywort
egeria densa
duckweed

I have been having problems finding a light source for my tank. I'm thinking of getting this one: http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...size=13%20watt

Any suggestions would be much appreciated

armedbiggiet · 10-08-2009, 02:57 AM

Your light choice looks good to me.

dwalstad · 10-08-2009, 06:16 AM

The light you're considering looks reasonable, but you could also you a clamp light with screw-in CFL bulb. Here's my 10.5 inch clamp light with 13 watt bulb for my 5 gal. You can buy these clamp lights at Big Box hardware stores (Lowes, Home Depot, etc) for about $10-12.

Forgotten Path · 10-10-2009, 02:55 PM

Yeah, I have a 10 watt CFL in my 5 gallon Hex tank, with no natural sunlight... My plants grow like crazy (that is until they run out of space!)
Using a clamp lamp and a CFL should be plenty of light. I think the only concern would be any feelings towards appearance. Of course, you could very inexpensively build your own hood to accept a CFL bulb.