What is the best wattage for two light bulb in a ten gallon tank?

Question

I have two 25 watts light bulb, is this too hot or is it too low. What's in yourS?

Answer 1

2 - 25 watt light bulbs would give you 50 watts total or 5 watts per gallon. Thats a great level to have as it gives enough light to support most plants. That shouldn't give you any heat problems at all but if it does a small fan blowing on the hood would remove enough heat to control the problem.

I think you are exactly on target.

MM

Answer 2

Wattage isn't the only concern here. If your fixture uses incandescent (screw in) bulbs, it will say somewhere on/in the hood what the maximum wattage is that can be used (without risk of fire hazard). Like one of the answers already mentioned, incandescent lights also produce heat, so the higher the wattage, the warmer the water (which may cool down when the lights go off, causing temperature fluctuations - fish would prefer a stable environment). If your hood is a double fluorescent tube, you're limited by the length and diameter of the tubes. You'll find the tubes have a "T" value (T-5, T-8, T-10, T-12) which is related to the output. You can't mix a hood of one value with a tube of another - unless you want to replace the tube, ballast, and maybe more.

If you're asking concerning plants, as MM pointed out, you've got 5 watts per gallon, which is considered bright, but you may want to consider the wavelength (color) of the light for good plant photosynthesis. You might want to check into small compact fluorescents that give "full spectrum" lighting. These are brighter and have a better wavelength for plant growth, and will not heat the water as much as an incandescent. I've changed out the bulbs in my 2.5 and 5 gallon mini bow tanks with these and keep planted tanks for bettas and use them for quarantine tanks for saltwater, including photosynthetic corals and anemones.

Answer 3

In my experience lights for an aquarium have little to do with heating the water; that's what heaters are for.

Get a thermometer and see what the water temp is. I have a 10-gallon tank with platys & guppies. I keep the temperature at 81 degrees which keeps the fish healthy and parasite free. Good luck.

Answer 4

Average is 3-5 watts per gallon so you are looking at 30 watts or less is fine for your tank. As far as hot, even with the lights on, your tank will not get that hot. You are fine

Answer 5

a million. i do no longer think of you will want CO2 supplementation with in basic terms 20 watts of light. on your flowers to earnings from extra CO2, you will in all hazard additionally want brighter easy (say, seventy 5 watts of compact fluorescent lights quite of 20). 2. Your significant situation isn't temperature, that's that goldfish are in all hazard to consume maximum flowers you put in their tank. i think of you'll be happiest with Java Fern. it quite is a low-easy plant, despite if it additionally does nicely in particularly bright easy, that's no longer very choosy approximately water temperature, and it has extraordinarily no longer consumer-friendly leaves and curiously tastes undesirable to a pair fish, so as that they've an inclination to pass away it on my own. There are various different lines of Java fern with different leaf shapes. It does terrific once you tie its base to sunken wood or a rock (with roots above the substrate point), quite than burying the roots in the susbtrate.

Answer 6

sounds good to me they do sell 15 watts

Answer 7

If it is the old incandescent style, it is very hot. You can upgrade the existing system...
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18361/cl0/incandescentbulbs?viewType=Category
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/10916/product.web