Are there any cheap ($15 or less) lighting bulbs that will fit in and help plants grow in a 2.5 g tank?

Question

Please help me! I'm trying to set up a 2.5 gal. nano planted tank but for that I need good lighting. What lighting fixture(s) can you easily find at Petco or Petsmart that will increase plant growth and fit in a 2.5 gallon tank hood? Please give me the name of it or them.

Thanks to anyone who answers!

Answer 1

What you'll be able to get will depend a lot on the type of fixture you have in th tank hood. If it's a fluorescent tube with pins on the end(s), such as for an Eclipse tank, your choices will be more limited - ususally only a few types will be availble, and those will be determined largely by the brands and sizes of tanks the stores carry.

If the hood has a scew-in type fixture (like a mini-bow tank), you've got more choices available. Some things I've found that work well (and are less expected sources) are full spectrum bulbs available at WalMart. I originally tried a tubular shaped bulb (same shape as a standard aquarium bulb) by Reveal (availible in their lighting department) and found these do a remarkably good job. Since I experimented with these, they've come out with screw-in compact fluorescents (some are availble in the pet dept, other stores put them in the lighting) for aquarium use - I've even kept corals under these during quarantine, and have had no problems. Just look for a bulb that specifies full spectrum (not a 50/50 if in with aquarium lighting, this is for saltwater and has too much of a blue cast) and has a wattage that doesn't exceed the maximum for your hood.

Answer 2

I am having the same problem as you are. I'm also trying to do the exact thing that you are doing (the naturally planted tank!)
I've been using a standard desk lamp to grow my plants, and have been sucessful in doing so. The lamp is a 15 watt lamp and i'm using it for my 2.5 gal, which is like 6.3 watts per gallon. it's an old lamp, but you can try walmart, kmart, lowes.
but if you are using a tank hood, the lights are a little bit harder to find a local store. i say you go buy aquarium light in your walmart fish department for $5. then buy a lamp that can hold standard screw in light for $10. there, 15 bucks!

Answer 3

I'm assuming that this will be a screw-in hood. Incandescent is the cheapest, but not necassarily the best. The one I like to use is this one: http://www.petco.com/product/11440/Coralife-Mini-Compact-Fluorescent-50-or-50-Bulb.aspx
It gives off a light that plants will grow under. However, this one emits a bluish light because it's designed for saltwater tanks. If you don't want this problem, Petsmart/Petco sells the screw-in fluorescent fixture for the Eclipse 5 system. It is 10 watt as well, but doesn't emit the blue light. I would suggest that one; it is around $13 where I live.

~ZTM

Answer 4

The bulb I use is a coralife 50/50 10 watt bulb. It has one blue light and one white light but you can get it in red,yellow or green. It makes my plants grow super fast, makes my paradise fishes colours POP! It does'nt overheat my tank is energy efficant and will last at least 1 year. I paid 20 dollars canadian for it and I LOVE IT!
It screws in to your tank fixture like an incandesant bulb so it fits most tank sizes. It also comes in a 7 watt too,
Hope I could help!

p.s. if this bulb is too big coralife does some great hang on lights that work just as good!

Answer 5

as small as the tank is youd be better off just seting it close to a window. any light that puts out the right uv rays for plants would be to big for the tank and turn it green in a week.

Answer 6

55W Plant Grow Straight Pin Pc-Pink $18.36
Key in coupon code "opentip20" and get 5% discount!
http://www.opentip.com/products/W_Plant_Grow_Straight_Pin_PcPink-653749.html