Need recommendations for a Light, heater, test kit, and plants.

[PUNISHER VETTE]

Just got my 25gal. Looking to grow some live plants in it first before i get fish. What kinda bulb do i need(florescent?) and where can i get one for cheap that will be good for my tank?

My tank came with a heater but the water still seems cold and i heard you should replace them anyway.
Anyone have a link to a good heater for cheap?

I heard you can get a good test kit that does everything i'll need for under $20 but what should i be looking for in a test kit?

[spudbuds]

I'm not too sure about the lighting you need. I think it depends on what type of plant you are planning on keeping.

For a heater, most people here recommend the Stealth heaters. For your tank, I think you need at least 100W. Big Al's has the 150W for the same price as the 100W, so I'd just get the bigger one. Here's a link ([Only Registered Users Can See Links.]).

Your test kit should be able to test for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and PH with the first three being the most important.

- Bill

[msjinkzd]

aquarium pharmaceuticals has a great liquid test kit, if you print off the cheapest online price you can find, petsmart will price match (should be around $20). stealth's are the best heaters, in my opinion. They seem to be accurate and I like the way you can set the desired temp instead of just a + or - . As for lights, does your tank have a hood? For most low light plants you want to shoot for between 1-2 wpg (watts per gallon), definately flourescent, but depending on your hood you could get compact flourescents as well. If you haven't ahd live plants before I would recommend starting with some easy keepers like java moss, java fern, windelov fern, anacharis, anubias, or watersprite. These all do well with most stock lighting (if its flourescent). You want to get bulbs with a daylight spectrum (6700K or so). Good luck, and hope this helps.

[Lady Hobbs]

Since you are looking for heater, test kit and lights, I'd also recommend Big Al's. You still save money even with shipping.

[PUNISHER VETTE]

The tank actually came with a lamp but the bulb is burnt out and i figured it wasn't powerful enough for growing live plants.

Here is kinda a picture of it if you can tell. If it will take a high watt florescent bulb i can just do that but i have a feeling it can't. It says 120v 20w 60hz on the sticker......so thats a no go right?

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[MeganL3985]

Ebay is a good location as well

[zackish]

I don't like ebay but thats IMO.
I have this light on my 29 and it works great. Especially if you get some DIY Co2 going and order some ferts. If you are interested in that line then just drop me a PM and I can give you more details about it. I would read some posts about plants in the plant section. Lady Hobbs brings up some good points. Depending on how good you want your aquarium and how much you want to get into the plants I would plan out exactly what you are going to need to spend. For instance, if you do end up going with DIY Co2 you will need a nano diffuser and may want to think about getting a canister filter.

Anyways, heres the light for a start:
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[PUNISHER VETTE]

The hood says 20 watts so is that the max it can output or can i put in a 65watt florescent bulb in there and have that work? Since 65watt would be about 2watts per gallon.

Just ordered the test kit($15) and the heater suggested($18) from big al's. Still searching for the right light unless i can use the one i have but just replace the bulb.

[msjinkzd]

even if you put a higher watt bulb, the ballast can only output 20w of light. You can retrofit your hood for not too much money. [Only Registered Users Can See Links.] has some really good, affordable kits with clear directions.

[zackish]

The hood says 20 watts so is that the max it can output or can i put in a 65watt florescent bulb in there and have that work? Since 65watt would be about 2watts per gallon.

Just ordered the test kit($15) and the heater suggested($18) from big al's. Still searching for the right light unless i can use the one i have but just replace the bulb.

It's a completely differnt bulb, you would have to get that light I linked you to.

["the"Trinity]

Ebay is a good location as well

Yeah gotta agree there. Ebay has saved me on so many occasions over the past three months (esp. with our upcoming wedding!) that I can't even begin to describe how much money they have saved me/DF-and-I. DF bought our Visi-Therm Stealth 75W heater on Ebay two weeks ago and we got it installed on Monday evening. We got it for $20 and it keeps the tank spot-on as far as the temp. you set it at. Other heaters with just the + or- signs are pretty much useless if you're trying to encourage a healthy, accurate, safe fish tank! We buried ours in the substrate (read on here that many others do this also?) and it seems to keep the temp very accurate (78oF is our climate of choice!).

TT

[MeganL3985]

I love ebay....I think as long as you always buy from people with a good rating your okay. I never buy from anyone with a score lower than 97% and always check the reasoning behind the negative feedback. As long as your not being "careless" about it, I find ebay to be a great place. Sometimes you find good deals, sometimes not. but my good deals that i've recieved have definitely out weighed the negatives.

[PUNISHER VETTE]

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

My tank is 30" long so i was looking at this model. How wide is this though? does it take up both front and back slots? or just one?