What would be better??

[Incredulous_Ed]

I'm buying stuff for my 20g long. Would it be better to get a glass cover and put my 24 inch 15 watt fluorescent strip light on top or should I just get a full hood?

[~Erik3.8.07~]

personally i like the looks of just having the strip light on top over a hood

[Incredulous_Ed]

me too, but I am worries that itt will not be enough light to properly see the fish.

[~Erik3.8.07~]

my 46g just has a strip light and its plenty enough to see the fish, and i have a deep tank

[Incredulous_Ed]

what's the wattage on the bulb? I also was considering adding some simple plants, such as java moss, and anacharis

[SkarloeysMom]

me too, but I am worries that itt will not be enough light to properly see the fish.

That's what I'd be afraid of too.

[Dave66]

The strip lights work just fine, you just need to keep the cover glass clean. If there's filter water splash eventually it'll get algae. No splash, no algae.
Its the reflector over the tubes that give you the light to see the fish, not the hood.
All my tanks have strip lights over cover glasses. Cover glass keeps the jumpers from bailing out of the tank, and drastically reduces evaporation. I use JBJ Formosa DX strip lights over my freshwater tanks.

Dave

[Incredulous_Ed]

You misunerstand, i think. I was wondering whether to get a full hood because it would come with an 18 watt bulb, which is brighter. And money is a concern. I huess I'll get a glass cover and just put the 24 inch strip light on.