Lighting Question

**JasonRI** · 01-19-2008, 02:47 PM

Hi all,

Our neighbors are moving and gave us their 32 gallon tall tank. It only has a 18" 15W bulb. Ive read about the 2-3 watts per gallon rule but I cant seem to find an 18" bulb that has more than 15 watts. I would like to add some plants but I dont think the light is going to be sufficient enough. It has some plants right now, some grass looking stuff from petsmart but I would like to add more.

Fish in the tank:

1x Bala shark
1x clown loach
1x angel fish
1x small black pleco

Thanks for the advice.

**gm72** · 01-19-2008, 02:49 PM

First and foremost, that stocking will never last in a small 32 gallon tank, so just be aware of that to begin with.

For lighting, will the tank support a light strip larger than 18"?

**JasonRI** · 01-19-2008, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by gm72

First and foremost, that stocking will never last in a small 32 gallon tank, so just be aware of that to begin with.

For lighting, will the tank support a light strip larger than 18"?

Meaning they will outgrow it? I realize the bala sharks and plecos get quite large. Any other reasons it wouldnt work?

No 18" looks like the max.

**gm72** · 01-19-2008, 02:58 PM

Yes, those fish will outgrow the tank, not just the pleco and shark, but the loach and angel as well. Clown Loaches don't necessarily like to be alone. You will never see their true personality as a solo specimen.

As for lighting, here is a thought. I wonder if two of these would fit on that tank?:

http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS...ghtwlunarlight

**JasonRI** · 01-19-2008, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by gm72

Yes, those fish will outgrow the tank, not just the pleco and shark, but the loach and angel as well. Clown Loaches don't necessarily like to be alone. You will never see their true personality as a solo specimen.

As for lighting, here is a thought. I wonder if two of these would fit on that tank?:

http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS...ghtwlunarlight

Wow that is massive, I didnt really want to spend that much and was just looking for a replacement bulb. Thanks for looking though. Looks like I will live in the land of fake plants.

**gm72** · 01-19-2008, 03:44 PM

You won't find just a replacement bulb that will top what you have.

**smaug** · 01-19-2008, 05:39 PM

gm is correct ,if you want better light you will have to upgrade.The fixture he recomends is about the most reasonable.As for the stocking list he is correct in that as well,angels and balas get big and the angel will get territorial and see the bala as a threat.I know this because I have a bala and an angel together ,the angel hates the bala.My tank is a 60 gal heavily planted so there are hiding places but I am still trying to find a good home for the bala.

**Incredulous_Ed** · 01-19-2008, 06:54 PM

You will have to updgrade the fixture it self if you want to keep plants. Get a 24 inch long 65w Corallife plant grow fixture. That will be the best. How long is the tank?

Also, all the fish inn the tank willl outgrow it, except the angel.

**smaug** · 01-19-2008, 07:01 PM

the Angel will outgrow it also Ed.

**slinky** · 01-19-2008, 07:17 PM

I have researched extensively on just this topic. It is infuriating but here are the results:

1) I have no idea why you only have an 18" light on your tank. That width is usually for 10 gallon tanks. You could probably easily fit a wider one, e.g. 24", without a problem. Question is whether you are telling us that you don't want to change the lighting fixture or that the tank is really tall but only 20" wide.

2) If you can get a glass top instead of a plastic hood you can put a double light on there. You'll still only get a small boost with 32 gallon tank and will have probably less than 1 WPG.

3) Do what I did and get a retrofit kit. Go to www.ahsupply.com and get the cf light replacement kit. I got the 36 watt kit and bulb for my 16 gallon tank, which should be just perfect and give me roughly ~2.5 effective WPG because it's actually just a tall 10 gallon bowfront. For you, if the lighting fixture is deep enough to get two lights in there (I think it's like 7") then you'll be able to get the 2x36 and have 72 watts on that 32 gallon tank and be OK.

I have looked for other options and, for an 18" bulb, there are none short of replacing the hood with glass and then getting a new, non-matching top that is built for saltwater tanks.