"Marcus Fox" wrote in
message ...
I have a 2 cu ft aquarium (15G), with some java moss and bacopa monieri
which I bought online and some plant I got from the LFS which isn't doing
well. Other plants are doing OK. Current lighting is provided by a 15W 18"
tropical tube and Arcadia controller. I was unable to affix the tube
inside
the hood (as in couldn't be bothered to get the clips and still haven't
gotten round to it), and so it rests on the condensation tray. After
reading
many of the posts here, it is clear I need more lighting. Could I just add
another 15W tube and Arcadia controller? I was planning to affix the
current
tube to the inside of the hood at some point, but with two tubes, there
will
be no room to affix both in the designated place, so will have to be
affixed
inside in another way - will it matter if they're too close? Best and
cheapest way to increase the lighting? Suggestions please.


I have ordered another Arcadia 15W controller and tube for approx £23 to
squeeze into my existing (metal) hood ($33) This will increase the light in
the tank to 2 W/G. I don't really need reflectors as the inside of the hood
is painted white. Normally I would have just bought one higher wattage
controller and tube, but unless I go the way of compact T8's (which are more
expensive and the fixings are the wrong shape and size for my hood), a 15W
T5 tube is the longest I can fit, at 18" long, next increase in power is 24"
long and I have 24" space inside the hood.

Marcus