"gauloiseguy" wrote in message ...
Believe it or not, I have had great luck with Sylvania daylight and
Philips
Alto Series Daylight Fluorescesnts (Available in lighting sotres and Home
Depot) I have 23 tanks that hold plants for my business and they seem to
work well---not to mention they cost about $6 each. For the 20, I suggest
eh Sylvania F15-T8 Daylight.

Sorry to intrude, I hardly ever post on this group...

But, same experience here with the sylvania daylight tubes. Cheap, nice
color rendering (not super, but nice) and the plants do fine under them,
Java Ferns included.

I have used these in the past, they did well, my favorite is a Triton
light bulb, these look very good but cost a fair amount.

You can add some mylar reflective material or heavy aluminum foil etc
to increase the lighting, but many plants will do fine at this light
level if you add some CO2 or Excel would also work well and both are
cheap and easy to use.
Plants have a lower lighting compensation poibnt when they have enough
CO2/carbon, basically adding it make the plant more efficent at what
little light it does get.

Make sure the plants are not shaded by rocks, other plants etc.
Try the above CO2/Excel and I think you will do well. The plants
should grow certainly if you have fish and feed them daily etc.

Regards,
Tom Barr