The t5's last longer and generally are cheaper to replace than compact flourecents. Maybe you could grow a plant with the extra light. I had the small coral life light on my 3 gal before I moved up to a 10 gallon tank. I think it was 2 9 watt bulbs, neat little light. It worked well, I had a birdsnest for a while also, but as soon as I slacked off for a week it died. My 10 gallon I have a nice bright orange flower anenome and 2 anenome crabs, (only one has gone to the anenome.)