Fluorescent lighting

[nabbey89]

I went to Home Depot today to look at some lighting for my 55 gallon planted aquarium. I saw that they had a double T-8 light fixture. Each of the 48" bulbs is rated at 32 watts. I can only fit 2 bulbs over my tank, so how do i get 3 watts per gallon with only 2 bulbs?

[Sploke]

There are a number of different ways. Do a search for OD (overdriven) fluorescent, compact fluorescent, T5 fluorescent. They are all different types of fluorescent lighting, but require specific ballasts etc for each of them. If you can't fit enough regular fluorescent bulbs over your tank, you'll have to look at higher-output solutions.

[Mgamer20o0]

look at some CF lights from ahsupply.com

[Nolapete]

2 4' shop lights from Home Depot will fit inside a wooden canopy on a 55.

2 x shop lights $20 (4x40watt= 160watt for just under 3wpg)
10 pack Philips 6500K High CRI bulbs $28

You can make a wooden canopy for about $30 or less.

[247Plants]

Agreed with the 4x40 NO(t12) fluorescents

It worked for a long time on my 60 gallon, but I wasnt able to grow any good foregrounds...

[Mgamer20o0]

everything i have read say the t8 are better. i would try and fit 4x32 bulbs over them. if thats what your going to go with. i have 6x32 over my 120 gal for a couple years.

with the t8 you can over drive them like sploke said.

http://tristan.homelinux.net/fish/index.htm

[loaches r cool]

Sorry mgamer - my websites hosed and might be a few days before I get it back up and running. Might have to reinstall the OS and start from scratch. I actually have a friend running a backup of my site though, my article on overdriving can temporarily be found here (http://tristan.someplaceinohio.homelinux.net/fish/tank/retrofit/index.htm).

I'd go the T8 route over T12, the philips daylight delux T8 produces more lumens than the T12 version does and uses less watts to boot. If your getting the electronic ballasted shoplights just get 2 sets (4x32W) or if your really limited in space or want to tinker then strip the ballast out of the second shoplight, put it in the first, and overdrive the two bulbs, that will still yield around 2WPG (most measurements indicate 2X odno is about 50-55W per bulb). Or get yourself some ahsupply lights. All the above require some DIY or hiding stuff under a canopy... if you dont want to do that then look for a complete fixture to go over your tank (you might have to run your tank open top or else switch the hood on it now to all glass. But I'm not to familiar with the complete fixtures personally so cant offer much advice there. Good luck.

[Mgamer20o0]

man i hope you had that backed up. took me forever to find it again the first time..... it was a really good site for ODON

[nabbey89]

thanks for the help