Lighting ? Are these any good?

[Cypress]

http://cgi.ebay.com/All-Glass-Aquarium-24-inch-compact-55-watt-light-26502_W0QQitemZ230169944495QQihZ013QQcategoryZ4631 4QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I am clueless. I would like to increase lighting in a 55 so that I can plant it.

I need to replace the generic lights that came with the tank. (2X 24" hoods with 15 watt fluorescents)

Are these decent lights? Do they just fit into a generic hood?

Am I even on the right track?

Thanks in advance for your help!!

[Cypress]

Would it even be worth the $110 just to get to 2 wpg?

What is the most effective way to get up to 3-4 wpg on a 55gal tank?

Does 3-4 wpg ALWAYS require additional CO2?

[livingword26]

2 of those would be very good for low to medium light plants. They are a light strip. They are designed to set on a glass top or a opening in a hood. Here is a better picture.http://www.aquariumpros.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/AGA26502X.jpg

[Mgamer20o0]

try looking up ahsupply.com if you wanted more light it would be better to buy a 2-4 bulb set up then 2 individual ones.

[echoofformless]

Over a 55g for as little money as possible?

Easy: lose the stupid hoods and get proper glass canopies. Buy yourself two wall plug wired 48" shop lights. (Lowe's?) Slap some good 5000-7000k bulbs on them and bang: 160w of good plant light over your tank for about $60 total.

No it won't look "pretty" on the outside but would you believe that I have actually found, quite to my astonishment, that I look in my fishtanks rather than at things like stands, hoods, etc?

Even though I have since graduated to PC and NO T5 (I love my Coralife T5 fixtures!) in the last few months, I had the aforementioned setup on my 55g for over a year and my plants (swords, scarlet temples) did remarkably well.

[Cypress]

Thank you for your advice!

I guess I should clarify. When I said inexpensive I meant that I didn't feel like I need the most high end top of the line stuff on the market. I just want to know what is good, and what will give me the best bang for my buck, if you will.

I have looked at AHsupply because it is so often reccommended, but honestly, it's more confusing than anything. I am definitely not prepared to tackle anything mechanical/electrical! LOL

I think I am going to go with compact fluor., more wpg though. Like maybe around 2.5.

[Mgamer20o0]

i felt the same way. i stayed away from them from a long time. i got mine for my 120 gal and thought.... i stayed away for this.... it was so easy.