Help with lighting in a DIY hood! - Very Easy Question

[Mark_b]

I'm building a diy hood for my 4' tank. Probably a stupid question but should i use 48" tubes in my hood? My lfs said i would have to use 42" tubes or they wouldn't fit. I didnt want to argue with the bloke in my lfs because i know him quite well but he is being stupid isnt he?

[cpr4cpu]

never heard of a 42" fluorescent.
Use 48" fluorescents, the bulbs themselves are more like 46".
Hang on, maybe he was referring to compact fluorescents which might be 42" (a 96 watter maybe?)

Take the easy way, get a 2 bulb shop light and build a wood frame to enclose it.

[carpguy]

I know that with my CFs the bulbs where a bit shorter than the space they'd take up. 34.5" reflector with two 16.5" bulbs for a 36" tank. (96w CF is a whisker less than 36", 34.5 if memory serves…)

I made a quick visit to bulbs.com (http://www.bulbs.com) and they list 48" NO bulbs and have at least one 49" fixture to hold them. I'd think you could work the hood to accomodate that. 36" seemed like the next size down.

[Mark_b]

thanx guys:)
i guess at worst i'm just gonna have to have a hood which is an inch or two longer than my tank, not a problem!