Cheap lights

[TKOS]

So I finally got fed up with looking at half a tank with a screw in CF and the other half with an incandescent (2 CF's would be too much for a 5 gallon without CO2). So I found a simply above the counter flourescent light with 15 watt 18 inch tube at WalMart for 9 dollars. The light is much whiter and since the ballast is completely encased it is much safer with all that water around.

So if you need a cheap light for a short tank that is my new suggestion for a way to go. Not supper pretty as it is white but I will find some way to fix it up.

[Hebdizzle]

is your 5 gallon tank 20 inches long?

[TKOS]

No just 16 inches long. That is aprt of the reason that it doesn't look supper great right now. That is also why it would probably be okay for a 10 gallon with lower light plants.

[Hebdizzle]

Ok, I probably have the same lighting fixture that you have on your 5 gallon than on my 10 :). Here is my situation. I have both a 20 inch (18 inch bulb) flourescent fixture and a 20 inch screw-in compact flourescent hood. I am going to ditch the things that hold them above the lip of the tank and put both the lights on together (currently only using the flourescent) and make an acrylic top that both of them can rest on. That way, I can high the higher wattage needed for plants. Does that make sense?

Does anyones local hardware store sell 6500k, full spectrum, screw-in florescent lightbulbs? I can't find them anywhere! I was using just regular 2700k ones. yuk!

aaron

[TKOS]

You can get full spectrum screw in lights but they tend to be really large, and really expensive. The one I have for colour matching during painting is about 25$ a bulb and I had to buy it at a specialty light store.

I would suggest that instead of an acrylic top you just buy a sliding glass top instead. Not too pricy and that way you are sure that not melting takes place. I am sure it would probably be safe but I get a little paranoid myself.

[Hebdizzle]

The part that holds the bulbs up is made from acrylic... and it doesn't get to extreme temperatures, so I dont think I would have a problem, because this piece of acrylic would be 5x larger than that one (heat spread out). Also, I made a top for my other tank that has the same thing (only one fixture though)

I am going to search more for these lightbulbs!

aaron

[Hebdizzle]

http://www.1000bulbs.com/shopping/shopdisplayproducts.asp?page=2


here they are but shipping is toooo much. 9.50 for 2 light bulbs? :(

[TKOS]

That is pretty much what us poor canadians have to pay.